They don’t make statesmen like George H.W. Bush anymore

Let’s Hook ’Em on a different page

Mac Engel is a terrific sports writer whose columns I have read for years. But his woe-is-me complaint about the downward “Hook ’Em Horns” sign as a taunt belongs in the Sports section. (Nov. 29, 1A, “Sorry, Longhorns: Hook ’Em should now be a 15-yard penalty, too”)

He should be glad the University of Oklahoma was given the warning rather than the referees calling a penalty when a player on the field made that gesture in the face of a University of Texas player.

But, really, how trivial can such an argument be?

Does the newsroom think there are no other worthy significant current events that need coverage on the front page: tariffs, factory closings, Russian aggression in the Crimea, China thumbing its nose at the government, troops on the U.S. southern border?

But you chose to lead with the pathetic racism and narrow-minded thinking of the GOP targeting Muslims in Tarrant County. (“Republicans who want to remove Muslim add targets”)

By the by, Republicans, that is certainly an enlightened way to expand your voting base.

A small group making a big noise

Although I am not a Republican, I do not believe the majority of Republicans in Tarrant County are racist and want to see Dr. Shahid Shafi deposed.

My hope is that a representative group within the party will step forward and quell this unfair attempt to remove him.

Hang in there, Dr. Shafi.

Leonard Pitts Jr. needs to go

The Star-Telegram should not publish any more op-ed columns by Leonard Pitts Jr.

On Nov. 23, he wrote that the Georgia elections were corrupted because of alleged Republican restrictions. (13A, GOP cannot win without cheating”) Then on Nov. 29, he wrote that “migrants” were subjected to tear gas after they had “walked” 2,000 miles. (9A, “The day we used tear gas against children”)

No country would permit forcible entry by a group of foreigners and then provide them citizen entitlements.

Pitts apparently ignored the previous administration’s use of tear gas for border control and forgets that those arriving on Ellis Island needed evidence that they were healthy and had prospects for supporting themselves.

He should get all the facts before subjecting readers to his biased opinions.

Bush an example of past honor

An era has passed. It was an era when those running for president actually were qualified for the office by virtue of having served in important government positions in which experience counted.

It was an era when those running for president had the demeanor, the character and the integrity that provided role-model leadership for the people.

It wasn’t necessary to always agree with these people’s policies and decisions. Respect for the office they occupied was almost always the overriding factor.

George H.W. Bush was the last of that era. He was likable and honest and had a fairytale marriage. He had served in war, as an ambassador, as head of an agency and as vice president. The four who have succeeded him fall far short.

Mr. President, thank you for your devotion to the nation.