Letters to the Editor
Readers explain what happened at Kent State, ask why members of Congress aren’t speaking up, share some thoughts on Dallas City Hall and defend ICE.In this May 4, 1970, photo, Mary Ann Vecchio screams as she kneels by the body of a student lying face down on the campus of Kent State University in Kent, Ohio.
National Guardsmen had fired into a crowd of demonstrators, killing four.I’m 74 today and I can’t get a lyric from my young adulthood out of my head: “Tin soldiers and Nixon coming. We’re finally on our own. This summer I hear the drumming. Four dead in Ohio.” Those times were as divided as ours between those who saw institutional murder at Kent State University and those who saw justified law enforcement against a group of demonstrators who brought disaster onto themselves.President Richard Nixon believed the students were pawns of foreign communists. Public opinion remained divided between protesters and “patriots,” but people — especially young people — understood intuitively that soldiers firing into a crowd of students was not the America they knew or wanted to know. A presidential commission wrote, “The Kent State tragedy must mark the last time that, as a matter of course, loaded rifles are issued to guardsmen confronting student demonstrators.”Will someone please tell me what is happening to our country that we have become complacent to the unhinged bullying of a divisive president, the inhumane treatment of fellow human beings and the election of morally questionable people who are promoted by officials too afraid of retaliation?Shame on all of you who voted for and continue to accept this new America. The history you attempt to rewrite will eventually be corrected, and that day cannot come too soon.Every day, the news brings more examples of division — on our streets, in political advertising and even from official government channels. This administration has repeatedly pushed the limits of executive power, disregarded constitutional norms and weakened America’s standing with our allies. These actions damage our democracy and erode trust at home and abroad. The administration claimed its immigration policies would focus on removing dangerous criminals. Instead, we see reports of U.S. citizens detained by the Department of Homeland Security and ICE without proper warrants, sometimes using force. That is not law and order; it is a violation of civil liberties. Most troubling is Congress’ silence. A Republican-controlled House and Senate have the authority — and responsibility — to act as a check on executive overreach. Yet, they remain largely passive while democratic norms are tested.So I ask: What is Congress’ red line? What must happen before our elected officials speak up? Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn, what is your red line? When will you defend constitutional limits and stand against autocratic behavior? Voters are watching, and we will remember in November.Re: “Architects: Rather than abandoning City Hall, how about re-envisioning as a multiuse district?” by Duncan T. Fulton III, Tipton Housewright and Zaida Basora, The set of actions outlined in this column would address most, if not all, of the major concerns with Dallas City Hall, particularly as it is focused on rebuilding the plaza into a welcoming public place. It’s always seemed to me that the current plaza, while having aesthetic virtues, never felt like the heart of the city.With most proposals for replacement of City Hall centering on sports, convention and entertainment facilities, it would seem very likely that in another 25 years, the situation would be as it is today with abandonment of current buildings for newer, flashier arenas and convention centers — probably proposed for somewhere else. Real cities have public architecture at its core that is maintained, preserved and modified over long arcs of time creating an historical legacy and a physical monument to the aspirations of the community.Aside from the fact that our current elected officials and their appointees from the mayor on down do not deserve a new crib, just look at the money. As a resident, I’ll be paying more for the demolition of an iconic structure and a flimsy replacement than to fix what should have been kept up to begin with. The bare stumps of neglected trees outside the building are stark evidence of the distracted caretakers in the interior. Stop arguing and step up, pay the piper and enjoy that marvelous poured concrete gift from our past, which we can ill afford to replicate. With a little love, it’ll be around long after you’re gone.When you have the Arizona attorney general say it’s OK to stand your ground and shoot ICE agents, what do people believe will happen? She should be in jail for threats against federal agents.Whom do people believe when ICE agents are there to do a difficult job, and the state is defending illegal criminals, Somali fraudsters and not American citizens? We as Americans depend on these agents to protect us. The protesters scream Jan. 6, but they are actually causing the real insurrection right now. Harming a federal agent is against the law.Let ICE do their job and stop attempts to harm them. They don’t just protect Republicans, they protect everyone.Thank you so much to Robert Leon, our deliveryman, for a job, an exceptional job, well done. We certainly appreciated that.Dallas Morning News editorials are written by the paper's Editorial Board and serve as the voice and view of the paper. The board considers a broad range of topics and is overseen by the Editorial Page Editor.Live updates: When will ice melt? Record snowfall ends Monday, road conditions still poor
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