Motorcycle deaths; gun message; crossing streets; school lunch; degree of bias

Motorcycle deaths

I am sorry to say that one of the reports I regularly read is the news of motorcycle deaths.

There is one almost every day, and most of them are accidents involving only the rider and his bike.

Am I the only one who thinks there is a problem here?

What would be only a minor fender bender in a car accident is often fatal to the motorcycle rider. One might as well ride on the hood of your car for the thrill.

I know people love their bikes, but perhaps the city and state need to take a closer look.

Is there not something we as a society can do to mitigate this American carnage?

Gun message

Recently, I saw a flyer advertising a fundraiser for CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) at a shooting range.

I find this very troubling.

CASA is set up to help children caught up in Child Protective Services and foster care.

Having been a CASA volunteer, I know firsthand the importance of this service to our children.

More than 2,000 American children every year are injured or killed in gun violence.

I support the Second Amendment, but I question the use of a gun range event to promote the valuable work of CASA.

The Fort Worth mayor, who is honorary chair for this May 19 event, is not part of Mayors Against Gun Violence.

Mayors are leaders on public safety issues, and they should know that common-sense gun laws and policies can keep guns out of the wrong hands.

Are we really sending the right message?

Crossing streets

It is a sad statistic that the number of pedestrians hit by cars is increasing.

However, it is no surprise when I drive near schools and see people crossing the street without looking to see if a car is coming, or crossing with their ears plugged up listening to something besides traffic, or crossing while talking to friends instead of looking at traffic.

By first grade, I was taught to stop, look and listen before crossing a street.

That was over half a century ago, but it still applies.

School lunch

It's regrettable that the government is softening its stance on healthful food choices in school lunches by permitting the return of higher levels of sodium and offering flavored milk.

The latter adds sugar, artificial flavors and possibly artificial color (as in strawberry-flavored), none of which is desirable for children's health and learning.

Let's urge our local schools to do what is best nutritionally for our students.

Degree of bias

Columnist Richard Greene is apparently a fan of irony.

He should cut-and-paste this paragraph from his Sunday column to use as a disclaimer in the future:

“Such self-appointed authorities should be viewed and translated only on the basis of the degree of bias they have in reaching their entirely predictable conclusions.”

Well said.

This story was originally published May 3, 2017 at 5:34 PM with the headline "Motorcycle deaths; gun message; crossing streets; school lunch; degree of bias."