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Editorial criticized
You have continued to make former president Donald Trump your personal pin cushion, and right behind him is our Gov. Greg Abbott, who is next to receive your barbs whenever you seem to see a need. Now you spoil our Christmas week by publishing an editorial from The Denver Post, another off-balance newspaper.
I refer to the editorial “Trump’s appointees hold his, America’s, future in their hands,” published Dec .23. If you don’t understand the Constitution, the appointees don’t hold anyone’s future in their hands. They can come to no other conclusion than that the Colorado Supreme Court justices are out of their saddles and hanging from their stirrups.
All that Donald Trump sharpshooters have is a lot of supposition, dreams and wishes he would be convicted of any act that would deny him ballot access. It ain’t. And it never will be.
Trump’s detractors continue to shout that he ordered the rioters to charge the Capitol and take it over. Nonsense! If anyone did that through their actions it was the Indomitable Nancy Pelosi who refused to call for the National Guard. How about it, Denver Post?
To diverge slightly, I need to comment on the Valley papers’ incessant attack on Gov. Abbott for placing barbed and/or concertina wire in the Rio Grande to deter illegals from crossing. Those with an ounce of sense will realize that fences of any type are not meant to hurt, they are meant to discourage illegals from getting hurt. Stay away and all is well. Also, if Gov. Abbott takes to his own methods to prevent illegals from coming he is doing what the federal government under President Biden refuses to do.
There is no method in the Constitution to override the president when he doesn’t want to perform than impeachment. Certainly leaving our borders open is an impeachable offense. An invasion without weapons (so far), but with thousands of bodies, is still an invasion. What about that, liberal press?
Duane Rasmussen
Laguna Vista
Rewilding the quad
It is a magical experience of sky, sunshine, flowers, butterflies and other pollinators. Imagine local landscaping that is emotionally and spiritually uplifting as well as an outdoor classroom for the natural sciences to learn about botany, entomology, ecology and resiliency along with enrichment for the social and behavioral sciences.
Bravo to UTRGV Edinburg campus for rewilding the drainage area and elevation of the “quad” for a perfect blending of nature and a welcoming space to all.
For years the “quad” was used as a recreational greenspace for campus activities but when heavy rain came, the “quad” flooded and became a bog. Now it is revitalized through extensive underground drainage and aboveground improvements of lights, seating areas and a platform stage built around the existing trees for event entertainment.
Rewilding of the “quad” has brought back butterflies and other pollinators in abundance on the campus, which improves quality of life along with greenspace — and now an additional outside laboratory teaching area. Field trip, anyone?
Diane Teter
Edinburg
Not their party now
During a Feb. 24, 2021, news conference, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney were asked, “Do you believe President Trump should be speaking at the Conservative Political Action Committee this weekend?” McCarthy answered, “Yes, he should.” Cheney replied, “That’s up to the CPAC. I’ve been clear in my views about President Trump and the extent to which, following January 6, I don’t believe he should be playing a role in the future of the party or the country.”
Afterward, Liz was called into Kevin’s office. “You are killing me, Liz,” Kevin said.
Liz believed Kevin was under significant pressure from Trump, and public criticism of the former president by anyone in the party could simply not be tolerated.
“I hadn’t planned on having a public disagreement at a leadership press conference,” Liz replied, “but I was asked a direct question and I answered it. My answer shouldn’t have come as a surprise to anyone who had been paying attention. Kevin, this is about the Constitution. Think Think of what Trump did. Think how appalled any of our previous Republican leaders would be about this. How would Reagan have reacted to this? How would Bush have reacted? Think of my dad.”
A large portrait of Ronald Reagan hangs in Kevin McCarthy’s office. But apparently he no longer believed in the conservatism of our 40th president.
“This isn’t their party anymore,” Kevin said.
He wasn’t wrong. The GOP was becoming an anti-Constitution party. And too many of our leaders were willing to accept that.
The excerpts above are from “Oath and Honor: A Memoir and a Warning,” a gripping firsthand account from inside the halls of Congress as Donald Trump and his enablers betrayed the American people and the Constitution, leading to the violent attack on our Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, by Liz Cheney, the House Republican leader who dared to stand up to them.
Italo J. Zarate
Brownsville
Jan. 6 patriots
The American people haven’t changed Much Since 1776; 3% of the people fought for and many of them died to create this once grand country; 10% of the people helped the 3% who were physically fighting to create this once grand country. They gave them arms, food, money and shelter.
This means 13% of the people were the ones who created this once-grand country.
Thirty percent of the people agreed with the 13% but didn’t really do anything to help create America; 57% of the people didn’t support the creation of America. Many were ignorant or just didn’t care. Others were loyalists who supported the opposing side, England.
These 13% are what we today call patriots. Many of them have already lost their jobs because of their beliefs. Many have been scorned by their community. Many have been disowned by their own families and friends. Others have been imprisoned for their beliefs.
One example of these patriots today are the whistleblowers who have exposed our fascist government. Another example of these patriots today are those who protested our government on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington, D.C.
We haven’t changed much since 1776. We have about the same 13% percentages today of people who are willing to defend our once-great country as in 1776 when our Founding Fathers created us.
I am proud to say I am one of the 13% patriots of today.
Are you?
Darrell Williams Sr.
McAllen
Border fence spurs comment
I can remember when President Ronald Reagan solved all the problems at the border. It lasted as long as it took to pick up his pen. The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 altered U.S. immigration law by making it illegal to hire illegal immigrants knowingly and establishing financial and other penalties for companies that employed illegal immigrants. The act also legalized most undocumented immigrants who had arrived in the country before Jan. 1, 1982.
In 2006, President George W. Bush signed into law the Secure Fence Act. This would require building a 1,951-mile fence. During the Donald Trump administration, 80 miles of new fencing was put up. Under duress, Joe Biden has put up 20 new miles of fencing. The Secure Fence Act of 2006 should be law and completed before the GOP wastes another dollar on trips to the border.
Congress should put the money on the table to finish the fence project and set a reasonable completion deadline. Trump should pay for it out of his campaign money, not Mexico. He has already raised enough money from the fence ads to build it out of reinforced steel.
I guess that the current Congress will do nothing to solve the immigration problem. It is too good of a campaign issue to solve it. Osama bin Laden raised more money for the GOP to fight terrorism than anyone could imagine. Why kill the goose that laid golden eggs?
Which undocumented immigrant has committed a mass shooting in a school? More lives can be saved and money for terrorism can be used elsewhere. Congress, do your job.
Hank Shiver
Mission
Trump support defies all logic
I am perplexed. How is it possible to live an evil life of greed, deception, decadence, extreme egotism, chaos and corruption and at the same time be considered a Christlike savior by millions of supposedly devout, religious, god-fearing Christians and of course, many other ignorant and gullible Americans? A person who at the beginning of his run for president declared that he could someone on Fifth Avenue and not lose any voters?
Even after failing to get the popular vote in the 2016 presidential election he was still declared the winner. It defies all logic in the United States, a nation that prides itself as the model of goodness and benevolence, a “shining beacon on a hill.”
He requires unquestioned, total allegiance from those around him and goes on to corrupt and destroy their lives. He tried to do away with the U.S. Constitution and destroy our democracy, and attempted to obstruct the democratic process by insurrection. He said voting is not necessary, that we should just let him remain as our autocratic president, a dictator.
Even after his mendacity, avarice, criminal and totally decadent behavior have been exposed for all to see, his followers, with blinders, refuse to see him for what he is and do not give rational answers when asked why they follow him.
There is no logic as to why his errant disposition is condoned and admired by so many; we say they “drank the Kool-Aid.”
The totally mind-boggling and insane situation we are experiencing suggests a Faustian-like scenario. Let us hope Donald Trump’s pact is short lived.
What do you think? Perhaps the key word here is “think!”
Arnoldo Gonzalez
Brownsville
Animal dumping
There is a location in Rio Grande Valley where animals are dumped by their owners. This area is also very unsafe. Many animals are killed and tortured there. An animal rescue had posted pups on social media asking for someone to get them. Before anyone could, one of the puppies, Erica, was viciously beaten. She had two legs badly broken; they attempted to crush in her skull, partially scalping her and attempting to de-glove her. She was also brutally stabbed and left for dead.
When rescuers found her she was close to lifeless, while her litter mate hid screaming. She and her litter mate were taken to a local animal hospital. Erica sustained unthinkable injuries. Both were transported from McAllen to Houston by Becca Isabel of Yaqui Animal Rescue.
I encourage all of you to take the time to find its account on Instagram and to reach out. Stories like this have a way of collectively gathering groups of people, from all over the country, to fight for better legislation and activism.
More recently, Becca and Yaqui Animal Rescue (along with many other rescue groups) were involved in exposing an active and horrific animal abuse situation in Chandler, Ariz. Once the story hit social media, news outlets like ABC, The New York Post, Fox News and various others reported on the story. The story went viral, getting millions of hits on every social media account. Celebrities like Jennifer Aniston got involved and helped to bring awareness to the injustice and lack of involvement from Chandler city officials as well as police.
I encourage you to Google “Chandler Arizona House of Horrors” or “Chandler55.” Police knew of this abuse, and sat for years on it, until social media demanded justice. These types of crimes are being committed against helpless animals. I ask you, who is next? Please help bring awareness to this animal torture in Hidalgo.
Candice Kastanos
Atlanta, Georgia
Biden bashed
An article written by Colleen Long and Zeke Miller reported that President Joe Biden asserted that we nearly lost America to Donald Trump. I submit we are losing America under Joe Biden. Their article is an attempt to divert attention from Kamala Harris’ and Joe Biden’s failures as leaders and focus on anything anti-Trump. The Monitor does the same thing. Liberal to the core.
Biden shows signs of dementia. He stumbles, can’t find his way, is known for his gaffes, and along with Kamala, makes nonsensical sentences that leave listeners scratching their heads trying to understand what they are trying to say.
The border is a train wreck, interest rates and crime rates are high and confidence in their abilities is low. Their approval rates are abysmal. Biden appears to select people based on everything but competency. We are trillions of dollars in debt and will continue to be so as long as he puts illegals and their welfare above those of his own countrymen. Right now the figure stands at 7.5 million illegals who have crossed our border.
How many times have he and Kamala visited the border? What has Kamala done to protect us? Why would anyone believe Biden is going to improve mentally and do a better job in the future?
Dayna Austin
Palmview
Editor’s note: We welcome your letters and commentary. Submissions must include the writer’s full name, address and daytime telephone number for verification. Letters of 200 words or fewer will be given preference. Submissions may be edited for length, grammar and clarity. Letters may be mailed to P.O Box 3267, McAllen, Texas 78502-3267, or emailed to [email protected].
