Use faith for good, not power
Re: “Leaders divided on faith,” by Gromer Jeffers Jr., Monday Metro column.
Should Christians use their faith as a basis for claiming superiority in the political arena? For the sake of Jesus’ reputation, I hope very few will. Because of their many moral and ethical failings, precious few in history have brought glory to his name.
I am a Christian and believe my faith provides the best possible guidance for leading a life pleasing to God. The Bible teaches everything one needs to know about what is right and just.
What troubles me is the vicious backbiting and lying that occurs daily among those with competing views on legislation. And the amount of money that is spent on getting revenge or subverts the people’s will.
Furthermore, you are elected to represent people of all or no faith. If you are guilty of these behaviors, please keep your faith private.
Sybil Walker, Dallas
Patrick the pastor?
So, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick wants to be a pastor? I sure hope he goes to divinity school or a theological seminary first. It seems he is fond of quoting 2 Chronicles 7:14, and believes that God was speaking to Christians when in the verse, it begins, “If my people ....”
The problem is that this book of the Hebrew Bible (the Torah), to which we often refer in Christian teachings, was written more than 400 years before Jesus Christ was born. In this verse, God certainly wasn’t referring to Christians as his people — it was certainly the Israelites.
And Patrick wants to start teaching Bible stories in our public schools. What happened to separation of church and state? And what happened to the stated goal of Republicans of smaller government? This is not what is happening in the Texas Legislature.
Keith Carlisle, Dallas
Celebration, not competition
Re: “Let’s take school celebrations down a notch — Parties, special days explode in May while learning waits for an opening,” by Tyra Damm, Sunday Opinion.
Regarding this column on cutting back celebrations at school, thank you! I am a pre-kindergarten teacher in a Dallas ISD school. Our students come from homes that don’t always have money for basics, let alone extras. We have awards celebrations and Christmas and Valentines parties and our students get so excited!
We (and parents who are able) provide cupcakes, drinks and treats. Do the students get excited? You bet. We don’t go over the top and no one knows or cares that the plates don’t have a “theme” or there are no favors to take home.
These parties aren’t extravagant, but our students have so much fun because we don’t do it for every occasion and they’re made for the kids, not an adult trying to outdo someone else. Parties and celebrations are only special if you make them that way, and they don’t have to cost a fortune!
The end of the school year is tough. Ms. Damm nailed it! Thank you.
Teri Kirkley, Rowlett
Step up, fathers
Two of the issues presented in Sunday’s Mother’s Day edition — to wit, the increasing trend of single motherhood and the urgent need to find a place to take children when mom is in recovery — can be easily solved by the following: Give more fathers primary custody.
N. J. Gaunt, Austin
Stop blocking solutions
Re: “It’s time to be citizens, not spectators — Instead of accepting impasse, commit to solutions and problem-solvers,” by Ken Hersh, Sunday Opinion.
Hersh makes an excellent point in saying that we need to be citizens, not spectators. My version of that is, “Democracy is not a spectator sport!”
He makes several valid points in his column, but two that stand out to me are: 1. Don’t make blanket statements and address ideas rather than individuals, and 2. Avoid the tendency to federalize your local concerns.
I’m not sure if he is trying to be a conscience to his party, but that second point seems hard to defend given Republican actions in recent years. They have been in the control of think tanks, political action committees and groups like the Federalist Society to push the country further to the right. This action is not supported broadly.
I also wish Hersh would acknowledge the skills and accomplishments of President Joe Biden, who reached across the aisle on infrastructure, climate change, COVID-19 recovery and gun control.
I agree with the concept of finding solutions together, but the people who are blocking this approach are not the moderates and liberals. They are, however, the loudest voices in the room.
Mark L. Vonnahme, Irving
Don’t blame equality
Re: “Going solo — The meteoric rise in single motherhood is uniquely American, and we’re afraid to talk about the repercussions,” by Abby McCloskey, Sunday Opinion.
Under the benevolent guise of a Mother’s Day essay about single mothers, McCloskey manages to slip in a nearly subliminal zinger: “the pursuit of sexual equality has left a lot of women to become mothers on their own.” What?
Does she really assert that single motherhood has astronomically increased because over the last 50 years, women have sought to be seated on juries, to conduct commerce individually without a man’s consent, to receive equal athletic opportunities, to establish careers in professions historically dominated by men and, most important, to be paid equally for the same work performed by men?
The inferred conclusion of McCloskey’s theory is that for the greater good of future generations, women should just shut up and accept their roles solely as mothers subservient to husbands and children.
Elizabeth B. Dunlap, Farmers Branch
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