Oklahoma City, a success story
Re: “The middle gets things done – Oklahoma City is neither red nor blue and moves by consensus. America can too,” by David Holt, Sunday Opinion.
Thanks for spotlighting Mayor Holt and my ancestral homeland. Oklahoma City is a living example of Republicans and Democrats working together on civic issues and economic development.
My great-grandparents would be amazed and proud of modern Oklahoma. Oklahoma’s success is driven by the pro-business policies of Holt and Governor Kevin Stitt. God bless America!
Peter Webb, New York, NY
Involuntary civil commitment necessary
Re: “We can stop a crisis in its tracks – Involuntary civic engagement can interrupt the mental health challenge before it leads to crime”, by Zach Wavrusa, Saturday Opinion.
Thank you for Wavrusa’s excellent column on the need for involuntary civil engagement by some mentally ill people who are in desperate need of intervention. He meticulously and methodically describes the painstaking process that protects both the public and the ill person before such action is taken.
Many medical professionals applaud such an approach as the most compassionate way to help seriously ill people rather than seeing them wander the streets or be incarcerated.
Dallas would do well to avoid the problem Los Angeles has with its more than 6,000 mentally ill people in its county jails. There is a great need everywhere to admit what the problem really is and to build more mental health facilities and staff them with the professionals who know best how to help these patients.
Greg Polito, North Dallas
Old motels another accommodation option
Re: “Empty malls perfect for old people”, by Bruce Cooper, Friday Letters.
What a great idea submitted by Cooper. Instead of tearing down perfectly good structures, just remodel and reuse them. The same type of renovation should be considered when older hotels and motels are vacated. Think of the citizens who would love to have temporary housing while putting their lives in order. Hotels and motels, with all those private rooms with private bathrooms, would be great for people who are homeless, short or long term.
Andrea Jean Welch, Denison
Going out is never OK
Re: ‘Parents have a right to know – Although well-meaning, schools should not keep a student’s gender identity secret’, Thursday’s editorial.
There’s a very simple word for the action your editorial calls for: exit. Disclosing information about a person’s gender or sexual identity without their consent, regardless of age, is disclosing it.
Many trans and queer people choose not to disclose this information for their own physical or emotional safety. When I was a teenager, I revealed my homosexuality to friends and teachers. I was afraid my parents would disown me and I didn’t share my sexual identity with them for years.
I chose my path of coming out in order to imagine and then create a livable life in an anti-gay family. It was my choice, not my high school English teacher’s choice.
If parents want to know more about their queer child, they should ask themselves: Have I created an affirmative environment conducive to such disclosure? If not, a student’s desire not to disclose this information is logical and essential to their safety.
Your editorial misunderstands the fundamentals of trans and queer life. Reviews are easy to get. Deep knowledge of the ramifications of coming out is held by trans and queer people who experience the consequences.
Nino Testa, Dallas
Add volleyball for boys
Give the boys a chance. Volleyball is a sport widely enjoyed by many, but it is not offered as a high school sport for boys at Frisco ISD. It’s a shame, because a lot of boys would love to have the opportunity to play in a school team. Not only is it a fun and exciting sport, but it also offers many benefits such as fitness, teamwork, and academic benefits.
The lack of a school team also means boys who may not have the resources to afford club volleyball are left behind. The district should offer volleyball as a team sport for boys.
Also, current Frisco ISD policy only allows girls to join the women’s volleyball team, while boys are not allowed to join the women’s team. This is incredibly unfair and undermines the principle of equal opportunity. It should also be mentioned that girls are allowed to join the boys’ football team, which further highlights the inequality of the current policy.
It’s time for Frisco ISD to recognize the importance and value of bringing volleyball to boys as a high school sport.
Manesh Senthilkumar, Plano
Should the schoolyard be a fortress?
Recently, a tall fence was completed around the grounds of Nathan Adams Elementary School in northwest Dallas. Decades ago, I used to take my 3-year-old son to the schoolyard on weekends. There, we placed his Easter bunny next to the fence. Some boys ran away with it.
This gave rise to a small report in your newspaper or in the Dallas Times Herald. The rabbit has been recovered.
Following recurring school shootings and the failure of Uvalde’s police, Nathan Adams’ schoolyard is now a fortress. Could the school or park police and the Dallas ISD find a way to open it on weekends?
Michael Haas BrophyDallas
Underfunded or reckless spending?
Several recent letters to the editor have referred to government underfunding of some agencies. With a national debt of $32 trillion and growing, I find it hard to believe any agency is underfunded. If so, it is due to reckless spending and the inability of our elected officials to set priorities, rather than a lack of funding.
Tracy Wallace, Richardson
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