H-E-B backs mail-in votes
Safety first
Regarding “H-E-B’s chief backs county’s mail plan,” (A3, Sept. 4): Thank you to Charles Butt for recognizing voting by mail is the safest way to vote at this time and that encouraging people to vote will make our democracy stronger. Unfortunately, COVID-19 also has made it more challenging to register to vote in the first place. As an essential business with a platform of 300-plus stores across the state frequented by a majority of Texans, Butt could help register people to vote by placing mail-in forms in bags at curbside pickup or allowing volunteers to register people outside his stores. With the Oct. 5 voter registration deadline fast approaching, precious little time remains for Texans to register to vote or update their current voter registration address. Robert Hallenbeck, Houston
Oil industry critical
Regarding “Oil firms following in coal’s footsteps,” (Aug. 30, B1): Chris Tomlinson’s column echoes a familiar but false narrative about the future of the oil industry. His suggestion that “the best we can do is manage the long-term decline” is beguiling and wrong. The U.N. estimates the world’s population will grow by 2 billion people in the coming decades, and access to affordable energy will remain vital to human progress. The U.S. Energy Information Administration says global energy consumption will increase nearly 50 percent by 2050. None of this sounds like the makings of an industry on the decline. Tomlinson claims that oil will be quickly replaced by other energy sources, the same way natural gas replaced coal. But natural gas is a lower cost energy source than coal, whereas significant cost barriers remain to replacing oil with other forms of energy. To the assertion that the oil industry is losing its relevance to the U.S. economy, I say petroleum remains its lifeblood. The U.S. refining sector contributes hundreds of billions to U.S. GDP. The petroleum industry is also critical to America’s long-term energy security — the value of which cannot be overstated. Chet Thompson, president and CEO of the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers
What it means to kneel
I was brought up in a church where we stood, knelt and sat for prayers. No one thought kneeling was a sign of disrespect. Royalty used to demand “respect” by having their subjects kneel before them. If Colin Kaepernick and others kneel during the anthem with a stated purpose, why is that disrespectful? Could it be that those who claim disrespect just don’t want to recognize the message? It will be impossible to honestly discuss Black Lives Matter and its host of issues if disrespect is claimed where none is intended. Kneeling has never been a sign of disrespect before. Listen to and understand the message. You may not agree with it, but at least acknowledge the message without mischaracterization of calling it disrespectful. Gerry May, Spring
BIBLE VERSE
As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.