Passover, Census, Citizenship, Confederate Memorials, Dwaine Caraway, Atmos, Faith

A weekend of faithJewish Passover starts Friday and runs through April 7. It commemorates the date when Jews were set free from slavery in Egypt. They were instructed to kill a perfect lamb, put the blood on the top and sides of the entrance to their houses, and then eat the rest "in haste" because their deliverance was in the morning. It is the greatest of all Jewish feasts.Christians celebrate "The Lamb of God" who takes away the sins of the world: The "lamb who was slain." John the Baptist, when Jesus came to be baptized, shouted, "Behold! The Lamb of God!"This weekend, let faith transform your outlook, your mood, your sense of peace.Wayne Mayo, Scappoose, OregonSilence would speak loudlyRe: "Cruz praises census move β€” Addition of citizenship question also draws threats to sue, block," Wednesday news story.My suggestion for the question of "citizenship" on the upcoming census, if it is included, is to just leave it blank, as a silent protest to this onerous requirement.Then, see what happens, when the "silent majority" speaks.Nancy Mims, CleburneCouncil, do your jobRe: "Confederate statue debate is on again," Saturday news story.The Dallas City Council is a ship of fools. They can't find the money to add needed police officers nor fencing for the various police stations, but at the demand of Dwaine Caraway, they can find $500,000 to move a statue of Robert E. Lee that has been in a park, bothering no one for the past 80-plus years.Please let Caraway know that Texas was part of the Confederacy and if he's become so insecure, he can move to the protection of a safe place in the North, such as South Chicago.Council, do what you were elected to do β€” protect the citizens of your fair city and spend your tax money wisely.Gordon Hanson, MurphyA home for Lee statueThe Robert E. Lee statue reflects human rights history in Dallas. It should be placed in a Human Rights Museum in Dallas with a full history. It should not be placed in the Texas Civil Rights Museum in White Settlement, a city where over 90 percent of voters refused to change their racially based name just 13 years ago.What message does Dallas want sent?Bill Betzen, DallasExpanding the narrativeRe: "What to do about Confederate memorials? William Murchison: Come together, taking into account past, present and future," Thursday Viewpoints.Murchison proposes expansion as a remedy to avoiding the removal of the monumental Confederate statue at Pioneer Park cemetery. He suggests we leave the statue β€” 60 feet at its highest point β€” and retain the cemetery as a "reminder that brave men in gray and blue willingly gave up their lives for the sake of the country." I agree expansion of the narrative is the way forward but the means to that end is not an expansion of a physical park but, rather, an exploration of the in-depth history of the one that is there. First, the cemetery is filled with early settlers β€” men, women and children. These families are buried in two areas separated by a footpath. On one side are those associated with the Masons and, on the other, the Odd Fellows.Next to those two areas, there was once a Jewish section established by the Hebrew Benevolent Association in the late 1800s. The city had those graves moved to expand the area around the Convention Center in 1956 β€” the same area where the Confederate statue now stands. The only reminder of their presence and contributions to building a modern city along side Masons and Odd Fellows is a historical marker that does not name the 53 individuals.Laray Polk, DallasI agree with Kolker, PrauseRe: "Confederate memorials again," by Dan Kolker, and "Contradictory actions," by Joella Prause," March 23 Letters.I agree with Kolker β€” instead of spending thousands removing Confederate statues, the money could be better spent getting rid of trash and homeless encampments.I also agree with Prause that the actions of our city council are contradictory. Freedman's Cemetery is a painful reminder of our racist past showing slaves in chains and shackles but the city wants to create a marker where a lynching occurred in 1910 β€” which I'm for, including improvements to cemetery.As James Pratt in his Dallas Vision for Community said,"Only after leadership consistently offers equal seats to all races at the bargaining table for civic alliances will the trade-offs necessary for the greater good be more achievable ... Businesses as well as government needs to foster respect for our past heritage ... History is a help to understanding ourselves and figuring out what to do next. It also enriches the city's character ... The quantum leap is the acceptance of an individual's worth regardless of color, which will create the ability to work together for civic goals."Gail Blessing, Old East DallasStunned by AtmosI keep reading the information that is coming out on this Atmos catastrophe in Northwest Dallas where the young girl lost her life when her house exploded. I am just stunned to see the lack of response and carelessness on this company's part. To know two months ahead of this that the chances of this happening were high and to still do nothing to warn the residents is criminal. I have experience with Atmos from Thanksgiving Day a year ago in Plano where a underground leak had a Plano fireman knocking on our door at 7 a.m. and making us walk a mile to a gathering spot for residents. That spot was actually only 50 yards away from the leak. Any Atmos official who had this information in their possession regarding these houses in Northwest Dallas should not only be fired but face criminal charges also. Going on the information supplied by The Dallas Morning News, this is just disgusting testimony by Atmos Energy.Steve Gandy, PlanoPraise for Wehmeyer columnRe: "I gave up nagging my husband for Lent β€” Peggy Wehmeyer chose to 'throttle back' and got the partnership she had always wanted," March 21 Viewpoints.Love this column. Since I work with Robin, Wehmyer's husband, I have had the opportunity to hear his passion and see his love for Christ, many times. I told him one day that I thought he was sent to our company to share the word. I loved that Wehmeyer listened when God spoke to her. As strong, independent women who have taken care of themselves, it is sometimes hard to switch off that 'I know best' attitude. One just has to decide, "Do I want to be right or do I want to be happy?" Sounds like God helped Wehmeyer decide that night and that makes my heart smile. Great column, and I hope she keeps writing.Louretta Denton, Wylie  Continue reading...

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