Pope’s credibility; symbols for learning; Supreme Court wins

Pope’s credibility

Tucked away in the June 22 edition of the Star-Telegram was a brief article about Pope Francis denouncing the “great powers” of the world for not acting to prevent certain groups of people from being transported to death camps during World War II.

Apparently the pope was including the United States and Britain as “great powers.” The Allies had painful memories of World War I at that time, and our country was not far removed from the Great Depression when Adolf Hitler began to take control.

Pope Francis neglected to mention the fact that Pope Pius XII was essentially a supporter of Benito Mussolini’s fascist regime in Italy and of the Nazi regime in Germany.

Also, Pope Francis hails from Argentina, a country that gave refuge to former Nazis, including Adolf Eichmann. Argentina clearly supported the Axis powers during World War II.

When a religious leader decides to speak out in such an accusatory manner and shows a lack of knowledge of history, he loses much of his credibility.

— Katherine C. Streetenberger, Euless

Symbols for learning

People like Mary Maayeh, writer of a Wednesday letter (“Flags and statues”), have it totally wrong.

While I do not fly the Confederate flag, we cannot take down such symbols because we disagree with them.

There’s been talk of razing the Jefferson Memorial. If we do that, why not the Washington Monument, or rename our capital city and the state of Washington? What symbol is next?

These things need to remain in the open as reminders of a past we need not repeat. They should be tools for learning. Burying them will not erase history.

People of today were not victims of that era. If people find such symbols offensive, let’s outlaw the rainbow colors, the flag of the Black Panthers, etc. It’s not hard to offend someone today.

We are supposed to be an open, tolerant society, but it doesn’t seem that way unless your ideals are to the left.

— Richard Lilly, Haltom City

Supreme Court wins

Liberals won in the Supreme Court with the ban on the hated Confederate flag on our license plates and gay Americans allowed to marry and create families.

Conservatives won with Supreme Court decisions that allow more mercury and other toxic pollutants in our air and new drugs to execute people.

What a defining difference based on what each side calls a “win.”

— Mark Bauer, Colleyville

This story was originally published July 6, 2015 at 5:43 PM with the headline "Pope’s credibility; symbols for learning; Supreme Court wins."