Dog wrongdoers; Martin vs. Craig; immigration lawsuit; Mar-a-Lago costs; Juneteenth

Dog wrongdoers

The dog that was shot had more sense than the two humans (“He shot a dog while campaigning for his wife. Now he gets to face a judge,” Tuesday).

The owner claims his dog is harmless but admits he let him into the front yard unrestrained?

Pedro Juarez Jr. didn’t know he needed a license to carry a firearm?

Society enacts rules to protect citizens, but some assume privileges they don’t have.

I’ve been bitten three times by neighbors’ dogs that they assured didn’t bite.

Some people just don’t get it.

Martin vs. Craig

The incident involving Officer Martin, Itamar Vardi and Jacqueline Craig and her family shows how we don't listen to one another because we are so busy defending ourselves (“High-ranking officials: Officer didn’t use excessive force in Craig arrest,” June 17).

Officer Martin was apparently overwhelmed by the number of folks wanting justice in the matter of a grown man bullying a child.

Itamar Vardi had the same concern as Officer Martin: lots of angry neighbors.

Jacqueline Craig was in the odd position of defending her parenting skills to Officer Martin who had taken up Vardi's original beef about raisins in his yard.

This was a scene right out of “Alice in Wonderland.”

After months of defending everybody, we have apparently not learned a thing.

Perhaps if the leaders representing the African-American community and Officer Martin and the police department tried a little harder to listen to each other, they would learn something useful.

Here is how to determine if we have listened well: when we can tell the other side's story such that they themselves could not tell it better.

It is time for leaders to lead instead of defending a self-righteous cycle of blame.

Immigration lawsuit

Senate Bill 4 just makes sure Texas follows our U.S. leaders on immigration (“Senate Bill 4 is wrong, but should cities sue?”, Thursday).

I don't understand why leaders in cities like Dallas and Austin think it is OK to resist U.S. law.

You can disagree and work to get laws changed, but you need to follow them.

I sure hope and trust that our Fort Worth City Council does not join the lawsuit.

Mar-a-Lago costs

How many meals on wheels could we pay for if we taxpayers were not spending, reportedly, $3 million every other weekend to send Trump to Mar-a-Lago?

How many school lunches could we pay for if we taxpayers were not being asked to spend an additional $60 million for the Secret Service to protect the Trump family in their various residences and travels?

How many children could learn to read with “Sesame Street” with the money we taxpayers are spending to have the Secret Service follow the Trump sons all over the world to increase the family fortune?

I read that it cost us taxpayers almost $10,000 for a trip about building a hotel in Uruguay.

How do you compare the need for such an ostentatious lifestyle, so much greed and so many conflicts of interest with the needs of children and the elderly?

Juneteenth

In the June 19, 1865, order by Army Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger at Galveston, “absolute equality” means that everyone is equal. Right?

Say four persons try for the same job. Even if a white person is the most qualified, a qualified minority will get the job to give that person a chance.

Is this truly equality?

I believe there should be no questions about race on questionnaires or applications. Let the person who is the best qualified have the job, period!

That is equality! All of us are equal and should be treated as such in all manners of life.

This story was originally published June 23, 2017 at 5:10 PM with the headline "Dog wrongdoers; Martin vs. Craig; immigration lawsuit; Mar-a-Lago costs; Juneteenth."