Symphony pride; gun liability; dental floss; GM in Arlington
Symphony pride
On a TV news program aired in advance of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, the first thing said, even before mention of that city’s NBA championship, was pride in its orchestra.
An orchestra board member was quoted as saying that the city has always rallied behind its orchestra, supporting it even in the toughest economic times. Its leaders acknowledged it took decades to build a world-class orchestra, and that once they had one, everything possible was done to keep and attract the best musicians.
Is it just for bragging rights? It seems like the community leaders behind the Cleveland Orchestra have figured out the value of having world-class musicians in their community. They not only bring joy through their concerts, but, more important, they get involved with students in the community, educating some to become stronger musicians and many more as patrons of the arts for future generations.
About 75 percent of the Fort Worth Symphony musicians teach in some capacity. If these talented teachers move, where does that leave the next generation in our fine city? It’s time to support our FWSO musicians!
Jerry Daniel, Fort Worth
Gun liability
State Sen. Bob Hall, in an attempt to appeal to the basest (pun intended) of his constituency and to the gun lobby, wants to pass a law making private businesses liable for the safety of patrons if they bar the open carry of weapons (”Lawmaker plans to make gun-free businesses liable,” Aug. 9).
So, after careful consideration of their business policies, they have to change to suit the whims of the extreme right wing? Sounds a bit like extortion to me.
I suppose if a patron is injured by a licensed gun owner, either accidentally or purposefully, Hall and his cronies will agree to be personally liable.
It seems conservative principles only apply when they fit his agenda. Where is the outcry from true conservatives over this heavy-handed meddling?
Gail McCoy, Fort Worth
Dental floss
As a practicing dentist the best evidence for me is in my own mouth. If I miss a night’s flossing and floss at 48 hours, I will hit some stinkers. Goobers where the bacteria are happily excreting away (”Medical benefits of dental floss are unproven, feds say,” Aug. 3).
Patients who really floss are our top 5-10 percent of dental patients who do everything right, make their checkups and rarely have anything for me to do. They are also the happiest.
Maybe I should be glad about this misinformation being circulated. More work for us dentists in the future! But sincerely: Please don’t take this very bad advice to quit flossing!
Griff Murphey DDS,
Fort Worth
GM in Arlington
During 40 years at Arlington’s GM plant, I participated in the fight to keep it open. So I challenge Wayne Ogle’s inference that Mayor Richard Greene’s offer of tax incentives “saved” our plant. (“Just say ‘no’ to the ‘no’ crowd on ballpark,” Aug. 9)
It was Democratic Mayor Tommy Vandergriff’s incentives that brought the plant to Arlington, and when it was threatened, Democratic Gov. Ann Richards’ Texas contingent flew to Detroit for a heart-to-heart with GM’s chairman and president.
Meanwhile, the Arlington plant’s management and UAW Local 276 leadership abandoned adversarial roles and negotiated work agreements and manufacturing systems that became benchmarks for other plants while laying groundwork that would made the plant profitable and competitive for future GM products.
That GM has since and continues to invest heavily in Arlington’s GM plant is due to the outstanding quality of work by its people over time, not a tax incentive.
Robert Moore, Fort Worth
This story was originally published August 12, 2016 at 6:06 PM with the headline "Symphony pride; gun liability; dental floss; GM in Arlington."