Don’t ban books from Texas school libraries Rep. Matt Krause

We supply a wide variety of books to schools for our children to learn. Or that’s how it’s supposed to work. Tribune News Service file photo illustration

Books are here to teach us things

Did state Rep. Matt Krause, a Fort Worth Republican, even read the books on the list that he’s questioning in Texas school libraries? (Oct. 28, 1A, “Fort Worth schools get lawmaker request targeting books”) What exactly did he find about Black Lives Matter, sex, sexuality, abortion or LGBTQ rights that was offensive in “Eyes on Target: Inside Stories from the Brotherhood of the U.S. Navy SEALs” by Scott McEwen and Richard Miniter, for example?

Many of the other books appear to be strictly informational about growing up and developing normally, which would answer adolescents’ questions when they have no adults to have “the talk” with.

Krause would make a better representative for the people in his district if he read these books instead of trying to ban them.

- Pat Wertheim, Arlington

No comparison in tasteless cartoon

Dick Collier’s Oct. 24 editorial cartoon (4C) is not just offensive — it’s also a misinformed false equivalency.

The image equates the tragic loss of life of Afghans desperately seeking an escape from violent terror with a disruption of an airline’s operations.

No humans were harmed during the cancellations and rescheduling of flights. No passengers clung to the outside of an aircraft only to die by falling to the tarmac, as was depicted.

Southwest, where I work, had a severe operational disruption that lasted a few days. And even then, most of the airline’s flights went off without a hitch, let alone a death.

- Tom Kelly, Arlington

Spiraling web of harm to others

As I read about Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg finessing his accountability for the damage caused by misinformation, I thought of the similarities to Ciara McCarthy’s reporting about a local mother’s struggle to keep her son safe from COVID-19. (Oct. 27, 1A, “Sickle cell families face school with fewer COVID protections”) The common thread is someone hurt by someone else’s action or inaction.

I doubt Zuckerberg or the parents in the Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD who won’t put masks on their kids intend harm. But it doesn’t take a genius to see that a lot of people have been and will continue to be hurt if Facebook operates as it has. And if parents, teachers, school administrators and Gov. Greg Abbott continue to operate as before, Shane Leonard’s health, and others who suffer more than the average health threats, will also continue to be hurt.

Facebook and Texas: All of us know they could be better.

- Bill Lanford, Haltom City

Rangers owners don’t give back

The people of Arlington gave the Texas Rangers a half-billion dollars for their stadium, and the owners thanked them with the sorriest team in baseball. What is the plan? We went through the season with third-rate players, and the team has dumped players with potential.

All we have is the same bunch of minor league guys (and they really try their hearts out) with a definite decision not to enter the free-agent market. The owners are simply waiting for the value of the franchise to increase (as it always seems to) so they can sell the Rangers and make another few hundred million.

- Charles Edwards, Fort Worth

Use it for the border wall

Sen. John Cornyn is why term limits are needed.

The biggest problem facing Texas and our country is the crisis at the border, yet Cornyn is wasting his time on a bill that would spend $40 billion over 10 years to provide broadband service to those without access. (Oct. 27, 6A, “Broadband bill from Sen. Cornyn faces uphill battle”) People choose to live in rural areas for many reasons, and they know some goods and services are not readily available in these areas.

Just as airlines charge more for service to smaller cities, broadband companies should do the same.

Just think what this $40 billion could do if applied to constructing a border wall.

- James Nadeau, Colleyville

The numbers on gas don’t add up

I’ve been hearing lately, especially on right-wing talk radio, that gas cars cost less to operate than electric cars. Really?

I’m assuming electricity costs the same whether I’m charging my electric car or running my air conditioner at home. So, is it cheaper to power your home using a gas generator instead of electricity? Raise your hand if you have a generator for your home on order.

Somebody’s lying to you, and I don’t think it’s math.

- Jay Fuller, Richland Hills