Greg Abbott and Ron DeSantis prove their weakness with tough-guy immigrant stunts

Dehumanizing cruelty

Dropping off immigrants near Vice President Kamala Harris’ residence and sending others to Martha’s Vineyard are immature stunts that privilege cruelty over decency and drama over democracy. (Sept. 16, 13A, “2 busloads of migrants arrive near residence of VP Harris”; 10A, “Florida flies migrants to ‘sanctuary’ of Martha’s Vineyard”)

Strutting their macho bona fides, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis exploit voters who prefer pseudo-toughness to problem-solving skills.

If these governors honored America as a promised land — a sanctuary for asylum seekers, an opportunity for those who want to succeed — they would collaborate with other state leaders, Congress and the president to craft sensible immigration laws.

That’s what tough politicians do. Weak ones, like Abbott and DeSantis, dehumanize immigrants by using these vulnerable people as props in their fear-inducing narratives.

- Barbara Chiarello, Austin

Money well spent on busing

I saw recently that Gov. Greg Abbott and the state have spent $12 million sending unauthorized immigrants to cities in other states. (Sept. 8, 2A, “Busing migrants to sanctuary cities has cost state $12M”) Those places need to experience the same problems we face every day with the southern border. I can’t think of a better way to spend our money.

- Lynn Miller, Granbury

Democrats are the real risk

The author of a Sept. 13 letter to the editor (9A) says that if we don’t vote for Democrats, the Republicans are going to destroy our democracy. If you are worried about our republic, these things would destroy it: Expanding the Supreme Court. Getting rid of the Senate filibuster. The federal government taking over elections. Teaching one party’s politics in public schools. Denying people freedom of speech.

These are just a few of the real things that Democrats are trying to do that would destroy our republic. If you want to save it, don’t vote for them.

- Gene Tignor, Emory

Buzzwords, not critical thinking

Carlos Turcios’ Sept. 10 column was riddled with ridiculous claims and overwrought assertions. (6A, “Parents taking on school boards aren’t ideologues”) He tosses around terms such as “woke” and “critical race theory” with abandon. He absurdly claims that a “lie in the classroom” caused the Black Lives Matter “riots.”

Umm, no, unarmed young Black men being killed by police led to protests.

Turcios says that an “indoctrination machine” has been in public schools for decades. I’ve had four kids graduate from Fort Worth schools in the last couple decades, and all I saw were lots of hardworking teachers who had neither the time nor the inclination to indoctrinate anyone.

However, I hope he and I can agree on one thing: Our public schools need to do a better job of teaching critical thinking, because his essay is proof they are falling down on the job.

- Dee Potter, Fort Worth

No, Azle isn’t ‘podunk, redneck’

My sympathy goes out to the mother who was so upset about the perceived lack of communication after a threat to a high school last week (Sept. 15, 1A, “School threats terrify parents, raise safety concerns”) But I cannot accept her characterization of Azle as a “podunk, redneck town.”

I’ve lived here 35 years, and that is not my experience.

Azle ISD and the city of Azle have worked together diligently for years on campus security. When you compare this district with those in big cities and wealthy suburbs, Azle stacks up well.

But it goes beyond that. The community of Azle cares for its children in a way bigger, wealthier cities can only dream of.

It would be easy to tell this mother to just go live somewhere else. Her family chose Azle. Instead, I would encourage her to open her eyes and work to improve her community — not run it down.

- Bob Buckel, Azle

Model good gun ownership

More than 1,800 children are killed with guns in the U.S. every year. The common sense that once defined our relationship with guns has disappeared. There is more we can and must do to maintain moderate gun safety measures. In the past, the right to own a gun was less of a focus than the responsibility of owning it safely and using it responsibly.

Modeling responsible behavior around guns and making sure they are stored securely are reasonable steps that we can all take to help save the life of a child.

- Alicia Hawley-Bernardez, Fort Worth