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Opinion

Letters: Globalism, Atmos Energy, Robert James Kuhn, Pledge of Allegiance, Adrian Beltre

Readers criticize two behind Trump's policies (Peter Navarro and Stephen Miller), worry about Atmos Energy policies and write about someone who helps with corrosiveness (Kuhn), defend freedom of speech and admire Adrian Beltre.

We didn't elect these guys

Re: "Trump repudiates globalism in speech — Boasts, warnings draw laughter, skepticism from world leaders," Wednesday news story.

I have always believed that there is an insidious intelligence behind the seemingly random shoot-from-the-hip policies of this administration. I bet no one in America voted for Peter Navarro or Stephen Miller for president. If you keep up with our harmful economic and foreign-affairs policies, you will learn that the chief architects, those with the president's ear, are these two men.

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Miller, the senior foreign affairs adviser and speechwriter, is responsible for President Donald Trump's Muslim travel ban and border policy. He also wrote the United Nations speech that was greeted with snickering and outright laughter by world leaders. We have indeed become the laughingstock of the world. Miller is considered a white supremacist by many, and while in college Miller helped white supremacist Richard Spencer with fundraising and promotion.

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As revealed in Bob Woodward's new book, Navarro, assistant to the president and director of trade and industrial policy, has views that are contrary to 99 percent of the world's economists and even the president's former National Economic Council Director Gary Cohn, a truly gifted capitalist who headed up Goldman Sachs. He's behind the whole trade war mess that has further offended our global allies.

Robert Barrese, Dallas

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What we need from Atmos

Re: "Hold Atmos accountable," by Lynette Goodson, Wednesday Letters.

My thanks to Goodson for her letter about The Dallas Morning News' thoroughly researched and well-written pair of articles on Atmos Energy Corp., published on Sunday and Monday. I would just like to add one additional entry to her list of what "the people of Texas need."

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Atmos needs to examine every inch of its piping that carries natural gas and to repair or replace all sections that currently leak or that, based on age, construction material or appearance, are likely to leak in the future. As a gas consumer, I am well aware that my costs will increase. The reported modest fines levied on Atmos by the inappropriately named Railroad Commission of Texas suggest Atmos' substantial profits will be preserved intact. However, if the results were no more deaths and no more property destruction and no more inconvenience from gas shut-offs, wouldn't that be worth it?

Louise Delano, Richardson

What's under the ground?

Re:  "How Atmos' gas keeps blowing up homes — Over 2 dozen blasts since '06 have killed 9, injured 22," Sunday news story.

I feel compelled to write on behalf of my deceased father after reading this article. Corrosion of cast-iron pipes was mentioned but nothing on prevention methods used by Atmos, specifically on "cathodic protection." That was the name my father gave his discovery 90 years ago in 1928 — reference "Robert James Kuhn papers 1928."

This concept was already known but had never been developed for industry use for corrosion prevention until 1928. As a young engineer in his native New Orleans working for the local utility NOPSI, now Entergy, he was assigned in 1927 to solve a costly corrosion problem. He correctly surmised and proved that corrosion occurs only when electric currents flow out of the pipe interacting with the electric currents in the soil nearby.

"Cathodic protection" applies an electric current on the pipe to counteract this. His paper of 1928 introduced his proven criterion of "-0.850 volt" which became the standard, finally adopted by the U.S. Bureau of Standards in 1958.

But from 1930s, pipeline companies had no such hesitation and employed him and his method for the next 40 years. So Atmos, what method have you used on your pipelines? I'd love to tell Dad.

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Suzanne M. Kuhn, Plano

A loss of respect in U.S.

Re: "Paxton joins fray on pledge — He defends state law that requires schoolkids to join in recitation," Wednesday news story.

I read with interest the article about State Attorney General Ken Paxton's mandate that all Texas schoolchildren must stand and repeat the Pledge of Allegiance daily, or be expelled from school. I taught in Texas public schools for almost 40 years and, over time, there were several students whose parents requested that they be allowed to opt out of standing and reciting the pledge. These were not black students making racial protest statements, but children whose parents belonged to the Jehovah's Witness religion, which forbids "allegiance to any earthly governing mandate" as they practice "following only the Will of God."

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In all cases, these parents went to the school privately and quietly, respectfully asking if their children could be excused without embarrassment. They were not asked to sign any "opt out" waivers, as there was no such requirement at that time. Their freedom of religion was respected. Of course, this was 50 years ago, when people seemed to have more respect for one another than at the present time. It's too bad that we now have "freedom of speech" that has turned into "freedom of disrespect" for our country and our American society.

Ann Delaney, North Dallas

Freedom to believe differently

This situation brings back two vivid memories I wanted to share. First, I wonder what would have happened to my high school French teacher, Monsieur Lewis, who in my senior year (1970-71) had the class say the Pledge of Allegiance in French.

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Second, I had the honor to work with a National Guard helicopter pilot who would be called to active duty and deployed at times. His political views were opposite mine, probably still are. He told me once that the reason he defended this country was so that we all have the freedom to make choices and support our different opinions/beliefs.

I don't understand why what other people may believe — and have the freedom to believe differently —  causes so much anger and resentment. Actions of others do not change my fundamental beliefs, do they change yours? If the answer is no, then as Alfred E. Neuman of Mad magazine-cover fame said so eloquently, "What, me worry?"

Perri Brackett, Lewisville

Beltre has been a mainstay

Thank you, Dallas Morning News, for your picture of Texas Ranger Adrian Beltre tipping his cap to the fans, in what may have been his farewell to the Rangers and fans. This classic pose is poignantly reminiscent of Roberto Clemente tipping his cap to fans after getting his 3,000th hit in 1972.

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Beltre has been the mainstay of the Rangers through the good and the not-so-good seasons. He gave the game all he had. His leadership and model behavior will be much missed when he is gone.

Tony Torres, Garland