Then punish men, too
Our state and many others are passing laws to restrict abortion and establish punishment for women who seek abortions and the doctors and facilities that provide them. Where is the punishment for the men? Where is the punishment for the provider of half of what it takes to make a baby? Women do not spontaneously become pregnant, but the outcome of pregnancy has always been a woman's responsibility.
If men were held accountable for every child they conceived, we would have abortion and Plan B available on demand and on every street corner. If every child born without a declared father on the birth certificate had a DNA sample taken and recorded so that there was even a remote possibility of identifying the father and holding him responsible for supporting his child, we wouldn't have to worry about abortions but we would have to worry about a shortage of condoms. I would guarantee that there would be a frantic rush to develop new birth control options for men. Women cannot share the pain of childbirth with men, but surely they should be able to share the consequence.
Susan Richmond, Plano
Future generation
"It's my body. I have no choice," whispered by a baby in its mother's womb's womb.
Mimi Hagthaway, Richardson
Contemplating what-ifs
What if men could have babies? What if Vice President Mike Pence had a gay son? What if Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick had a child who'd benefit from medical marijuana? What if Sen. Ted Cruz could see the planet 50 years from now and wish he'd done something to make a difference? What if these were all true? You decide.
Jon Hasenohrl, Corinth
India paid for my education
Re: "Grads' Debt Relief -- Billionaire's gesture should spark conversation," Tuesday Editorials.
I am a senior citizen from India. I am in Dallas to spend some time with my grandkids. This editorial makes interesting reading. The generous gesture of billionaire investor Robert Smith to pay off the debt of Morehouse College 2019 graduates should provoke academicians and higher education administrators in United States.
The high cost university education here makes economically weaker sections of the society compromise on the option of higher education. As rightly pointed out by you, students should not be made to undergo undue pressure of debts incurred for enhancing their knowledge and skill levels through university education.
I remember my days as a mechanical engineering student in engineering college in India where the federal government of India fully subsidized my education. As my parents were poor, it would have been highly difficult to pursue my engineering education. Smith's philanthropic deed should surely spark a national conversation as suggested.
M.V. Nagavender Rao, Hyderabad, India
Lovejoy students speak up
We're 6th grade students of Lovejoy ISD, which has lost $25 million in state funding since 2011. Although some districts will gain funding under the proposed HB 3, we will lose money.
Following the repeal of Additional State Aid for Tax Reduction (ASATR), Lovejoy faces losing millions of dollars in funding, again. Due to possible funding cuts, we may lose 30 talented staff members and we'll have one less class period in 7th-8th grade.
Please support us by asking the legislature to use all state funds, including Hardship Grant funds, collected by a school district in the 2018-19 school year, for purposes of calculating the transition grant funding under HB 3. By not including all funds in setting transition funding for schools and compressing the local tax rate for districts, the state is setting up school districts like Lovejoy to lose money next year and beyond.
Haley Richards, Paari Palani, Emily Dillon, Alexander van Rijn, Clark Koons, Saanvi Cheruku, Brayden Nelson, Lovejoy ISD students
Stay out of Plano's business
Re: "Plano, stop this group's push," by Debbie O'Reilly, Monday Letters.
O'Reilly of Allen is again trying to influence the election in Plano. Many of the problems with this Plano election and previous elections have been outsider influence. Dallas builders and developers, California venture capitalists, foreign nationals and companies, etc., provide their cash to "build Plano" so that they can reap the profits. And they get their way by stuffing the campaign coffers of the mayor and other candidates who want to make Plano a concrete jungle. After they build it, they take their money and run. Then the citizens of Plano have to deal with the aftermath.
Shouldn't the residents of Plano determine their own destiny? O'Reilly needs be quiet with regards to the elections in Plano. Allen has enough problems. She should focus on them, not Plano.
Garry Beckham, Plano
Planoites know what's right
I find it interesting that an Allen resident is counseling us on how to vote in Plano. Personally, I would rather join in our governor's endorsement for Lily Bao and Shelby Williams, rather than the big real estate money and other outside funding for the mayor's candidates who support continued expansion and multifamily apartments. Planoites know the quality of life they desire.
Dale Strimple, Plano
U.S. Catholic church has changed
Re: "Diocese slams police for 'unnecessary raid' - Dallas Catholic officials defend their response to allegations against priests," May 16 news story.
I don't know how you can read the detailed statement by Bishop Edward Burns and conclude the Dallas Diocese is withholding information. We will see if a search warrant finds anything. What I find unjust is the idea that since the church withheld information in the past, it is presumptively doing so now and should even welcome the execution of a criminal search warrant.
This idea ignores the sea change since 2002 in how the U.S. Catholic church handles allegations of abuse. All the data shows a huge drop in abuse allegations and prompt reporting of the few allegations there are. I believe the U.S. Catholic church is now one of the safest environments for minors anywhere.
Paul Hunker, Irving