It’s the right time to do the right thing

If we change Lee we have to change them all! That seems to be the strategy employed by those opposed to removing the name Robert E. Lee/Tyler Lee from our high school. It’s the slippery slope argument… in this instance, they know it’s far too costly to change the name of all our schools and we can’t change just one, so might as well drop the whole issue and move on.

I’ve never liked the slippery slope argument, it seems to always be used to do nothing at all, even when we know we should. I know the history of who John Tyler was and I’m not going to defend him, nor am I going to condemn General Lee. This discussion has very little to do with who those men were and everything to do with why we as a community chose to name schools after them. This isn’t about the history of the Confederacy, it’s about the history of Tyler. We didn’t even choose to name our city after John Tyler. The Texas Legislature did that as a nod for supporting annexation of Texas. The name John Tyler does not conjure up the same feelings and emotions the name Robert E. Lee does. White nationalists, marching with torches, do not use his name and image for their cause. They do not seek out statues of John Tyler to hold their rallies around. The name Robert E. Lee was only chosen out of resistance to integration.

We have a unique opportunity to right that wrong at the lowest possible cost it will ever be when the new building opens in two years. Just about everything that would need to change with a new name for Tyler Lee is already changing in the next few years. These are costs already built into the renovation budget and maintenance and operations budget. It’s never the wrong time to do the right thing, this just happens to be the exact right time to do the right thing.

Elicia Eckert, Tyler

All must be changed

Bond 2017 was approved by voters after a campaign which promised to implement “remodeling and additions to John Tyler High School and Robert E. Lee High School.” It is clear that is what the voters intended this obligation to achieve. To me, the board has a legal obligation to maintain the names of both schools or risk invalidating the entire bond package. Both schools have long histories of providing a solid educational experience for the many students that have passed through their doors. These graduates are what make the character of the schools. Finally, if one school has to have a name change, both must be changed — no, all must be changed.

Fred Carl, Tyler

America should stand with its allies

Amid the nationalist fervor of the 2016 presidential campaign, the mantra “Make America Great Again” promised afflicted Americans their old country back, a self-determined country untethered to foreign concerns and constraints. Although that promise gave many Americans hope, it shattered the confidence of those countries America had come to call “allies.” Those alliances contributed to the security that allowed America to prosper. That security is at risk.

In his pursuit of resurrecting America, President Trump has withdrawn from agreement after agreement, from the Trans-Pacific Partnership to the Paris Climate Accords to the Iran nuclear deal. With each decision to withdraw, President Trump cited the needs of the American people as the driving force behind each of these decisions. Each withdrawal, however, sent a flurry of panic through the ranks of democratic governments like ours and a surge of opportunistic excitement through the ranks of those who want to replace us as a global power. None of this seems to matter, because President Trump is making our America great again, right?

America prides itself on the self-determinism that gave it birth, but that ideal now places America’s wellbeing in danger. The land of the free and home of the brave cannot declare its independence from the world and hope to survive. America’s glory now rests not on its ability to stand alone but on its willingness to stand with its allies. If it continues to erode its alliances, America will feed the insecurity it fears rather than making itself great again.

Aaron Kelley, Longview

Leaders should recognize climate change

I was a pre-teen and teen during the Great Depression and 1940’s in Southwestern Arkansas and Southeastern Oklahoma. I roamed the streams and picked up the seashells from the beads of these streams. Later, I found the area along the Red River valley was covered by the inland seas during prehistoric times.

Recently, projections are that oceans are rising faster than in the past and many cities along the coasts will be covered with water in the near future. I don’t know if the rising seas can be slowed or not and since I am a very senior citizen, I will probably not see cities under water but the younger generation probably will. The government needs to acknowledge that global warming is a reality and put a special effort into trying to slow down the rising oceans.

It concerns me greatly that when coastal cities are under water, people will have to migrate and pollute the beautiful hills and mountains of Southeastern Oklahoma and Western Arkansas where I grew up. We need to vote this administration and Congress members out of office that deny that global warming is a problem.

Edward V. Harris, Quitman

Term limits needed at federal level

I usually read all of Walter Williams’s columns, and the most entertaining part was the last line, regarding government, on Wednesday, Aug. 1.

Mark Twain reportedly said, “Politicians and diapers should be changed often and for the same reason!” But Walter topped that in his column with a quote from Friedrich Flayek: “In government, the scum rises to the top.”

While I’m sure this doesn’t describe all politicians, and I believe most politicians, when elected, are honest and morally guided to do what is best for the country. However, after a few years, they spend more time ensuring re-election and concentrating on what’s best for them. Which is why I have, in recent years, supported term limits for everyone at the federal level. At the state level, if the voters aren’t aware enough to protect themselves, it’s a local problem.

Norm Beavers, Tyler

Debates welcome before election

In this politically divisive period in Texas, especially in Smith County, it is important to ensure voters for Texas House District 6 are well informed with the facts about issues and the candidates as they head into the voting booth this November 2018

Several debates viewed by all voters in District 6 between Neal Katz (Independent) and Matt Schaefer (Republican) would be a great start. Every voter should go and vote their choice, but should be informed with facts on issues.

Arnold Wharton

Investigating Trump’s tweets

I read that Mueller is looking over Trump’s tweets.

I guess this means he is hoping to charge the president with tweeson.

Charles Hayes, Tyler

Reagan would not approve

A Republican president is going to hang with Putin in Moscow while we are under Russian cyber attack? Reagan is rolling in his grave!

Blake Bailey, Tyler

Proposed bills do not serve public

I hate the fact that the following bills have even come before Congress to be voted on. Rep. Hensarling needs to vote NO on every one of them. These bills don’t serve the people, only the top 1 percent, and we want them gone.

H.R. 861: To terminate the Environmental Protection Agency

H.R. 610: Tax dollars for private schools

H.R. 899: To terminate the Department of Education

H.J.R. 69: To repeal a rule protecting wildlife

H.R. 370: To repeal the Affordable Care Act

H.R. 354: To defund Planned Parenthood

H.R. 785: National Right-to-Work legislation

H.R. 83: Mobilizing Against Sanctuary Cities Act

H.R. 147: To criminalize certain forms of abortion

These bills are all abhorrent to Rep. Hensarling’s constituents, and he needs to vote in accord with their wishes!!!

Mairi Krausse, Chandler