Big game trophies; presidential names; TCU speech issue; gay wedding cake

Big game trophies

American Airlines deserves praise for banning the shipment of lion, leopard, elephant, rhinoceros and Cape buffalo “trophies” — the so-called “Africa Big Five,” some of the rarest and most majestic animals in the world.

The senseless killing of Cecil the lion by a Minnesota dentist was not an isolated incident. Every year, American trophy hunters kill more than 400 lions, simply because they want their heads as showpieces.

And that’s not to mention thousands more majestic African animals gunned down by Westerners, not for food or management, but for the thrill of the kill and a head-hunting exercise.

We commend American Airlines for announcing that it wants no part of being a getaway vehicle for the theft of Africa’s wildlife.

By refusing to fly the “trophies” of Africa’s largest wildlife back to America, American Airlines is sending a powerful signal about protecting Africa’s greatest living resources and the many economic benefits they bring to nations that trade on life-affirming wildlife-watching programs.

There’s more work to do, but for now I hope you’ll join me in thanking American Airlines for doing the right thing for animals and conservation.

— Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO, Humane Society of the United States, Washington, D.C.

Presidential names

The United States has had five presidents whose first name was James. Four were named John and four William. Three were named George, two Andrew and two Franklin.

Twenty-three presidents have been sole possessors of their name: Thomas, Martin, Zachary, Millard, Abraham, Ulysses, Rutherford, Chester, Grover, Benjamin, Theodore, Woodrow, Warren, Calvin, Herbert, Harry, Dwight, Lyndon, Richard, Gerald, Jimmy, Ronald and Barack.

There has never been a Don. Hard to believe — a Barack but no Don!

It seems to me that if the Republicans nominate The Donald they will make history and add a fresh name to the illustrious roll: Hillary.

— Don Woodard Sr., Fort Worth

TCU speech issue

I don’t often agree with Cynthia M. Allen, but I couldn’t agree more with her Friday column, “Regulating speech on campus.”

Texas Christian University, more specifically Glory Robinson, wildly over-reacted to Harry Vincent’s sophomoric tweets. Perhaps they should have investigated more closely the girl who seems to have rushed to tattle on him in what appears to have been some kind of childish spat.

Kudos to TCU Chancellor Victor Boschini for his more clear-headed intervention. Perhaps he should have a little talk with Glory Robinson about proportionality.

— Clarice Peninger, Fort Worth

Gay wedding cake

A Colorado Court of Appeals has affirmed a ruling that a baker violated that state’s Anti-Discrimination Act by refusing to provide a cake for a gay wedding.

I submit this violated the free exercise of religion clause of the First Amendment, made applicable to the states by the Fourteenth Amendment.

It may be true as a general matter that “orientation” is not a valid basis to discriminate. However, this can take on constitutional significance depending on what is being provided and why the refusal is made.

In other words, just refusing to bake a cake for just any old occasion because the baker is offended by the sexual orientation of the prospective purchaser may well be a state law violation not protected by the Constitution.

But when the particular reason for the refusal is because the baker does not want to support a gay marriage ceremony based on religious convictions, the First Amendment comes into play. And the proper resolution of those “competing principles” in that instance is in favor of the free exercise right under the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause.

— Thomas F. Harkins Jr., Fort Worth

This story was originally published August 18, 2015 at 5:57 PM with the headline "Big game trophies; presidential names; TCU speech issue; gay wedding cake."