Letters: Wowed by Trinity; Iran nuclear deal; chaos and anarchy; about telemedicine; Jackson in FWISD

Wowed by Trinity

Last weekend, I took in part of the Trinity Trails system along the Trinity River.

I really had no expectations, but was curious about the condition of the river and what I would experience. I wasn’t expecting to be wowed, but I was.

There were some truly beautiful views of the river.

It was hard to believe I was right in the middle of civilization. It felt very serene and natural.

I saw a number of birds I have never seen in Tarrant County, including a bluebird and a scissortail flycatcher.

There were kayakers, fishermen and lots of bikers. It was a very pleasant experience.

Perhaps most impressive was the fact that there was virtually no trash.

I brought a garbage bag to pick up anything I found, but I returned with it still nearly empty.

I know that in decades past, we have not respected this river that represents our roots in North Texas, but I can say that is no longer true, at least from what I saw.

I appreciate the efforts made by the Tarrant Regional Water District and others, and would encourage everyone to find a trail and explore.

— Daniel J. Haase, Fort Worth

Iran nuclear deal

The radical inflexibility in refusing to await the final agreement, due to be arrived at within a few weeks, rather than proceed blindly forward by rejecting out of hand the negotiating process regarding the Iran situation strikes me as unreasonable.

Why should Congress, without knowing the full content of any final proposals, proceed to undercut what may turn out to be the best option for impeding or delaying Iran’s development of a nuclear bomb rush forward to undercut the negotiation process?

Better that they await the proper time, when all the proposed elements of the agreement are in place, to exercise their rightful duty to approve or disapprove.

In 1829, in a letter to Nicholas Trist, former President James Madison referred to the attitude of his fellow Southerners toward protective tariff proposals as “lying between an impenetrable stupidity and an incurable prejudice.”

That would seem to be the perfect description of the attitudes of those who find an almost certain short-term march toward war preferable to a thoughtful search for diplomatic negotiation toward a mutually acceptable peaceful solution.

— Charles Alexander, Benbrook

Chaos and anarchy

Recently there has been talk of allowing religious beliefs to override the law, especially when homosexuality is involved.

If we allow citizens to be exempt from laws at their own discretion, we are allowing chaos and anarchy.

If a bill successfully passes through our government and becomes law, it is obvious that a large group sees it as necessary and proper to enforce those regulations on the entire population.

What is the point of passing a law if it can be lawfully broken?

— Will Johnson, Carrollton

About telemedicine

As a retired physician, I have no skin in this game. Telemedicine is second-rate care.

How can a physician with no knowledge of a patient make more than a provisional and at times wrong diagnosis on a patient after a brief online interview?

This isn’t about one group of doctors protecting another group’s income.

This is about well-intentioned professionals setting standards that entrepreneurial companies must live by to protect patients.

Care is already being diluted by physician extenders seeking privileges without oversight.

Telemed is one more impersonal step away from direct patient care.

Everyone loses in this scenario.

— Charles Andrews, Fort Worth

Jackson in FWISD

For the past four years we have seen the trustee from District 2 on the Fort Worth school board work tirelessly to improve the schools she represents in east Fort Worth.

Because of these efforts we have seen remarkable improvement in these schools, which are vital to the economic and residential stability of our community.

Tobi Jackson has decided to try for four more years of unappreciated and unpaid service to our young people.

I can’t vote for her, but she has my gratitude and my support.

I hope the District 2 voters keep her in place with their votes.

— Wanda Conlin, Fort Worth

This story was originally published April 17, 2015 at 6:46 PM with the headline "Letters: Wowed by Trinity; Iran nuclear deal; chaos and anarchy; about telemedicine; Jackson in FWISD."