I read that Rick Perry is considering running for governor of Texas again.
Should his God, his wife or other voices tell him to do so, I sincerely hope this time he will engage in a debate with his opponent rather than refuse by hiding behind some tax-disclosure excuse like he used in the last gubernatorial election.I would like to hear a lively exchange explaining our success at gaining low state rankings in education and healthcare.-- Greg Taylor, Fort WorthLaw and immoralityI am as straight as an arrow and politically embrace the right. That being said, I take serious offense at Richard Hollerman's invidious and logically incondite Sunday letter concerning "gay marriage."The problem in this country is not the "slippery slope" of sexual immorality, as he sees it, but rather the unholy alliance, marching in lock step, of religious fanatics and the power of the state.Hollerman's arrogance and hubris are appalling in that he thinks his version of what constitutes immorality is absolutely correct and that everyone else should adhere to it.Gay or conventional marriage, immorality, sin, fornication or quotes from the Bible have nothing to do with the Laws of Nature. The speed of light in a vacuum and the freezing point of water reflect the Laws of Nature.The real perversion is when religion and the state gang up to impede and destroy individual liberty and freedom in this country.-- Howard Luttrell, MansfieldHollerman's argument against homosexuality was based solely on the Bible. I feel I should point out that this country does not have a Christian government, it has a secular one.This means that basing laws solely on the Bible and your religious beliefs is not acceptable. It may form the motivation for doing such, but a secular reason must be found for why it should become law. Otherwise, all you are doing is setting up a religious government, something that runs counter to our Constitution.For reasons why, just think of a religion that you strongly disagree with and imagine laws being passed based solely on their religious belief with no secular reasons.Hollerman also asked if other forms of sexual perversions such as bestiality and pedophilia will become accepted now that homosexuality is. The answer is no.I can think of several secular reasons why both bestiality and pedophilia should be rejected. However, I cannot think of even one secular reason why two loving people of the same gender should not be able to get married.-- Bill Robinson, ArlingtonDrive-in grumblingA "back to the future" drive-in movie theater promises to reap a profit of $1.7 million over a 10-year contract with the Tarrant Regional Water District. The enlightened Star-Telegram Editorial Board says this "sounds like a way to jump-start activity along the Trinity River -- and at no risk to the taxpayer."A 1.8 percent return on $909 million may sound like a good deal to the dim bulbs at the water district, Trinity River Vision Authority and Star-Telegram, but it sounds to me like yet another departure from a flawed Trinity Uptown plan that includes a flooded wakeboard park (what is the profit from that?), and a no-bid, one-time good-deal restaurant lease. And at no risk to the taxpayer, you say?A couple hundred million to remediate flood potential caused by a half-billion-dollar rechanneling of the river, all to return far less than it costs. That's visionary?-- Clyde Picht, Fort WorthEducation fundingWho determines the future of our country? The answer is simple: our children.So why does our government feel it is appropriate to cut funding for education?The richest and most progressive country in the world cannot provide a quality education for all of the children who deserve it. How embarrassing!Is it more important to provide millions of dollars in gifts to foreign countries and to fund pork-barrel projects? Yet we lament that we are falling behind.A free education should be guaranteed to all children who want it and can do it. A child who doesn't get that opportunity might have been a future scientist, professor, heart surgeon or even president.We should not stand for this serious injustice to our children and teachers and should insist our government reverse course. Failure to change will permit the situation to deteriorate to where only the most fortunate will be able to get a quality education.-- Robert J. Tempert, GrapevineLetters policy
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