Passionate Prose | Letters to the Editor

Bonus Cartoon of the Day -- May 18, 2008

Poverty
Michael Kountouris, Greece

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To our readers and commentators ...

Passionate Prose is a moderated blog and requires a full name and a city of residence for comments. Those are the same rules we follow for letters printed in the physical edition of the newspaper.

The comment program asks for your name but we cannot force it to ask for your city. So put both in the “name box,” following this format:  Paul Harral, Fort Worth. Add the state if you are posting from outside Texas.

If you forget, we’ll send you an e-mail to remind you. If the e-mail is undeliverable, we’ll delete the comment.

Another tip:  Postings without paragraphs are difficult to read. You can force an extra line between paragraphs by hitting “enter” twice at the end of a paragraph.

Thanks for your participation.

Paul K. Harral
Editor of the Star-Telegram Editorial Page
harral@star-telegram.com

Cartoon of the Day -- May 18, 2008

Deng Coy Miel, Singapore

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FOCUS ON ... Wind farms and migratory birds

Wind power tries to maintain a “green” image, but wind farms planned for the Texas Gulf Coast might jeopardize that.

Three major corridors for migratory birds merge on the Texas coast. Millions of birds use these routes every spring and fall as they travel between wintering grounds in Mexico and Central and South America and their breeding grounds in North America.

PPM Energy and Babcock & Brown are developing a wind farm in Kenedy County that would have as many as 500 turbines reaching as high as 400 feet high along this crucial migration corridor.

Advocates say that existing wind farms cause relatively few bird deaths and that these farms should be no different. But there are no wind farms at such a site, where millions of birds pass each year.

Putting turbines in such an intensely used corridor sets the stage for disaster if thousands of birds encounter storms, fog or wind that force them to fly low and put them in harm’s way.

Audubon Texas has supported and worked with the wind industry, seeing wind as a valuable alternative. Audubon has raised few if any issues about existing wind facilities across the state.

However, Audubon opposes wind projects in Kenedy County and other sites along the Texas coast. Putting turbines in such an intensely used migratory corridor would set the stage for disaster for birds and could ruin the credibility of wind energy as a “green” alternative.

— Anne Brown,  executive director, and Andrew Kasner, director of bird conservation, Audubon Texas, Dallas

Methodists and homosexuality

Given his feelings, the wisest thing that James Sumpter could have done was to leave the United Methodist Church. (See May 10 letter “Leftist Methodists.”)

Why he continues to throw firebombs at his old church is puzzling. His letter made clear that the church was far too big a tent for him. Oddly enough, that’s why I remain.

I’m glad I’m surrounded by people who don’t agree with me. It makes for a much richer experience. That’s not a weakness of the church — it’s its greatest strength.

It’s a good thing when George McGovern, George Wallace, George W. Bush and Hillary Clinton are all members of the same church.

It’s a shame that Sumpter left the church, but I understand. That kind of diversity isn’t for everyone, especially those who already know all the answers.

— Mike Young, Fort Worth

Jackie Bell chastised William L. Brown for his May 7 letter (“Homosexuality and Jesus’ ways”), and Rita Cotterly jumped on the bandwagon, suggesting that anyone who challenges homosexual, lesbian, bisexual and transsexual lifestyles is being un-Christian. (See May 11 letters “Christians and gays.”)

Bell and Cotterly confuse three quite different things:

— Should such behavior be legal? Deciding questions such as that depends on the detriment to society of such activities. Of course, anyone who favors such conduct rules out any discussion of what follows in its wake as homophobic.

— Are such mores Christian? To answer that, it’s not necessary to ponder imponderables. Simply go to the source book for that religion and read what it has to say. The Old and New Testament say, too many times for anyone who seriously wants to know the answer to be ignorant of it, that such habits are forbidden (Leviticus 18:22; Romans 1:26-27).

— How are people who insist, nonetheless, on acting in this manner to be treated by Christians? That becomes a question of how Jesus would respond to anyone who sins, which Brown spoke to. Extend love, but in doing so, don’t compromise on whether the conduct is right or wrong, beneficial or harmful.

Help those with AIDS? Sure. But don’t say: “Do whatever you please. It just doesn’t matter.” That’s hardly the “Christian” response to anything.

— Thomas F. Harkins Jr., Fort Worth

Need to clarify

I’d like to correct statements in your Monday editorial (“Shake up”).

I never said that “students of the district were better off under ex-superintendent Thomas Tocco than under current Superintendent Melody Johnson.” I did say that I thought the district was better off with the former trustee than with the incumbent.

I also said that Tocco did many good things in the 10 years he led the district and that he shouldn’t be judged only on the corruption of others.

I have tremendous respect for Johnson. She has at heart the best interests of our students. As a principal, I admired her leadership skills.

This election was about our future: our children. I ran on a positive message of reducing the high school dropout rate, improving academic performance and making sure that tax dollars are spent wisely.

My critique of the incumbent was based on her record, and all could be proven with public data. The incumbent, her supporters, Star-Telegram columnist Bud Kennedy and the Editorial Board keep trying to tie me to the former superintendent.

The incumbent sent negative mailers concerning such. Tocco wasn’t part of my message. None of my mailers commented about him or Johnson.

I’d also like to address your comments about helping move the “district forward — not just for one section of town, but for all children.” I’ve worked in all parts of the district and have helped children of all races and economic status achieve success.

You’re right! It’s time to “move the district forward,” and “not just for one section of town.” I’ll work with Johnson and the rest of the school board. I’ll work with students, parents, teachers, principals, the city and the business community to ensure that our students are successful.

My priorities are all the students in our district. I’m honored and humbled to have been elected as trustee from District 1. I’m grateful to the voters and campaign volunteers for placing their trust in me.

— Carlos Vasquez, Fort Worth

Expendable pets

The other morning, as I was riding my bicycle, I noticed a sign for a yard sale benefiting an adoption agency for pug dogs. I stopped for a breather, and the ladies working the sale told me that the animal shelters and their adoption homes are full of dogs.

They told me that this is true for rescuers of all breeds.

Seeing my quizzical look, they said: “It’s the economy. If you can’t put gas in your car, or you’re going to lose your home, the family dog is on the list of things that must go.”

Now I understand.

As Americans struggle mightily to weather a devastating economic storm, our politicians trash-talk one another, point fingers and concoct sound bites for the evening news. Meanwhile, all over America, parents are explaining to their horrified children that their pet has to go away.

— Preston Gillham, Fort Worth

Online Extra: Texas is open for business

Recent reports reveal that more Fortune 500 companies are now based in Texas than in any other state. Job growth remains high while unemployment rates are still low in spite of negative national trends. Texas added more than 213,000 new jobs last year, and job growth has exceeded 1 million over the past four years.

Sheer size and abundant natural resources have always set Texas apart. Texans themselves are our greatest natural resource with their tenacity and entrepreneurial spirit. But, good public policy plays a critical role in setting Texas apart from so many other large states that are experiencing job losses and having to deal with substantial budget deficits.

Texas has earned a well-deserved reputation for encouraging economic development and job creation while keeping its fiscal house in order.

While many states have gone on a spending spree and raised taxes during the recent “boom” times, Gov. Rick Perry and our legislative leaders have resisted the temptation to spend and tax as though there were no tomorrow. In fact, Texas has a $10.7 billion surplus to help us navigate through the uncertain economic waters that lie ahead.

Our state taxes remain low, and our state leaders have kept spending increases within the range of inflation plus population growth in recent years.

The governor’s aggressive efforts to woo business and bring jobs to Texas, combined with a job-friendly regulatory environment, have helped Texas develop the reputation for having the most attractive economic climate in the nation.

A ready workforce, lower cost of living, and high quality of life, also make Texas a good place to do business. Nor should one discount the importance played by the fact that Texas is one of the few remaining states without an income tax. It is no wonder that Chief Executive magazine rated Texas as the “Best State to Do Business” for the third year in a row, and publications like The Wall Street Journal advise other states to “be more like Texas.”

Strong fiscal accountability in government is a signal to companies moving here that business taxes will remain low. For example, when it was determined that unemployment taxes would bring in more money than needed, the governor suspended a component of the tax, saving Texas employers $90 million.

In 2007, the Texas Legislature passed a measure allowing the Texas Workforce Commission to pay off bonds issued in 2003 to bolster the Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund early. saving Texas employers an additional estimated $270 million in taxes in 2008 through common sense, fiscal responsibility.

From computers to chemicals, electrical equipment to energy products, metals to agriculture, Texas exports lead all other states. Texas is the top petroleum refining state in the nation with 24 refineries producing more than 4.2 million barrels of oil a day. While natural resources (including petroleum and natural gas) have been vital to the Texas economy, Texas businesses also embrace new technologies for green energy — making Texas the No. 1 wind producing state in the country.

Through Texas Workforce Solutions — the partnership of the Texas Workforce Commission and 28 local workforce development boards — we are committed to providing services to our employers and workers so that Texas will continue to lead the way as the best place to do business in America.

-- Tom Pauken, Dallas, chairman of the Texas Workforce Commission

Bonus Cartoon of the Day -- May 17, 2008

Crying Shame
Pat Bagley, Salt Lake Tribune
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Cartoon of the Day -- May 17, 2008

Modern Mower
Larry Wright, The Detroit News
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FOCUS ON ... Assimilation vs. segregation

It’s time to remind people, especially immigrants, that we’re a nation of assimilation, not segregation.

Our predecessors came here much like today’s immigrants. They came to make better lives for themselves and flee tyranny at home. They came legally, worked hard and were proud to become U.S. citizens.

But unlike today’s immigrants, they didn’t rebel against assimilation into our society. They learned our laws and brought and shared their cultures, and many joined our military. Some even gave their lives for their new home, America.

They would probably cringe to see our new immigrants, especially those who come illegally. Illegal immigrants rarely learn our ways or language — they just want the benefits. Then they have the gall to protest when they’re caught and threatened with deportation.

They praise the country they left. Am I missing something? I don’t hear them praising America!

If I were asked what angers me other than the illegal entry into our country, it’s the failure to assimilate. Illegal immigrants segregate themselves by staying in their ethnic areas, not learning the language or culture of their new home.

Although we should appreciate diverse cultures, their behavior shouldn’t run counter to what made America a melting pot of all cultures and traditions.

Assimilation doesn’t mean shedding one’s culture. It means becoming a part of and enriching the new homeland. Assimilate to make America great — don’t segregate.

— Sean C. Rafferty, Fort Worth

Solutions to gang problem

Mike Norman was correct in his Sunday commentary, “A wake-up call for Arlington on youth gangs.” But he forgot one thing: As a society, we’re too stupid to handle such problems. I have some suggestions that I believe would work:

— Any student involved in gang activity that involves a public school should be permanently expelled from the Arlington school district. Permanent means that the offender has lost a great opportunity for free education and that his or her parents have to find a private school. Good luck. Then the Texas prison system can take a crack at the youth.

— If the kid isn’t in our country legally, deport him with his family. If he was born here but his parents are illegal aliens, kick the family out of our country. OK, I know the city of Arlington can’t kick anyone out of the country, but it can call Immigration and Customs Enforcement and then the Star-Telegram if ICE does nothing.

But, oh, no, we don’t want to be mean — and that’s the problem.

Look, Rudy Giuliani fixed New York City. It was a hellhole in 1985 and really nice in 1998, when I went back. When New York is safer than Arlington, something is really wrong.

— Roger Latham, Fort Worth

Norman’s statement about arrests, convictions and prison time doing very little to control gang activity was very amusing.

Having worked with the Arlington Police Department in the early 1980s, I’m familiar with the city and don’t see the connection between enforcing the law and experiencing no results in terms of crime reduction or gang activity. I find Norman’s comments not truly accurate

The gang problem can be easily controlled if not eradicated. If the agency in question chooses to use effective policies and technology and even goes so far as to seize property accumulated in a wide range of criminal activities, crime pays off even less for the bad guys.

If the city in question bonds people out habitually with little or no concern, the results are very predictable.

Arrest and conviction do work, provided they don’t involve early release — called a “free ride” by many in the field.

— Nick V. Pashun, Maywood, N.J.

Nuclear power needed

Yes, Texas needs more nuclear plants, as does much of this country if we’re to foster our economy while preserving the environment. (See Monday news story “Texas could lead nuclear power surge.”)

We’re tired of hearing that nuclear waste is the big obstacle to nuclear power. The millions of tons of coal waste, which include naturally radioactive minerals, seem to be no problem. Nuclear waste, which of course needs special handling, is by far the smaller problem.

If all of a consumer’s electricity came from nuclear power, the consumer’s share of waste produced in a year would be smaller than an aspirin bottle. That’s the advantage of nuclear energy — it’s highly concentrated.

We’re handling the wastes just fine now, although it would be good to have a long-term solution somewhere down the road.

The French derive 80 percent of their electricity from nuclear power and have handled their wastes just fine for many years. So waste storage isn’t a reason to not build the next generation of nuclear plants.

— Mitty Plummer, Sanger

Voter apathy

You were on target with your Tuesday editorial (“Voter void”), which cited lack of concern about the important local elections on May 10.

At my precinct, however, I was far more concerned about the demographics of the voters.

We live in a racially mixed neighborhood. The elementary school where we voted is about 80 percent Hispanic. But who were the voters? Of the 90 people who voted in person, two were under 50, one was a Hispanic over 50, and none were black. Eighty-seven of the 90 people who voted were Anglos over 50!

Where were the young people who jammed the polls at the March 4 primary? Where were the Hispanics and blacks who were so anxious for their voices to be heard?

I know where they weren’t. They weren’t voting for the board that oversees their schools, or for or against the bonds to fund their street repairs.

— Barbara Rubin, Fort Worth

Spoiled and foolish

Paul Simon needs to pen a new song. We once pined for Joe DiMaggio, but where’s the America that won World War II and sent men to the moon?

We Americans are spoiled and foolish. We’ve wasted the 35 years since the 1973 oil embargo, preferring to ignore our dependence on Middle Eastern oil.

We insist on large, inefficient vehicles. We eschew public transportation. We don’t drive slower. We audaciously think that we’re entitled to cheap energy because Grandpa pumped gas at 19 cents a gallon.

We’ve failed to demand policies from our political leaders to take us off this road to disaster. We’ve even fought two wars in Iraq to feed our addiction.

If we fail to find the resolve to seriously address this problem, we’ll only have higher prices and more Middle Eastern wars attacking our pocketbooks.

— Jeff Horton, Grand Prairie

Online Extra: Clinton royalty?

Why does the Democratic Party treat Bill and Hillary Clinton like royalty?

The truth is that they’re two of the most vicious, ruthless and dangerous people in the country. They think the public is stupid and will believe anything they say. They lie with impunity because they know the liberal news media will print and broadcast whatever they say and the public will believe it.

These two have violated more laws than Carter’s has pills! The truth will be revealed when the last 100 pages of the Barrett Report are released. Congressional Democrats know this and are trying to keep this information from the public because it could get the FBI involved and the Clintons could go to jail.

The truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it and ignorance may override it, but in the end there it is.

— Frank D. Jackson, Fort Worth

To our readers and commentators

Passionate Prose is a moderated blog and requires a full name and a city of residence for comments. Those are the same rules we follow for letters printed in the physical edition of the newspaper.

The comment program asks for your name but we cannot force it to ask for your city. So put both in the “name box,” following this format:  Paul Harral, Fort Worth. Add the state if you are posting from outside Texas.

If you forget, we’ll send you an e-mail to remind you. If the e-mail is undeliverable, we’ll delete the comment.

Another tip:  Postings without paragraphs are difficult to read. You can force an extra line between paragraphs by hitting “enter” twice at the end of a paragraph.

Thanks for your participation.

Paul K. Harral
Editor of the Star-Telegram Editorial Page
harral@star-telegram.com

Cartoon of the Day -- May 16, 2008

Democrats Defined

Bob Englehart, The Hartford Courant
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FOCUS ON ... Factionalism in school district?

Indications of factionalism, exacerbated by Saturday’s Fort Worth school board elections, are troubling. Dissension seems to have given rise to “camps” (e.g., the Thomas Tocco camp vs. the Melody Johnson camp) in the district and the larger community.

As one who knows and respects both leaders, I think such divisiveness is unfair and, more important, perilous to the future of the district and the community with which it’s intertwined.

Tocco, the former superintendent, and Johnson, current superintendent, are very different in leadership style and personality. But both have tremendous knowledge, skill and expertise in leading school systems.

To be fair to both, both faced different circumstances with different challenges. I consider both right for the time of their service.

Sure, the Tocco administration suffered loss of public support because of mismanagement of funds under the previous bond program, and taxpayers are understandably wary as the new bond program takes shape.

Johnson’s administration and the board, however, deserve the right to the public trust as they work out details of the bond package. A larger question: Why are we as a community comparing and contrasting the two administrations?

If Johnson’s administration is to be successful in the daunting task of educating this city’s youth while managing a massive bond effort, it needs and deserves the full support of the community. Let’s not let factionalism divide and destroy the most important institution in this community: the public school system!

— Nancy J. Timmons, retired associate superintendent, Fort Worth school district

Paper or plastic?

The Arlington City Council is again using its rubber stamp to make life more difficult for residents by proposing to ban plastic shopping bags. (See May 7 story “Arlington City Council supports proposal to ban plastic grocery bags.”)

It’s more convenient for me if stores use plastic bags rather than having to carry a stack of re-usable bags that may have to be checked out by the “greeters” at the door.

Did it occur to the powers-that-be that single-use plastic bags are more sanitary than re-using bags that might contain spillage from previous use (blood from meats, for example)?

— Richard D. Grieser, Arlington

I wholeheartedly endorse the proposed ban on plastic bags in Arlington. On some days, it seems, I can hardly get out the front door because the front yard is knee-deep in those things.

While the council is at it, it should ban those plastic trash bags that the disposal company picks up twice a week.

— John McMahon, Arlington

So the Arlington council wants to ban plastic bags? But what do residents want?

I lived in Arlington for 32 years and left two years ago. One reason for leaving was that the city leaders lost their vision of serving the city and started serving the desires of a few. They quit trying to please John Doe on Main Street and started serving Jerry Jones on Johnson Creek.

It seems that the leadership isn’t interested in raising the quality of life of residents as much as making the entertainment zone larger and nicer. Where do some of these leaders come from? California?

Now they want to “green” up the city by banning plastic bags. Maybe they should ask residents first. The residents, after all, have to live with the decision.

True, plastic bags are part of the litter in Arlington. So are beer cans, cigarette butts, soda cans, fast-food scraps and more. But the suggestion that banning plastic bags would save more than a million dollars isn’t even close to reality.

Install cameras to take pictures of litterers. If I sound sarcastic, I am. Arlington let most of us down many years ago. I still have a house there, and when I sell it, I’ll move on and leave it all behind. But I still pay taxes there, so I’m expressing my feelings about it.

City Council, please move on to more important things and forget the plastic bags. Do something important for the people of Arlington — like reducing their taxes, making the city safer, stopping the blight that’s spreading over much of the city — and do it all over the city, not just around the new Dallas Cowboys stadium.

Arlington used to be the best place to live in the Metroplex. Now it’s just a place to play. Why can’t you have both?

— Cliff Russell, Midlothian

The facts are in: Plastic is better than paper. (See April 22 commentary “Paper or plastic? It’s not as wholly obvious as you might think.”)

Plastic bags are more economical and are more environment-friendly.

I recycle plastic grocery bags. I use them for garbage and to line wastebaskets. Any extra bags go back to the grocery stores for recycling.

If plastic grocery bags are banned or discontinued, I’ll have to buy plastic bags. Does that make sense to anyone?

— M.J. Peterson, Arlington

Youth choir slighted

I looked forward to the coverage of the 10th anniversary of Bass Performance Hall. After reading it, I was angry and then just disappointed. (See April 27 news story “City’s jewel is still gleaming” and related stories.)

An accompanying story (“The first 10 years of a great hall — from transporting arias to errant autos”) listed all the premier Fort Worth arts organizations that appeared in the opening gala — except one: the Texas Boys Choir.

The boys sang the first notes ever heard by the public in the new hall! As their beautiful voices drifted down from high in the hall, feathers floated down and called our attention to the beauty of the ceiling and the amazing acoustics. After they sang, Van Cliburn stepped onto the stage and started the show. They also sang at the groundbreaking ceremony.

Many of the young men of the Texas Boys Choir go on to study and pursue careers in the arts across the country and the world. Others choose careers that allow them to be patrons of the arts.

My son is only 24 and is a doctoral student in music theory and composition at Ohio State University. He was in the Texas Boys Choir for seven years before receiving two degrees in music composition at Westminster Choir College in Princeton, N.J.

Other boys who were in the choir during the past 15 years have toured with Broadway shows, worked in arts management in New York and Washington, served in Iraq and Afghanistan and studied medicine. Fort Worth’s own Danny Wright is a well-known pianist and was a choirboy in the 1960s.

I’m disappointed in the Star-Telegram for overlooking the Texas Boys Choir. My seven albums of memorabilia of my son’s time in the choir can attest to their involvement in the Fort Worth arts scene during the 1990s.

Your paper owes them a huge apology.

— Laura J. Henson, Fort Worth

Bonus Cartoon of the Day -- May 16, 2008

Polar Bears

Aislin, The Montreal Gazette
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Online Extra: Defend Second Amendment

Columnist Linda Campbell assailed Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott for leading 31 states before the U.S. Supreme Court in defense of the Second Amendment. (See Feb. 28 column “Connecting those dots.”)  

I’d like you to tell me why I should keep my subscription to the Star-Telegram when the writers are so far from my point of view. I don’t mind a differing viewpoint, but there seem to be no printed rebuttal or response from your readers regarding any anti-gun articles.

You fight for the First Amendment freedoms. How about affording the same courtesy for the Second Amendment.

— Mike DeLusque, Bedford

Online Extra: Appreciation for JPS staff

The League of Women Voters of Tarrant County appreciates the work of the Star-Telegram in revealing some practices in the JPS Health Network and the subsequent shift in JPS executive staff. (See April 27-May 2 series "JPS: Prescription for Profit.") 

The shift of focus to improve access to indigent care for the 400,000 uninsured Tarrant County residents is long overdue.

At the same time, we are aware that hundreds of JPS staff at all levels work diligently, sometimes under difficult conditions, to provide care. Last year, they saw patients 800,000 times, saved many lives and made thousands of life improvements.

In noting this service, the league extends our appreciation to these many staff members. We hope that they will continue their service as shifts are made in the JPS mission.

-- President Dolores Ruhs, League of Women Voters of Tarrant County, Fort Worth

Online Extra: Sleepless ruminations

Ruminations during a sleepless night:

This ship of state is in precarious waters
Sending to war its sons and daughters
To far-off lands so alien and remote
To Western ideas, religion and the vote --
Tribal rivalry of years untold
Have them enslaved since years of old;
All they care about is no inteference from afar
Allahu akhbar! Allahua akhbar!

-- Ingrid Manifold, Granbury

Bonus Cartoon of the Day -- May 15, 2008

Redneck Racism

Sandy Huffaker, Cagle Cartoons
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Cartoon of the Day -- May 15, 2008

McCAIN The GREEN

Patrick Chappatte, The International Herald Tribune
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FOCUS ON ... A crisis in the defense industry

In their April 29 column predicting the nationalization or outsourcing of our defense industry (“What we’re procuring is trouble”), Dov S. Zakheim and Ronald T. Kadish failed to realize that the Air Force has already taken a worse step: outsourcing a $35 billion tanker contract to the nationalized European defense giant EADS.

Of course, to deflect such criticism, EADS hired Northrop Grumman as a front group.

But EADS isn’t fooling anyone as to who’s in charge.

Northrop Grumman hasn’t been a prime contractor on an aircraft since the B-2 bomber more than a decade ago, when it produced only 21 aircraft in less than 10 years and hardly had a significant assembly line.

Northrop Grumman has neither a tanker production line nor an appropriately trained work force. It won’t be involved in production until the very end, effectively outsourcing some 44,000 jobs to EADS’ European production lines.

Given that the U.S.’s highly skilled aerospace work force is the envy of the world, this is hardly about protectionism.

A Boeing-built KC-767 fleet would save taxpayers as much as $50 billion in fuel and maintenance costs. It could offload more fuel and land on more airfields. 

The Air Force even exempted EADS/Northrop from laws that prevent the exporting of sensitive antimissile technologies to such countries as Iran. Congress needs to wake up: The U.S. defense industry crisis has already arrived.

— Richard Michalski, general vice president, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, Upper Marlboro, Md.

Contentious 60th birthday

It’s illuminating to compare the first 60 years of American independence and the first 60 years of the state of Israel.

During our first 60 years, we Americans were protected by a vast ocean and secure borders. To this day, we’re still largely secure, sheltered by two oceans and peaceful borders. Israel is not!

During this week’s historic anniversary of Israel’s independence, Jews around the world pause to honor this gallant nation, still the only democracy in the Middle East.

— Leonard Schweitzer, Community Relations Council, Jewish Federation of Fort Worth and Tarrant County

On April 22, Congress passed House Resolution 322, “recognizing the 60th anniversary of the founding of the modern state of Israel and reaffirming the bonds of close friendship and cooperation between the United States and Israel.”

It’s no wonder, considering the influence of the Zionist lobby, that the resolution passed without mention of Israel’s 60-year record of dispossession, ethnic cleansing, discrimination, violation of human rights and international laws, military occupation and apartheid against Palestinians.

President Bush is trying to achieve peace before his term ends, but there will never be a just peace in the Middle East as long as Israel controls Congress.

— Kassem Elkhalil, Arlington

I can’t help but notice your barrage of features  coinciding with the 60th anniversary of the creation of the state of Israel. All or most of them have been humanitarian features about the hardships of various Jews, many of them having to do with the Holocaust.

Yet during this celebration of the 60th anniversary of the occupation — and, one could argue, destruction — of the state of Palestine, I have yet to see an article about the 4 million Palestinians displaced in the diaspora that began as a result of the 1948 occupation, which persists today.

Any plans to do so? Or is it simply “kosher” to look at this issue from one vantage point, as so often happens regarding this issue?

I urge you to consider that it’s offensive to be deluged with story after story of human-interest angles stemming from one side only — the side of the violent and wrongful occupiers of 60 years ago — yet not see a single piece on the hardships of the Palestinians who were exiled, injured and murdered in the event that you’re supposedly commemorating.

— Michael Chamy, Hurst

Doolittle’s raiders

The 66th anniversary reunion of the surviving participants in the 1942 carrier-launched bomber raid on Tokyo led by Jimmy Doolittle was held April 15-20 in Dallas. Where was the media coverage?

All you see in the media are crime, tragedy and stupid politicians. I don’t care if a celebrity has a baby or a new boyfriend. Normal, everyday people don’t have babies or boyfriends?

Our national heritage is at stake. Wake up, America!

P.S.: In response to the query in R.H. Rastall’s Saturday jeer to the Star-Telegram for not noting the anniversary of the April 18, 1942, Doolittle raid: I’m happy to report that 11 of the raiders are left standing. Six of them attended the Dallas reunion.

— Benjamin E. Combs, Crowley