Thanks, Dickies Arena, for letting us go maskless at Tuesday’s James Taylor concert
Vaccine denial hurts sick people
I welcome convincing data showing that people who have recovered from COVID-19 can better resist infections than vaccinated people. But proving someone had COVID requires a test, and who pays for it?
You can’t ignore the societal savings of mask mandates — especially the costs for Medicare, insurers and local governments to care for hospitalized COVID patients. I welcome an ending of mandates if those refusing the vaccine sign a statement that they will be responsible for any medical care needed if they contract the illness.
The filling up of hospital beds with COVID patients hurts the general population beyond the cost. My daughter-in-law’s surgery to prevent a potential recurrence of cancer was delayed 45 days because hospital beds weren’t available.
- Paul Park, Fort Worth
What a bummer about masks
I attended the James Taylor concert Tuesday at Dickies Arena, where masks were “strongly recommended” but not required. I am fully vaccinated, so I chose not to wear a mask. About one-quarter of the crowd wore masks, and no one I saw confronted anyone else for wearing or not wearing one. The concert was a near-sellout, and it was celebratory and joyous.
The prior Friday, I attended a symphony performance at Bass Performance Hall. Its policy was mandatory mask-wearing throughout the performance. Staffers scanned the crowd for patrons violating this policy and confronted them, even if their masks just fell below their noses. The hall was one-third full and had a tense and stressful feeling.
Bravo to Dickies Arena. Boo to Bass Hall.
- Larry Falcone, Fort Worth
We need some clarity on that label
I noticed that a candidate running in a local nonpartisan race felt compelled to identify as a Republican on her campaign sign. That led me to consider what that national party identifier could really mean. Is she a Chamber of Commerce, small-business, George H.W. Bush Republican, or is she at the other end of the spectrum: an anti-democracy Republican? I can’t tell from the sign.
The claim to be a Republican has lost all actual meaning. Perhaps Republicans should add a descriptive adjective to the label. For example: A “democracy-favoring Republican,” or a throwback “know-nothing Republican,” or one of the 35% of the party who are “authoritarian Republicans.”
- Charles Stonick, Granbury
Biden is the actual authoritarian
I saw no humor, only political bias, in Tuesday’s editorial cartoon by Jack Ohman. (7A) It implied that Donald Trump was an authoritarian president. It’s President Joe Biden, Mr. Mandate, who is my way or the highway. Don’t waste space with this drivel.
- Ken Sapp, Granbury
Redrawing voter maps a threat
Republicans in Austin are increasing penalties for almost nonexistent illegal voting while gerrymandering political districts to stay in power. Which is the bigger crime in Texas?
- Jeff Harper, Fort Worth
I’m worried about migrants
I am confused by this administration’s handling of the COVID-19 crisis. Many government and police departments mandate vaccinations for employees. But migrants cross our southern border without being required to be vaccinated. Unaccompanied children are being flown to places such as Westchester County, New York, and then bused to various sites. What will it take for President Joe Biden and Congress to realize the danger they are putting our citizens in?
- Angela Benvenuto, Arlington