A Biden-Trump summit
In my opinion, it would help the country if President Joe Biden did not take off the gloves and instead invited former President Donald Trump to the White House for a meeting on how to best to serve the people and the country. It does not matter who is right or wrong but how to help people.
Joel Batalsky, Dallas/White Rock
Join PTA to support schools
I’m fed up with seeing all the divisive rhetoric and jabs at our hardworking public educators. If you want something to improve, how about asking: “What can I do to support you?”
Join your local PTAs. Take on mentoring opportunities to support students at local schools. Consider being a volunteer substitute teacher. Write notes of gratitude to thank our teachers.
Dylan Rafaty, Plano
An education in Christian nationalism
Re: “Darkness masquerading as light — Here’s where Christian nationalism comes from, and what it gets wrong,” by Ryan Sanders, Sunday Opinion.
Kudos and thanks to editor Ryan Sanders for his excellent piece in Sunday’s paper regarding the phenomenon of Christian nationalism. His piece clearly explains the intricacies of the current marriage between Christianity and the nationalistic movement in this country. The ties are complex, but once explained by Sanders the connections clearly show how we got to the place we are in now where so many of those willing to storm the U.S. Capitol building and launch an insurrection felt fully justified by their religious convictions. A great education and example of first-rate journalism.
Ernie Stokely, Far North Dallas
Look at North Texas pulpits
Thank you for publishing this op-ed regarding Christian nationalism. But I question why Mr. Sanders chose to call out a Tennessee pastor when we have plenty of examples of Christian nationalist pastors here in North Texas. Notably, Brandon Burden, pastor of the KingdomLife megachurch in Frisco, has been an outspoken proponent of both the Christian nationalism tenets described in the essay as well as a fervent supporter of the former president and the lie of election fraud.
The Dallas Morning News reported last year that Burden told his congregation members to “keep their guns loaded and stock up on foot and water” days after the Jan. 6 Capitol attack.
Burden is also chairman of Frisco Conservatives, which recently hosted and gave an award for “Conservative of the Year” to Marjorie Taylor Greene, one of the most extremist members of Congress and a die-hard supporter of the former president.
Sanders could have also mentioned Robert Jeffress of First Baptist Dallas, who initially condemned the insurrection but recently hosted the former president, calling him “the most consequential president since Abraham Lincoln.”
Supporters of Christian nationalism stand at pulpits around North Texas and are positioned throughout our state and local governments.
Jeffrey Quiggle, Plano
So many good lines
I’d like to laud the author of this op-ed. The writing is excellent and courageous. You are a rare bird, Mr. Sanders — an actual Christian who views what is happening to the churches that claim to be Christian with sadness and alarm.
There are a many lines that stand out in this piece. A few of my favorites: Christian nationalism “is a strain of religious heterodoxy that seeks to meld religion and politics into an unholy mixture that contaminates both,” “It is darkness masquerading as light” and “Christian nationalists take their cues from the Old Testament.”
There are a lot more wonderful, insightful lines. I strongly recommend everyone read this work. Kudos, Ryan. And, kudos to The Dallas Morning News for giving this the column inches it deserved.
Ernie Ferguson, Plano
Rejecting help in Denton County
Re: “Tax roll confusion hits Denton County — Lack of clarity on assessed property values has caused problems for taxing entities,” Monday Editorials.
This excellent editorial was eye-opening. As a Denton County homeowner who has never filed a tax protest, I am now reluctant to do so. I found Hope McClure’s statement that “some of the people making allegations against her don’t understand the appraisal system or the software used in it” to be self-serving. It sounds like the new employees don’t understand the system either.
McClure was offered help and refused, relying instead on the audit by the comptroller’s office. Turning down help leaves McClure holding the bag. I guess she is hoping that the comptroller’s audit will fall on her side. Unless Dave Lieber gives the Denton Central Appraisal District his seal of his approval, I don’t think I will partake of this process.
Nancy C. Mack, Carrollton
Without rules, chaos
I would offer that Denton County’s appraisal process is full of unwritten rules and nuances if the statement by Hope McClure is correct when she said, “When hiring new employees, we even tell them it will take 3-4 years before they understand the full scope of the appraisal process.” If that’s the case, the county needs to find recruits to better match skills needed to do the job, fix their training program, assign experienced mentors to help if needed and/or publish better guidelines for folks to learn/follow.
The property tax process should not be full of unknowns and confusing facts/data. That’s not fair to the residents of Denton County. Astronaut training is two years because they hire the right people, have a strong training program in place and my guess is not a lot of unwritten rules which could cause a disaster. “Hey, a rule is a rule, and without rules there’s chaos.” — Cosmo Kramer from Seinfeld.
Perri Brackett, Lewisville
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