Letters — Ted Cruz Commentary, Racism, Police Officer Shortage, Greenland, Abortion

Cruz spoke up too lateRe: "Answers to racist domestic terrorism — Congress must work to help prevent heinous attacks like the one in El Paso," by Sen. Ted Cruz, Friday Viewpoints.Sen. Ted Cruz stated that he is "deeply horrified by the hateful anti-Hispanic bigotry expressed in the El Paso shooter's manifesto" and says the sentiments he expressed are "racist, ignorant, repulsive and profoundly anti-American." So I have to ask: Where has Cruz's voice been in condemning those same types of comments from President Donald Trump? Why should his constituents believe him when he has remained silent as Trump has called Mexicans rapists and murderers? When he has lied by saying immigrants are "violently" attacking our border? When he rails about the immigrant "invasion" of America, has inhumanely separated children from their parents with no plans in place for reunification and has sued in federal court saying that immigrant children don't need toothbrushes, soap or adequate food? I can only assume Cruz won't raise his voice because he is too afraid of the resulting tweet-storm from Trump. And that is, simply put, pathetic. How can we depend on him to defend us, to stand up for us, when he doesn't even have the courage to stand up against Trump's tweets? Hypocrisy doesn't even begin to describe Cruz's words and actions. Texans, and Americans, deserve better.Suzan L. Staley, Flower MoundToo many I's in Cruz I have just read Sen. Ted Cruz's op-ed piece on the terrorism in El Paso. In reading it, one thing struck me: the pronoun "I". I (no pun intended) counted 15 I's in about 35 column inches. This should tell us a lot about what and who Cruz is. This from a man who began his Senate career by being a total obstructionist and who take months to respond to emails (and whose responses don't address the topic emailed about). Also, this from someone who wrote in his commentary that "the sentiments he [the shooter] expressed [in his manifesto] are racist, ignorant, repulsive and profoundly anti-American." Indeed they are, but he cowardly fails to say that President Donald Trump has repeatedly said the same things, while the good senator has remained as silent as a feather falling in a vacuum. What hypocrisy!Donald J. Dupier, PlanoRethink weapons positionSo Sen. Ted Cruz finally admits out loud that he is Hispanic and denounces the bigotry against his fellow Hispanics that brought on the El Paso massacre. It's about time. Now, instead of blaming retired Sen. Harry Reid and a long-ago proposed law that included no telling what undesirable items in addition to background checks, he should think about the one item that seems to be common to all the massacres — a weapon meant for a war zone. Will El Paso and hatred of his fellow Hispanics inspire him to rethink his position on the appropriateness of how easy it is for previously law-abiding citizens to get these battlefield weapons? I hope so. Some shooters weren't criminals until they shot their first innocents.Barbara G. Stone, North DallasAcquiring Greenland Regarding President Donald Trump's interest in buying Greenland, yes, let's do it! We can rename it Trumpland and its largest town will become Ivankaville. Since Trumpland straddles the Arctic Circle, global warming will soon turn it into prime seaside real estate (yay!). We'll promise to pay but we never will, because we can just take it. Gosh, in Trump World, we can do anything!Valerie Standifer, RichardsonSummon state troopersThe recent death of the 9-year-old in her own home is heartbreaking. If there's one time when a strong police presence is desired, this would be it. The Dallas Police Department is depleted and shorthanded. Maybe we should borrow some state troopers until they get more officers? Oh wait — never mind.Rich Rigsby, WylieWhere is the chief?Where is the Dallas chief of police? If after a month's absence the mayor and city manager do not know or will not say, then it's time to get a new chief, and maybe a new mayor and city manager.Richard Schumacher, Dallas401(k) tweeted awayThank you, President Donald Trump, for magically tweeting my 401(k) into a 201(k). If my business doesn't fail, I guess I'll keep working until I drop. Somehow this doesn't seem like the American dream I have been striving toward for the past 45 years.Art Jarboe, GarlandA moral and medical issueRe: "Drop the hammer and pick up a flashlight — To regain trust of Trump voters, media must cover abortion with impartiality," by Peggy Wehmeyer, Aug. 4 Points.I read with interest this column relative to the issue of abortion. In 1971, state Rep. Sam Coats and I along with many other House members sponsored the so-called abortion bill, which was almost identical to the U.S. Supreme Court decision on Roe vs. Wade in 1973. Although the Republicans continue to do everything in their power to repeal or repair Roe vs. Wade, the law has remained in place for nearly 50 years and there is no evidence that the law has hurt or damaged this country. In addition, there is plenty of hard-core evidence that the mental and physical health of the women of childbearing age in this country have benefited greatly.As a 10th-generation Catholic, I read The Cardinal (which is about abortion) when I was in seventh grade. I asked my aunt, Sister Mary Emilia, if she had read it and she had and said that the Catholic Church has been wrong on abortion and sex throughout its entire history.In 1900, abortion was not in the law books and handled as a moral and medical issue, where it should have remained, where it should have remained. The Catholic Church is responsible for the politicizing of the issue. The evangelicals and most churches made abortion a major political issue that divides the country and the world. This column continues the political issue. Journalists should encourage churches and legislators to stay out of such a moral and medical issue. John F. Boyle Jr., Irving  Continue reading...