Opinion articles provide independent perspectives on key community issues, separate from our newsroom reporting.

Letters to the Editor

GOP and vaccines; qualified for president; Trump endorsements

GOP and vaccines

Donald Trump claimed in Wednesday’s Republican debate that autism is related to childhood vaccines. This is problematic on several levels.

First, the initial British study was severely flawed, the results debunked and the author disciplined by the British medical community. Multiple studies throughout the world involving thousands of children failed to show any link between autism and childhood vaccines.

Based on one friend’s experience, Trump made this leap of faith. It’s unfortunate that these comments may cause some parents not to immunize their children against these potentially deadly and neuro-developmentally damaging illnesses.

The fact that the two physicians on the panel did not respond more strongly is surprising and disgraceful.

As a candidate, Trump does not outline his policies in detail. He declared that when he needs to make decisions on a matter on which he has a lack of knowledge, he will consult with experts in the field and do an abundance of his own research.

If his statements on autism are an example of this, it gives pause as to how he will approach other matters that are not familiar territory for him.

— Dr. Julian Stuart Haber, Fort Worth

Qualified for president

A letter writer believes none of the Republican candidates is qualified (“Perry is out”).

Let’s see: seven governors, five senators, two highly successful CEOs and a world-renowned leader in the medical field.

You may not agree with what they say or how they say it, but to label them unqualified?

Compared to our sitting president’s qualifications when elected?

— George Vittas,

Bedford

 

Trump endorsements

When New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady endorsed Donald Trump last week, I was not at all surprised.

We all know that winning is everything in the National Football League.

However, when Pastor Robert Jeffress of First Baptist Dallas kissed Trump’s ring on center stage of the American Airlines Center on Sept. 14, my heart sank.

Please tell me it isn’t so.

If winning trumps character, even for an evangelical church, then what is the difference between the NFL and First Baptist Dallas?

I assume the 12,000 members of First Baptist Dallas are comfortable with this “Pathway to Victory.”

— Cherry Langford,

North Richland Hills

Letters

Letters should be no longer than 200 words and must have a full name, home street address, city of residence and both a home and daytime telephone number for verification.

E-mail (preferred): letters@star-telegram.com; Fax: 817-390-7688

Regular mail: Letters to the Editor, Box 1870, Fort Worth TX 76101

This story was originally published September 21, 2015 at 5:48 PM with the headline "GOP and vaccines; qualified for president; Trump endorsements."

Get unlimited digital access
#ReadLocal

Try 1 month for $1

CLAIM OFFER