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Opinion

Letters to the Editor — Pickleball, Liz Cheney, DEI programs, Texas AG office, Joe Biden

Readers praise the sport of pickleball; admired Liz Cheney’s graduation speech; support DEI programs; agree with appointing a new deputy attorney general; and believe Joe Biden should not run again.

Pickleball a microcosm

Re: “Take Pickleball Seriously — National championships could drop $10 million into economy,” Monday editorial.

Another reason to take pickleball seriously, besides economic factors, is that it is a beautiful microcosm of our city, state and country. I played at Cole Park in Uptown on Monday, Memorial Day. It was quite crowded with people playing and waiting their turns to play.

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Everyone was friendly and chatted about the holiday, the good weather, their choice of shoes, equipment and how to hit the best shot. The crowd was made up of a wide range of ages, races, sizes, athletic abilities and gender preferences, and all anyone cared about was playing pickleball and having fun.

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If only everyone got along that well away from the courts what a world it would be!

Kathryn Frish, Dallas

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Politics ruins respect for truth

Re: “Cheney gives speech at alma mater — She urges graduates not to compromise truth in address,” Monday news story.

In her commencement speech on May 28 at Colorado College, Liz Cheney implored graduates to not compromise when it comes to truth. She cited former President Donald Trump’s lies about the 2020 election and the Jan. 6 Capitol attack and how her fellow Republicans wanted her to lie that the election was stolen and the attack was not a big deal. Although most students and parents applauded, some did boo.

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Political landscapes fluctuate over time with elections, policy shifts and public opinion. We have always expected liberties to be taken and exaggerations to be made as part of the “game.” But now it seems we have become complacent when truth becomes irrelevant, inconvenient and picayune if it interferes with our ethos.

The respect of truth has become collateral damage in our political rivalries. In her speech, Cheney recalled being a political science student walking into a campus building where a Bible verse was inscribed over the entrance that read “Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.”

It’s unfortunate how she recalled her final days in office with these words: “I had to choose between lying and losing my position in House leadership.”

Paul Dreimiller, Plano

DEI is a necessity

I applaud companies championing diversity, equity and inclusion in their culture. I’m outraged by anti-”woke” groups sabotaging and ridiculing these efforts with deceptive websites, boycotts and billboards.

DEI is not a fad. It is a moral and business necessity. DEI enriches everyone by creating a respectful, inclusive and productive work environment where people of different backgrounds, identities and perspectives can flourish. DEI mirrors the values and needs of customers and communities.

Companies supporting LGBTQ rights and diverse hiring are not “woke.” They are responsible, courageous and visionary. They stand for human dignity and equality against bigotry and discrimination. They shine a light for other businesses and leaders.

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I urge consumers to support these companies and reject the anti-”woke” backlash that threatens our progress. We cannot let fear, ignorance and intolerance overshadow love, knowledge and justice.

Jeff Strater, East Dallas

Required reading for Texans

Re: “Lawmakers should tap honor, humility — In Paxton’ s upcoming Senate trial, integrity will be paramount,” by David Simpson, Wednesday Opinion.

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Thank you, David Simpson, for your eloquent and thoughtful column concerning the upcoming Senate trial of Ken Paxton. It should be required reading for every voter in our state, and especially for every elected official in Texas.

Carol Dumont, Allen

Abbott made right AG choice

Re: “Abbott Right to Pass on Paxton Aide — Deputy would likely not have been an improvement as interim attorney general,” Thursday editorial.

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Your editorial was perfect. Attorney General Ken Paxton’s top aide, who has clearly drunk the Paxton Kool-Aid, would be no improvement at all.

And even though Gov. Greg Abbott’s replacement choice has his own baggage, it’s clear that Abbott is putting him there because he knows him and trusts him from the 10 years they worked together in the Texas attorney general’s office.

The fact that Abbott would choose him, over Paxton’s top aide, signals to me that Texas leadership has genuine concerns about how Paxton has perverted the attorney general’s office from its true goals. Such a breath of fresh air!

Clark Birdsall, Dallas/Lakewood

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Biden should bow out

There can be little argument that Joe Biden’s presidency has been consequential. He shepherded a $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package through Congress. The American Rescue Plan cut child poverty in half. He rallied NATO and much of the world to stand with Ukraine in the face of a Russian invasion.

He has made his administration the most diverse in history. The list of weighty accomplishments goes on and on.

Yet, I so wish he would rethink his decision to seek re-election. Were he to make the selfless choice to serve only one term, his place in history and the hearts of his fellow citizens would be secure. He will be remembered for having righted the ship of state. He will be seen as a healer.

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He has been a champion for democracy around the world and bipartisanship at home. He has done his share. The Democrats have a deep bench of people who are ready to lead. It is time to let them seek the office.

Scott Kimball, McKinney

Early voting omits East Dallas

Whoever decided not to give a large section of East Dallas on the other side of North Central Expressway an early voting location when every other area that votes in the run-off elections going on now has at least one voting location should be ashamed of themselves. Even when candidates and others asked to open an East Dallas location and when one East Dallas recreation center offered to open up its facility for the last three days of early voting, they were told that it just would not happen. Perhaps this is not a deliberate oversight, but it seems short-sighted and unfair to those voters and their candidates.

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Jane Shelton Hoffman, Dallas/Preston Hollow

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