Oklahoma City is a success story
Reply: “The quarterback gets things done — Oklahoma City is neither red nor blue and leads unanimously. America can, too,” by David Holt, Sunday Opinion.
Thanks for highlighting Mayor Holt and my ancestral homeland. Oklahoma City is a vivid example of Republicans and Democrats working together on civic issues and economic development.
My grandparents were amazed and proud of modern Oklahoma. The Oklahoma success story is driven by the pro-business policies of Holt and Governor Kevin State. God bless America!
Peter Webb, New York, NY
An involuntary civic commitment is required
Reply: “We can stop a crisis in its path – an involuntary civil commitment may interrupt a mental health challenge before it leads to crime” by Zach Wafrossa, Saturday Opinion.
Thank you for the excellent Wavrusa column that addressed the need for involuntary civil commitment for some of the mentally ill in desperate need of intervention. It accurately and systematically outlines the exact process that protects both the public and the patient before such an action is taken.
Many healthcare professionals hail such an approach as the more compassionate way to help the seriously ill rather than have them roam the streets or be jailed.
Dallas would be better off avoiding the problem that afflicts Los Angeles with more than 6,000 mental patients in county jails. There is a huge need everywhere to truly acknowledge the problem and build more mental health facilities and staff them with professionals who know the best way to help these patients.
Greg Polito, North Dallas
Older motels are another option for lodging
Re: “Empty malls are perfect for senior citizens,” by Bruce Cooper, Friday Letters.
What a great idea Cooper came up with. Instead of tearing down perfectly good structures, just redesign and reuse. The same type of rebuilding should be considered when evacuating old hotels and motels. Think of the citizens who would be happy to have temporary accommodations while organizing their lives. Hotels and motels, with all those private rooms with private bathrooms, would be ideal for the homeless or short or long term stay.
Andrea Jane Welch, Dennison
A walk is never good
Respond: “Parents have a right to know — while in good faith, schools should not keep a student’s gender identity secret,” Thursday’s editorial read.
There is a very simple word for the action your article calls for: picnic. Revealing information about a person’s gender or gender identity without their consent, regardless of their age, is disclosure.
Many trans and queer people choose not to disclose this information for the sake of their physical or emotional safety. As a teenager, I came out as gay to some friends and teachers. I was afraid that my parents would disown me, and I hadn’t shared my sexual identity with them in years.
I chose the path out trying to imagine and then create a livable life for myself in a homophobic family. This was my choice, not my high school English teacher’s choice.
If parents want to know more about their gay child, they need to ask: Have you created an affirming environment conducive to such revelations? If this is not the case, the student’s desire to withhold this information is reasonable and necessary for his or her safety.
Your editorial misunderstands the essentials of a transformed, idealized life. It’s easy to get opinions. Trans and LGBT people who suffer from its consequences have a deep knowledge of the consequences of the outing.
Nino Testa, Dallas
Add volleyball for boys
Give the boys a chance. Volleyball is a sport widely enjoyed by many, however it is not a sport at Frisco ISD Boys High School. This is a shame, because many boys would love to have the opportunity to play on a school team. Not only is it a fun and exciting sport, but it also offers many benefits such as physical fitness, teamwork, and academic benefits.
The lack of a school team also means that boys who may not have the resources to afford volleyball for the club are left out. The district needs to provide volleyball as a team sport for boys.
Furthermore, current policy at Frisco ISD only allows girls to join the girls’ volleyball team, while boys are not allowed to join the girls’ team. This is incredibly unfair and undermines the principle of equal opportunity. It is also worth noting that girls are allowed to join the boys’ soccer team, further highlighting the inequality in current politics.
It is time for Frisco ISD to realize the importance and value of offering boys volleyball as a high school sport.
Manish Senthilkumar, Plano
Should the schoolyard be a fortress?
A high fence has recently been built around the grounds of Nathan Adams Elementary School in northwest Dallas. Decades ago, I took my 3-year-old to the schoolyard on the weekends. While we were there, we put the Easter Bunny up by the fence. Some of the boys ran away with it.
This caused a small news story in your newspaper or on Dallas Times Herald. The rabbit was recovered.
After frequent school shootings and the failure of the Uvalde police, Nathan Adams’ schoolyard is now a fortress. Can the school or park police and ISD in Dallas find a way to open it on weekends?
Michael Haas Brophy, Dallas
Underfunding or reckless spending?
Several recent letters to the editor have indicated a lack of government funding for some of the 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 failure of our elected representatives to prioritize, rather than a lack of funding.
Tracy Wallace, Richardson
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