What’s up with that?

My vote for President Obama was partly predicated on his campaign promise to “end the war in Iraq!”

What’s up with the new decade in Iraq promoted by Gen. Casey?

He should be shown the exit door both from Iraq and the Pentagon.

Ken Hughes,

Decatur

Aiding and abetting

Eight murders, 17 attempted murders, 41 bombings, 171 arsons — the inevitable result of 35 years of constant, relentless, anti-abortion fanatics’ hate speech, violence, intimidation and assassinations.

There are threats of violence on anti-abortion Web sites, newsletter articles arguing justifiable homicide in killing of doctor providers. Fox News incessantly refers to providers as Nazis, pedophiles, and al-Qaida.

Cheney/GOP rhetoric of late purports that President Obama isn’t a real American, is making America less safe and is secretly a Muslim.

Some hypo-Christians in pro-life groups imply that he is even the Antichrist. Our own Michael Burgess suggests Janet Napolitano should resign for her April memo warning of these fringe extremists.

Scott Roeder was jailed for carrying explosives in his car and labeled “a threat of danger to the public” in 1996. He has been on law enforcement radar many times the last two years.

With all the red flags, why wasn’t this guy stopped?

In 1993, the FACE bill was made law by the Clinton administration, but when the Republicans took control of Congress, they cut the funding and thus limited its scope.

Abortions are legal in this country. Anyone who harasses and intimidates providers and clients is as much a terrorist as the Taliban.

Safe abortion is a fundamental part of women’s health care. Doctors should be able to help women without fear for their lives.

From church to office, engaging in this type of inciting speech makes you complicit in these crimes.

Lainey Black,

Denton

Economic Darwinism

Your editorial today [Editorial, June 5] lamenting the upcoming closing of two supermarkets (Piggly Wiggly in Denton) was touching but unrealistically critical of the free-enterprise system and what it has done for our society over the years.

We all have warm memories of buying 1-cent licorice sticks from the glass-enclosed cases in the food stores on the square in our home towns.

We also remember the Model A Fords and the two-pump gas stations operated by individual owners.

While we cherish these and thousands of other memories we experienced through our lifetimes, not many of us would care to trade our current retail community for one that existed 50 years ago.

Our retail society has been based on the survival of the fittest.

Competition and modernization of retailing methods has brought about high levels of selection, lower prices and a standard of living of which we can be very proud.

Retailers of all types have to be cognizant of what their customers are looking for and they need to have the foresight to prepare themselves to meet those desires. Those that do not make those adjustments ultimately fall out of the competitive circle.

The customers in a community make the decision as to who will be in business by patronizing those businesses they prefer.

I think if you take a short drive past the parking lots of several current supermarkets in town, you will see who is best providing that customer satisfaction today.

Roger Howard,

Denton

A night to remember

I am writing with regard to the production, A Night on Broadway at Denton High School this year.

I had the pleasure and honor of volunteering on this production and I was blown away.

The caliber of talent in the Denton High School choral program is in line with what you would find in a professional company.I have no doubts that several of these students will one day earn their living with the talent God has given them.

The production featured group scenes, solos and small groups, all from award-winning Broadway musicals. It was a phenomenal evening of pure entertainment and the audience loved every minute of the show.

Equally impressive were the ability and knowledge of those students who volunteered their time to run the technical and administrative aspects of the show. Without them, this production would not have happened.

In addition to their talent, I am overwhelmed by who these students are inside.They are kind, considerate, respectful and appreciative not only to adults but to each other as well. They have a strong work ethic and are consummate professionals both on and off stage.

I credit the directorship of Mark Baker and Michael Pricer because they teach these students so much more than music.The example they set is one of integrity.

I am so proud of this talented group of young people and the way they are using their creative ability to encourage, inspire and entertain.

Donna McClendon,

Denton

Bravo!

I am increasingly pleased at the talent of the Denton Community Theatre.

The current show, Don’t Dress for Dinner, was remarkable. The dialogue was extremely clever and the actors were equally magnificent.

I am in awe of how DCT can continue to produce such tremendous shows. I never miss a one.

If you can make reservations for this show, do it.

You won’t be disappointed.

And, you might consider becoming a season subscriber, as I have been for years.

Pat Cheek,

Denton