Two simultaneous art festivals proved Fort Worth knows how to include everyone

Spread Fort Worth’s art and joy

I’m an African American female Fort Worthian, and I’ve attended the Main Street Fort Worth Arts Festival almost every year since 1986. Initially, there were a few Black artists, but they were slowly squeezed out because of the increasingly high cost to participate.

I was elated Saturday when I found breathtakingly beautiful local Black and Indigenous people’s art on display at the Fort Worth Art Fair. So, I’m confused about all the negativity I’d read about how divisive it was to have the Fort Worth Art Fair and Main Street Art Festival simultaneously.

I’m missing something, because the Fort Worth way that I know can often be one of isolation and exclusivity. The Fort Worth Art Fair is a perfect example of inclusivity. God bless Sasha Bass for starting it.

- Wanda McKinney, Fort Worth

An example from Eastern Europe

CBS’ “60 Minutes” interview with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was phenomenal. Zelenskyy combines the shrewdness and brilliance of Benjamin Franklin, the eloquence of Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln, and the bravery, leadership and fortitude of George Washington. Oh, what a contrast to the likes of Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Rep. Kevin McCarthy and Donald Trump, men who’d crawl into the nearest sewer at the merest sound of danger.

The United States needs to do everything possible to aid Ukraine and oppose Vladimir Putin and the Russians.

- Dale Stevens, Plantersville

Democrats do the same thing

Democrats are nothing but hypocrites when it comes to transporting immigrants who enter the country illegally to Washington. When Gov. Greg Abbott suggested doing so, Democrats howled that it was illegal.

I just got done watching a video of the Biden administration doing the same thing, flying immigrants to Westchester, New York, in 2021. A private security firm was given $136 million to transport them.

Millions of people crossing our borders every year has to stop. U.S. citizens must come first.

- Donna Bierd, Keller

Seeking diversity is bias to me

Sen. Jon Ossoff of Georgia, along with other Democrats, have said that we “need more diversity” on the Supreme Court. Translated, that means “bias.” Here’s an idea: Treat everyone the same and expect confirmed Supreme Court judges to do the same.

- Marshall Stewart, Fort Worth

Peoples is for all the people

There is but one choice for Tarrant County judge, and that’s Deborah Peoples. She would bring well-paying jobs to the county that we would be proud to have. She would bring dignity to Tarrant County. And she would be a judge for all the people.

- Don Drain, Fort Worth

Why support breaking rules?

I was surprised that a petition in support of the teachers who fraudulently took student lunches garnered 700 signatures. (April 5, 1A, “Petition supports Joshua teachers who abused lunch program”) Do those supporters realize they could be putting Joshua ISD federal funding at risk?

The community support suggests that many people think these are good teachers. But good teachers do not encourage children to break rules or, in this case, the law. The teachers knew what they were doing was wrong. Otherwise, they would have gone to the cafeteria and gotten the lunches themselves.

Perhaps on the next teacher in-service day, Joshua ISD should have workshops on ethics and Integrity.

- Marilyn Reid, Bedford