Letters to the Editor — Redistricting, Rep. Pat Fallon, gun control, Jon Gruden, Car Talk

Redistricting dilutes our voices

I was born as a second-class citizen without a voice or a vote in apartheid South Africa. The world condemned that system in the 1990s. The United States is not a third-world apartheid country but a democracy. The U. S. Constitution was based on a simple principle of representation — one person, one vote.

Redistricting is to ensure fair and equal representation that reflects the changing demographic. South Asians are the fastest-growing minority population in Texas, yet maps don’t reflect that change. The Anglo population growth was just 187,252 and the Texas Asian population grew by 613,092, yet the Caucasian population increased its voting power.

Legislators are diluting and dividing our voices by grouping us with rural counties. Texas is not following the Voting Rights Act and the 14th Amendment. My family left apartheid South Africa to be a part of this great democracy — to have a voice and be heard.

Chanda Parbhoo, Dallas

Disgusted by proposed district

As a taxpayer, voter and American I have to say I feel a mixture of hopelessness and anger when I look at the proposed Texas congressional districts. My east Plano home looks to be gerrymandered — choked out by a long, slendering snake — and placed into the district of Rep. Pat Fallon. I am disgusted at this idea.

Fallon represents the worst of democracy, so it is fitting that his district will come into my neighborhood to dilute the votes of me and my neighbors. Fallon voted to reject the electoral college results of other states with no basis in fact. I find that inexcusable and don’t know how he can look himself in the mirror. He put himself and his desire to retain power before the U.S. Constitution and before his country, so I know for a fact he won’t care about me and my neighbors.

I truly hope and pray that his district does not invade my home.

Jason Aprill, Plano

How to keep guns out of schools

I have dealt with schools for over 30 years, and I know how guns can be prevented from entering a building. It’s very simple but justified. All students are required to enter through certain entrances with a staff member present and metal detectors installed. All other entrances closed. Kitchen areas receiving freight will not allow any student to enter under any circumstance.

Gym areas allowing outdoor activities must have metal detectors installed and must not have an in-and-out open-door policy. Once inside you’re able to leave but not able to return unless you enter entrances with security installed.

Allen Laner, Dallas

Texas is oversight champ

I think it is hilarious that Texas complains about federal oversight when it is actually the champion in oversight. Let’s start with abortion. Texas wants to control women’s bodies. Perhaps they should be equally concerned about children after they are born, but that is another issue.

Texas allows only one voting box location for dropping off ballots in a county, regardless of its size, while at the same time spreading out voting districts. Independent school districts cannot require the wearing of masks. This also goes for cities and counties.

Cities and counties cannot allow the homeless to sleep in the parks. And now the governor declares that private businesses cannot require their employees to be vaccinated.

What’s next? Will the governor demand that no one will be allowed to report cases of COVID-19 so that the state will be free of the disease?

Stephen Turek, Rockwall

Truly free elections needed

Both parties will gerrymander if given the chance. What we need is truly free elections in compact districts: No contributions, no paid staff, no negative operations or robo calls. Just a website, brochure and shoe leather and your supporters calling on their personal phones. Simple!

Restore the equal time rules for the media. Give more candidates a chance. Have all elected leaders live full time in their districts and commute to Washington, D.C. Limit filing and campaigning to 90-120 days. This will take the for-profit candidates out of the picture, restore the political center and defund the extremes.

Eric C. Foster, Gun Barrel City

Thanks for Car Talk

Thank you for keeping the Car Talk feature in the paper. It’s a weekly pleasure to read this column. I appreciate the humor and the advice.

Rebecca Bertoni, Argyle

Words matter

The words we choose to use — and the words we choose to write, in former Las Vegas Raiders coach Jon Gruden’s case — are simply a manifestation of our thoughts. As a black woman and a DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) consultant who has led thousands of executives on their journey towards inclusion, what I often emphasize is that words matter.

Earlier in my career, I had the rare opportunity to work with author Maya Angelou. She would say, “Words are things; they get into the fabric of your furniture and into your floors and on your walls. They are in the clothes you wear. They are in everything.”

Gruden’s words — and his thoughts — got caught up in the “fabric” of not just his furniture, as my mentor would have said, but in the fabric of his character. Sure, he apologized and stepped down as head coach of the Raiders, but he was so busy defending himself with the insistence that he doesn’t have a “racist bone” in his body that the apology fell flat.

Tara Jaye Frank, Lantana

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