Are Weatherford protesters racist or patriotic? Star-Telegram readers discuss

There’s just one path forward

Boycotting the city of Weatherford and Parker County is easy. (July 27, 1A, “Protesters near Fort Worth clash with other groups in Weatherford”) I can find a tea room, chicken fried steak and peaches in more forward-leaning places and not cast a shadow on that courthouse square.

Good old boys are threatened that their white, male privilege is under attack by modernity. Unless one is working for progress toward the realization of the ideals of the Constitution and Bill of Rights, he is impeding equality.

Where are the churches of Parker County? They are irrelevant if they, too, are not actively seeking justice.

- Elaine Formby, Bedford

It was patriotic, not racist

Why would you write that the people of Weatherford were being racist? I was there, and it was just the opposite. When racism was thrown in their faces, these patriots stood their ground.

Good job making Texas look weak to the rest of the nation.

- Ryan Goforth, Granbury

Free to spread disease?

Tarrant County reported a record 15 deaths from COVID-19 on July 25. But Freedom Fest, a moronic organized rebellion against pandemic-related closures of bars, happened over the weekend.

Recently, my son decided to go to a bar in Mississippi to celebrate being transferred back to Texas. He brought a case of COVID-19 back to Texas. His group of five friends all tested positive.

My son never developed a fever, although he was probably contagious for several days before he developed symptoms.

Serving alcohol in close quarters during a pandemic is stupid and selfish. Freedom comes with a responsibility to protect others.

- Fred Gregory, Arlington

Too early to return to class

What profession exposes for eight hours a day, five days a week an at-risk population of 15 to 30 individuals in their immediate workspace and 500 to 5,000 individuals in the building, all of whom demonstrate at best a child’s comprehension of social distancing? Education.

Texas teachers face a perfect storm of risk factors that is unlike any other profession.

We have all had our life touched by a teacher. Picture the one who touched yours alone and dying in a hospital, without loved ones around him or her.

Please tell your local leaders not to open schools until case numbers and hospitalizations are under control.

- Allen Argyle Woodruff, Watauga

Can’t give Trump his due

On Wednesday, the Star-Telegram had a great article on Page 4A about Texas A&M being awarded a $265 million federal contract to prepare to mass produce a potential COVID-19 vaccine. (“Texas A&M gets $265M contract to make potential COVID-19 vaccine”)

This was great news for all of us. So, why wasn’t it on the front page?

A vaccine seems to be the only way out of the pandemic. Half the page was dedicated to an interesting story about the Lonesome Dove Cemetery. I guess you didn’t want to have any positive steps by the Trump administration on the front page.

- Walter Marcinowsky, Mansfield