For moms (and others)

In my English III class at Ryan High School, we wrote tribute letters to our mothers for Mothers Day. 

One of my students commented that all mothers of teenagers (or those who work with them daily) deserve recognition, so I told him to write a letter addressed to “Mother Figures.”

He asked that I pass it on to the paper on his behalf. Of course, he didn’t use the word “behalf.” 

Dear mother figures, 

This letter goes out to all the women that have had to deal with all the trouble that a kid can give.

We may stress you out a lot, but inside we really do truly love you. We may dislike the punishments you give us, but as we get older, we understand that those punishments are what make us better people. 

I think that it is the mother figures in our lives that shape our personalities, and the father ones that lead us in the right direction to succeed in life. Both are loved, but it seems mothers really have the greatest effect on us. 

Also, although we don’t say it enough, I’m going to say it for us: I’m sorry for the wrong things we’ve done and thanks to all of you for the RIGHT things you’ve done for us.

With all our love, 

Eric Hauf and others,

Denton

Traci Burt,

Billy Ryan High School,

Denton

A good Samaritan?

On the front page of today’s paper [May 1], there is an article about a mishandled 911 call. In the article a prominent individual in Den­ton is the caller, and he is in essence saying the call taker and the city of Denton intentionally give slower service to his part of the neighborhood.

After listening to the call, I was shocked and amazed about his actions, not the call takers. He said there was a man on the ground across the street who appears to not be moving. He is not near that victim during the first call.

In the second call, he outright refuses to attempt CPR. I sure hope he never shows up when I am in trouble.

I train students on the 911 system and for the National Academies of Emergency Dis­patch Emergency Telecommunicator Certifi­cation.

As far as I know, almost every agency in Denton County requires their dispatchers to receive Emergency Medical Dispatch Certi­fication.

Along with the certification and the protocols that would be used, the caller would have been able to perform CPR without any difficulties.

I always tell my students you are either part of the problem or part of the solution; there is no in-between in life. Seems to me, the caller was not much of a solution.

I hope that Chief Minter takes those small facts into consideration when he decides to reprimand the dispatcher and call taker.

David Fears,

Aubrey

Mulroy’s mistakes

When City Hall throws $715,000 in taxes out the window, all we get from Mayor Pro-Tem Mulroy is a yawn wide enough to count his fillings, but when an economic developer cuts down one too many confiscated trees, all heck breaks loose with Mulroy and he shouts for city prosecutors to man their battle stations, thus further hindering and discouraging sorely needed economic growth. 

Learning that Mulroy is also chairman of Denton’s Audit and Finance Committee, I further suggest, that since Mulroy is so supportive of civic organizations; the least he could do to correct poor judgment with our tax dollars as said chairman and council person, is that he extends his contributions to the city to cover costly overruns, for which as chairman he is to prevent.

What a novel idea, politicians owning up for costly mistakes! 

However, I will give Mulroy credit where credit is due; first is when a ceramic tile manufacturing company, which was strangely handicapped from locating anywhere else in Denton except on land owned by Mulroy, and in 2005 when he decreased police and firemen’s pay by 2 percent (or was it 4 percent?) due to lack of economic growth and associated revenues (while at the same time their tax bills increased) when other cities in the metroplex area were able to provide their public servants with raises.

Bill Keith,

Denton 

Defending hate speech

While I received encouraging and positive notes about my letter [Letters, April 25] from folks who have a religious leader who is positive about the almighty goodness and grace of God, I am distressed by the comments of Ronald L. Johnson [Letters, May 8].

In his letter, Johnson bizarrely takes up for Jeremiah Wright’s hate sermons even though his (Johnson’s) idol, Mr. Barack Obama himself, has disowned, disavowed and severely criticized Wright.

Pope Benedict may not have offered up Cardinal O’Malley to law enforcement but he has often lamented the church cover-up of pedophile priests by high-ranking church officials.

Then Ronald, you state, again bizarrely, that because there may be some anti-US Muslims, there are really none.

The entire tone of Johnson’s leftist tripe and America-bashing letter summoned re­minders of those who prefer to trash Americans and America rather than recognize the great force of good America has been and is in this world.

I ask, what about all the Americans who died to end slavery? What about all who died to give many nations around the world freedom, liberty and democracy, and an America, even today, that is trying to bring relief to the storm-devastated anti-American country of Myanmar?

Mr. Johnson, read something besides the America- and American-hating Daily Kos and Moveon.org and Huffingtonpost.com. Moreover, question your own anti-American feelings.

Arise some morning and sense the al­mighty goodness of God and look for the greatness of our nation.

Don Spaulding,

Denton

Why no reviews?

I find it disconcerting that the Record-Chronicle did not provide timely reviews of the various musical entertainers who provided the mainstay of the recent Denton Arts & Jazz Festival. 

I would hope that next year there will be reviews after each day’s performances as well as summary reviews as a wrap-up to this event. Reviews are important not only to the readership but also to the musicians themselves. 

John Hipple,

Denton