ELECTION LETTERS
The Denton Record-Chronicle welcomes letters to the editor pertaining to the Nov. 4 general election. All regular submission rules apply. Letters concerning statewide races and local propositions on the Nov. 4 ballot must be received in this office by 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24. None will be published after Friday, Oct. 31.
Stick to responsible reporting
Your Oct. 9 front-page headline reads: “Ebola scare comes to Denton County.” It’s true ... the scare having been brought here primarily by this headline. The article contains buried somewhere that Deputy Monnig is lacking three important symptoms that could help define his illness as actually being Ebola. Lab work could be available Friday.
Really ... you couldn’t wait one day, for some facts?
On Page 4 is an editorial about how we’re rooting for Deputy Monnig — in caring for his health, and fearing for ours. Buried is a reference to Denton County’s website, where accurate Ebola information is available.
Your editorial states: “You can only get Ebola from touching the blood or body fluids of a person who is sick with or has died from Ebola, or from touching contaminated objects such as needles or infected animals.”
Shouldn’t this have been on the front page, instead of alarming the public with misleading reporting?
How about more research and utilizing your front page to educate? Can simply touching contaminated fluids or objects, infect a person? Is Ebola able to penetrate unbroken skin? Or, does the person have to introduce it via membranous tissue, like the flu? Do animals contract or spread Ebola? These are things I’m sure the general public really does want to know.
Your mission statement says “you want to give us something to think about every day.” I'm thinking about what Denton and the U.S. need and want: less unnecessary anxiety, and more responsible reporting. Could we stick to that, please?
J.D. Lowe,
Denton
Faulty premise
The entire premise of Bob Akers’ letter [DRC, Sept. 28] is one that we’ve seen many times from the historically uneducated. He states that the Jews stole the land from the Palestinians and thus basically, they have it coming.
Israel has belonged to the Jews since the 11th century B.C. However, he attempts to try and pay homage to this by quoting Deuteronomy 28 and then uses it as a basis to somehow evict the Jews from the land.
If you want to use the Bible as a means of trying to prove your point, look up 2 Chronicles 7:14, which states: “then, if my people, who bear my name, will humble themselves, pray, seek my face and turn from their evil ways, I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin and heal their land.” See Micah 2:12, as well.
Israel is a land that really is devoid of any natural resources on the land itself. However, the Israelis are exporting produce to most of Europe, and are leaders in technology in science.
That is called being blessed.
Most repulsive were his flippant remarks suggesting that Jews collaborated with Nazis to move into a land that was given to them centuries ago.
His anti-Semitism goes further by stating that Israel is the cause of all the problems, and the country should disarm, which would by all common sense, initiate a second Holocaust.
Add the hashtag #ThisIsAntisemitism next to #ThisIsDenton.
Hunter Bonner,
Corinth
Historic fracking fight
Denton residents are part of a historic fight to take back their city from the gas industry. On Nov. 4, if voters pass the ordinance to ban fracking, Denton will be the only Texas city to have taken such a bold step.
Supporters of the ban have a difficult fight — they are taking on one of the richest, most powerful industries in the world. And it shows.
Someone has made erroneous, automated anti-ban calls and Denton Taxpayers for a Strong Economy distributed misleading fliers, which inform Denton residents that the ban would eliminate drilling in Denton and cost taxpayers outrageous sums of money.
The ordinance would not ban drilling, just fracking.
Someone has conducted push polls to make residents believe the ban would devastate Denton’s economy.
However, council member Roden’s blog explains how the ban may actually create an economic boom.
Professor Briggle’s blogs reveal how little of Denton’s tax revenue comes from fracking — .5 percent of its general fund, hardly enough to fix potholes caused by fracking tankers. Both blogs, as well as scientific research studies about fracking, are at frackfreedenton.com.
The fact that gas companies have fracked beside (as close as 200 feet) Denton homes, schools, parks and hospitals despite the ability to frack a well from miles away should make residents suspicious of any anti-fracking ban phone calls or publications.
On Nov. 4, Denton residents need to show the industry and Texas that they can take back their city. Our health, safety, well-being and prosperity depend upon this action.
Sandra Kay Mattox,
Denton
Re-elect Barnes
I am writing to support Margaret Barnes for 2014 re-election as judge of the 367th District Court.
As a former mayor of Highland Village and state commissioner on the Texas Judicial Conduct Commission, I have known Judge Barnes since she was a practicing attorney in Lewisville, 25 years ago. She is a conservative Republican, family-oriented and a person of true character.
Additionally, Judge Barnes’ 28 total years of professional legal experience and other solid qualifications are exceptional. She has extensive judicial experience in civil law and is board certified in family law.
She has also served as a judge on County Court at Law No. 2.
Her good judgment and mature outlook ensure a fair and prudent approach to difficult judicial decisions.
Lastly, I am confident that Judge Barnes is an asset to our judicial system and can be relied on to represent Denton County residents with the highest standards of integrity. Overall, she has … the right experience, the right ethics and is the right choice.
Please vote and re-elect the Honorable Margaret Barnes as judge of the 367th District Court.
Bill Lawrence,
Highland Village
