I’m a conservative US Navy veteran. Texas school districts blocking books terrify me

Not the spirit of US Constitution

Keller ISD’s action against books is appalling. (Aug. 19, 19A, “Keller ISD needs a dose of common sense in book policy”) I read “Fahrenheit 451” as a junior high student and thought what Ray Bradbury predicted about banning and burning books couldn’t possibly happen here.

About the same age, I also read “The Diary of a Young Girl” by Anne Frank. The Nazi murder campaigns were terrifying, but again, I felt safe here.

Politicians from Gov. Greg Abbott down to local school boards are scaring me more and more, and I am a lifelong conservative, retired U.S. Navy aviator and devotee of our Constitution.

This is all happening because a loud few cannot accept the principles of our nation. Fear and ignorance is not our way.

- Mark Davis, Keller

Biden should learn from Texas

The author of an Aug. 14 letter to the editor (4C) said Texas should learn from Washington, D.C., on a variety of topics. Texas and Florida were two of the best states to live in during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our economies never fell through the bottom, and we had more freedoms.

Joe Biden’s Washington is doing everything it can to ruin our nation. If you don’t see it, please move there and see how fast you run back to Texas.

- Sandra Lewis, Joshua

I don’t want to pay for this

Before the city triples one of our water fees to pay for more street cleaning, we need zero tolerance of homeless camps within the city limits. (Aug. 16, 1A, “City to raise water bill fee to fund area cleaning efforts”)

Fort Worth taxpayers spend hundreds of thousands of dollars every year cleaning up these camps. If needed, the city code should be changed to prohibit camping on personal or business property within city limits.

Trash along the East Lancaster corridor because of freebie handouts is also a huge problem. Food, containers, clothing and even backpacks are just dropped along our roads. Panhandlers leave their trash and belongings on our street corners.

If taxpaying residents are going to be asked to shell out more money, then we deserve some help as well.

- Belinda Darling, Fort Worth

Abortion rights give us choices

Texans needing abortions will have to find the funds, time and transportation to travel out of state or be forced to stay pregnant against their will. I know how important easy access to safe, legal abortion is. When I found out I was pregnant in 2017, I knew immediately that I wanted an abortion. The Roe v. Wade ruling gave me that choice. It gave me the opportunity to continue school and earn my master’s degree.

Abortion is foundational to our social and economic equality, reproductive autonomy and the right to determine our own futures. Everyone deserves that choice.

Now is the time to talk loudly and proudly about abortion. Speak up about your abortion or how you came to realize abortion rights are important to you. Future generations are counting on us to not stay silent.

- Joana Calderon, Fort Worth

Looks like fire behind the smoke

I was the top secret control officer for an Air Force squadron in England in the 1960s. I was responsible for the safety and security of all documents that were classified secret and top secret.

These records were kept in our safe, and the documentation for each was kept in a separate location. An inventory was conducted at least annually to ensure that all documents were on hand and secure. If the White House control officer or equivalent conducted an inventory and noted that certain documents were missing, it would set off bells and whistles because the security of our country could be jeopardized.

If my assumptions are close to correct, then the Department of Justice and FBI knew precisely what documents to look for at Mar-a-Lago. And they apparently found them. The raid was not a political exercise nor a fishing expedition.

- Marshall J. McFarland, Stephenville

Religious motto not original

So, a conservative Christian cellphone company has donated “In God We Trust” signs to the Carroll school district. (Aug. 17, 4A, “Cellphone firm gives ‘In God We Trust’ signs to Carroll schools”) “In God We Trust” was made the national motto in 1956 in response to the perceived communist threat. However, it does not appear on the Great Seal of the United States. “E pluribus unum” does. It has been a de facto motto since 1782.

It is sad that our schools have been compromised by religious zealots.

- David Roll, Colleyville