Regarding Wokeness is dead, long live the woke, (May 7): The writer splendidly evokes British writer George Orwells incisive comments which describe the semantic mind games being employed today by (lets just say it) white supremacists. Those of us outspoken anti-racists try to do or say something anti-racist at least daily as suggested in Professor Ibram X. Kendis How to Be an Anti-Racist. For me, validating the excellence of a person of color is the most authentic act, and the opportunities abound. Trump didnt start naked racism in America, but is fomenting its resurgence with such violence and toxicity that it calls for active, militant non-violent resistance. As always, to be silent is to be complicit.
Britt D. Davis, Katy
Anyone who actually believes that Critical Race Theory is an academic exercise trying to unpack institutional racism for the good fails to understand its true malevolent purposes and ignores the interracial damage it promotes. That the Chronicle has no shame in printing such junk ought to inflame ones sensitivities, but somehow it falls short, probably because they have been numbed by the dreadful current state of things.
J. Jones, La Porte
Kudos to Chris Vognar, who really nailed it on wokeness. My only question: Why is it that the right is so much better at disinformation than the left? Is it because they are totally shameless?
David Kelly, Spring
Anti-trans tit for tat
Regarding Retaliatory action by state Rep. Dutton doesnt improve prospects for HISD reform, (May 7): Harold Duttons bill to significantly expand the Texas Education Agencys takeover power with discretionary investigations and conservator appointments was terrible legislation. I was glad to see it fall to a technical error. Dutton rammed the senate version, Senate Bill 1365, through his committee the next day in a huddle meeting on the floor of the House. But that didnt satisfy his wrath, so he took it out on transgender students, forcing the anti-trans sports bill out of his committee in a show of nearly incomprehensible vengeance on fellow Democrats.
Erica Grieders column is great until literally the last word. She finds all this troubling. Troubling? Despicable, incomprehensible, vindictive, loathsome, and just plain evil. Harold Dutton has been in the House since 1984. Time for a change.
Sarah Terrell, Houston
Hey, enough! Your Sunday paper has four different articles in favor of the trans people participating. Three from non-Houstonian outsiders Finger (San Antonio Express-News), Killion (San Francisco Chronicle) and Jalonick/Crary (AP) and Ms. Grieder, the most likely proponent on your own staff.
Why is this a partisan issue, a liberal cause? Anyone with half a brain realizes that individuals born as male have no place on the court or field with real women unless they want to be cheerleaders, drill team or in the band. Period.
Chris Stauffer, Richmond, TX
Rep. Harold Dutton needs to be removed as chair for the House Public Education Committee immediately and then voted out of office.
Go have your temper tantrum somewhere else, Rep. Dutton!
Jean Tanner, Houston
Regarding Rep. Hubertys arrest reminds us addiction doesnt discriminate neither should we, (A12, May 7): Thank you for your editorial lauding Rep. Dan Huberty for speaking out honestly about his alcoholism at the Texas Legislature, and helping to relieve the stigma associated with it. As someone who has struggled with addiction for many years, I was very moved by the piece.
How deeply disappointing that on the same day that the editorial appeared, Rep. Huberty voted in favor of Senate Bill 29, which would prohibit transgender children from participating in high school athletics. The discriminatory bill that Rep. Huberty voted for will only increase the stigmatization of transgender kids, already one of the most marginalized and vulnerable groups in our society today.
If only our leaders could have enough sensitivity and imagination to make the leap from understanding their own personal pain to empathizing with and appreciating how stigma affects others whose experiences are different from their own.
Andrew Edmonson, Houston
Being an outside observer on this now for literally years, in all the reporting it is always about who has the power as the issue. Not once has there been any reporting of what HISD or TEA would do differently to solve the problems of the failing schools in question.
A simple suggestion. The TEA could lead the failing schools and let HISD continue leading the schools that are not having the problems of the failing schools. If the TEA succeeds where HISD hasnt, then good for those kids. Maybe new or better practices can be gleaned for the rest of the kids in HISD. If the TEA also fails then all can stop blaming leadership and maybe start implementing doership.
Walt Lind, Nassau Bay
A greater whole
Regarding Houstons faith organizations band together to battle vaccine hesitancy, (May 6): The article about the weekly communications between the Greater Houston Partnership and Interfaith Ministries of Greater Houston struck a chord. In Fort Bend County as well, Judge KP George has encouraged similar regular calls between Fort Bend Interfaith Community, local county agencies and local chambers of commerce, Houston Apartment Association and Houston Methodist Hospital to name a few. As perhaps the most diverse metropolitan community on the planet, this example of interfaith partnership can serve as a model for the country and even the world.
James Uschkrat, Sugar Land
Let sea monsters live
Regarding After 9-hour fight, Texas fisherman catches record 876-pound bluefin tuna, (May 3): It would have been a lot more impressive if the old man had measured that record-sized tuna and released him back to the sea, alive to swim again like those other anglers did with the huge 100-year-old sturgeon that was caught last week.
Nancy Higgs, Houston
More here:
Opinion: The woke say they wont be canceled - Houston Chronicle
