18-05-2025
A lesson for future popes: Just stay off social media, OK?
Pope Leo XIV used the social media network X before he became pope. That is no surprise, given our modern telecommunications culture. But I urge current (and future) cardinals and popes to be discreet in their social media postings and re-postings. They can leave a trail that could be twisted or manipulated or could tarnish the sender's credibility.
The pope serves a dual function. He is a head of state in the diplomatic arena and should be especially prudent in his choice of words. In the separate theologic setting, he is pontiff. Any pope's official proclamation should come directly out of his mouth or appear in the papal newspaper.
- James A. Marples, Longview
Nearly 78 million voters made Donald Trump our president. He's doing the things he said he would: substantially reducing the flow of illegal immigration, working to end Russia' s war on Ukraine and obtaining a mineral deal, and trying to reduce an out-of-control budget. But the press produces almost entirely negative articles about him, and Democrats in Congress fight him constantly. Does anybody think that is healthy?
In fairness, does anyone know why Joe Biden was not subject to the same level of harassment when he allowed a huge influx of immigrants to come here illegally and spent more than $100 billion on a war with little to no effort to stop it?
John Holt, Fort Worth
Enjoy the bright green spring, because much of our land could be reduced to nothing. Forever chemicals known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, are accumulating in our soil. Texas farmers have already experienced declines in land productivity and livestock deaths because of PFAS.
One source of these chemicals is fertilizer. Waste treatment plants are selling biosolids to Texas farmers, and many contain PFAS. It is complicated and costly to remove PFAS, but we can prevent more from entering our system. The Legislature should set maximum limits of PFAS concentration in biosolids and require monthly testing to reduce accumulation.
Find your state representative and speak out about PFAS.
- Alyssa Cole, Fort Worth
We frequently hear about schools struggling to teach children how to read. Districts develop plans to improve reading instruction, but schools cannot do what needs to be done. The main reason children struggle with reading is their parents.
When parents do not read, it tells the children that learning to read is not important. Too many people seem to believe the ability to use a smartphone is more important than learning to read books or newspapers. Students who learn to read at the appropriate level usually have parents who read.
- Harold L. Smith, Arlington
