Letters to the Editor — Pulpit politics, LGBTQ rights, climate change, diapers, sidewalks

No politics from pulpit

Re: “Pastors: Endorsement law unconstitutional — First Baptist leaders say rule prevents churches from right to free speech,” Friday news story.

I agree with the Johnson Amendment. The pulpit should not be used for political purposes. We attend Mass and church services to hear the word of God and to praise him — not to hear the pastor/priest tell us whom they endorse.

We should spend our time in church honoring the Lord. Yes, I do pray for guidance when preparing to vote. But, I do not want my spiritual adviser to suggest whom I should cast my vote for. Keep politics out of the pulpit.

Doug Moore, Grand Prairie

Discrimination wins

Re: “LGBTQ protections cut — Council votes 5-4 against antidiscrimination ordinance at tense meeting,” Thursday news story.

This story implies that Arlington’s antidiscrimination ordinance remains in effect for all protected groups except sexual orientation and gender identity or expression. That is not true. The council suspended the entire ordinance in September. With the vote Tuesday night, it remains suspended. In effect, Arlington — unlike Fort Worth or Dallas — has no antidiscrimination protections.

Federal public accommodation (think hotels or restaurants or sports and entertainment venues) antidiscrimination laws do not include sex as a protected characteristic. Thus, in Arlington, there is nothing that makes discriminating against an LGBTQ individual — or a woman, for that matter — illegal.

Don’t let them fool you. Despite their disingenuous comments to the contrary, the council members who voted no on Tuesday unnecessarily deprived everyone, including women, of any remedies for public accommodation discrimination in Arlington.

Dan Barrett, Arlington Heights

EPA owes us honesty

Re: “EPA is erasing mention of human-caused climate change — References on agency’s website are either gone or were tweaked,” Wednesday news story.

In this story, the reporter summarized the Environmental Protection Agency’s push to erase the idea that humans are responsible for climate change. Claims that climate change isn’t caused by humans are flat-out wrong.

The science is overwhelming: Burning fossil fuels is heating the planet. We can measure the human fingerprint in rising carbon levels, warming oceans, shrinking ice and record-breaking extreme weather.

The EPA owes the American people honesty, not lies and misinformation. Denying human-caused climate change only delays the action we urgently need. This lack of transparency won’t protect the public — it will endanger us all.

Andrea Christgau, Grapevine

The diaper debate

Re: “Try cloth diapers,” by Karl Hughes, Thursday letters.

Regarding the issue of using cloth diapers when one can’t afford disposable diapers, my husband and I had to make the comparison when we had our first child in the 1970s and lived in an apartment building, with shared laundry facilities.

Paying to launder and dry the one dozen diapers our son used per day taught us that disposable diapers were more absorbent, more hygienic and cost less in the long run.

In today’s reality, a family that cannot afford disposable diapers can probably not afford to operate a washer and dryer at the current cost of electricity in the state of Texas. Many don’t even own these appliances so they rely on public laundromats.

Just a reality check, Mr. Hughes. Affordability is the word. Lack of it is the problem.

Anastasia P. Campbell, Little Elm

Open prescription drug market

Re: “Check insurance firm profits,” by Bob Deuell, Thursday Letters.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us. Part of the problem is the constantly increasing costs of prescription drugs. How can we design a system that continues to get better and more affordable? I think we need a plan that provides that solution.

Let’s give fair competition to drug production. Lower the protected status of new drugs to some reasonable limit. Then release the formulations and production processes so that others can also produce them — such as generic versions by multiple providers.

Allow open competition with the whole world. Lower prices are sure to follow, enabling more people to take advantage of them.

Seems to work for other products. Why not drugs?

Ray Johnston, Heath

Keep sidewalks open

Re: “When the sidewalks end — Residents navigate neglect, city system,” Wednesday news story.

Regarding the safety and unwalkability of some sidewalks in Dallas, I agree with this story, and I feel for others who have to maneuver our sidewalks with walkers, wheelchairs and other assistive devices. There are many areas around the city where sidewalks could be improved, repaired and made safer for pedestrians. There are also areas with no sidewalk at all and lack of curbs.

Contributing to the unwalkability and safety of pedestrians are construction companies and repair crews who see the need to block sidewalks and many lanes of traffic, further creating safety issues for pedestrians and drivers.

If other cities with more density than Dallas use scaffolding for construction projects, then Dallas should insist on this method being used also, or find ways to not take away sidewalks and several lanes of traffic.

Margaret Barnes, Dallas

Where’s Cornyn’s solution?

Re: “Antisemitism’s rise in this country is intolerable — From college campuses to Nick Fuentes, enough is enough,” by John Cornyn, Nov. 23 Opinion.

Is it the upcoming election that inspired Sen. John Cornyn’s recent column, or just plain, old 24/7 vitriol. Three times in a column ostensibly to warn about influencer Nick Fuentes promoting antisemitism, Cornyn places responsibility for rising antisemitism squarely on the Democrats, Democratic Party dogma and the progressive left. He also says, “Many in the Democratic Party have remained silent or openly embraced those who profess antisemitism within their ranks.”

Nowhere in this column is there a rationale or a single statistic or reference for these accusations. But he does offer the Republican Party as heroes and defenders. Also no statistics or references. Also, no solutions. Why was this column published?

Elizabeth Farren, Carrollton