Did you really have to spoil Grapevine Parade of Lights with ‘Let’s go Brandon’ sign?

Parade no place for nasty politics

The True Texas Project tried to ruin a beautiful, family-friendly event, the Parade of Lights in Grapevine. The group signed the agreement with parade officials, which clearly states groups can only have signs with the names of their organizations and nothing political. This group chose to carry a sign that read “Let’s go Brandon,” which is a stand-in for a vulgarity directed at President Joe Biden.

Why would you have this disgusting sign in a Christmas parade? Communities need to be wary of the group and prevent it from participating in such events.

- Marilyn Wood, Grapevine

Women can’t walk away as men do

We can’t make people get a vaccine if they don’t want it because it’s their right. We can’t make them wear a mask. But we can force a woman to stay pregnant when she doesn’t want to be.

And that’s after the person who caused the pregnancy has walked away. No one compels a man to go through a pregnancy or to raise the child once it’s born. I fail to see how we’re equal under those rules. How is it fair?

Again and again, we hold a woman 100% responsible for something that she is only partially responsible for. The world remains convenient only for a chosen few.

- Carolea Hassard, Bracketville

Start them when they’re young

The Sunday story “Diversity in STEM still lacking,” (15A) describing efforts to improve diversity in STEM careers, reports that 11% of Hispanic and 4% of Black students obtained STEM degrees in 2018. This is strikingly similar to third-grade reading proficiency in the Fort Worth school district in 2019. I doubt this is a coincidence. In every profession seeking diversity, addressing early literacy is an unavoidable step.

- Robert Rogers, Fort Worth

The least shocking story ever

So, a government-owned radio station that plays a format that few listen to, funded by some ad revenue, had its funding raided by the city and is now being penalized for being a drag on the city. (Dec. 6, 2A, “WRR 101.1 FM could be forced to switch from classical music”)

Go figure.

- Jack Obannon, Sanger

Arlington fails all its residents

Whether they voted to allow a new gas well next to the Mother’s Heart Learning Center day care or not, Arlington City Council members seemed to cringe Tuesday night at the looming threat of a state law on fracking restrictions. It threatens expensive legal battles over local decisions.

Then, it was my turn to cringe as council member after council member admonished those in attendance to take the fight to the Legislature and get the law overturned, as if we didn’t try in 2015.

Ordinary Texans don’t have the heft and lobbying power of municipalities. I thought local elected officials were supposed to use the weight of their offices and budgets to advocate and fight in court, if necessary, for the best interests of their citizens.

- Caryl Sherman-Gonzalez, Fort Worth

Loan holders in a tough spot

Private student-loan holders are not afforded protections like those provided in federal student-loan programs. During hardships, they have few repayment options, making their lives miserable. Given low wages and inflation, making student-loan payments will be difficult.

We need forgiveness for both private and federal student loans or at least changes to the bankruptcy codes to make bankruptcy much easier for those who need it.

- Don Peters, Burleson