YOUR VIEWS
Ignoring the people
When changing the names of three schools, one Oklahoma City school board member said, “I think that the naming process was a great way to involve the community.” What? The community voted to keep the names, as is, not change them. Another said, “Those people that voted for Clara Luper, those people should have fair consideration. Her name was at the top of all those lists.” What? The names at the top of the lists were the schools’ original names. Those who voted that way were the ones not treated fairly.
The previous superintendent and the current board president both stated that as a public board, they should solicit community input on whether to change the names at all. That went by the wayside and no public comment was accepted except three-minute talks at two board meetings.
To talk of inclusion, acceptance, tolerance, understanding and knowledge of all, and then to purposely not listen to the community on whether to change the names, and then to ignore the community shows the board isn’t inclusionary at all. They are exclusionary to any type of Southern, family, or personal pride associated with these school names. We were the ones treated unfairly.
Larry W. Logan, Oklahoma City
Board’s bad decision
Since its founding more than 100 years ago, Oklahoma City has seen many bright days and more than its share of dark days. May 14, 2018 was a very dark day. Our pitiful excuse for a school board decided to join the politically correctists who are denounced by the great majority of Oklahomans. The great Confederate generals Stonewall Jackson, Robert E. Lee and our own Stand Watie are monumental figures in American history. It is no wonder our education of students today is at such a
low ebb when our school board thinks it has the power to rewrite history or redact portions of history that they “feel” might be offensive.
The citizens of Oklahoma City were asked to vote on the names of the three schools affected by the proposed name changes, and the vote was overwhelming to keep them as they were. Shame on the Oklahoma City School Board.
Frank Lynn Payne, Oklahoma City
Honoring our armed forces
On Saturday, Americans will observe National Armed Forces Day— a day honoring thousands of men and women serving in the U.S. military. It is thanks largely to their dedication and service that Americans enjoy what President Franklin Roosevelt called the “four freedoms”— freedom of speech and expression, freedom to worship God as they choose, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. Each year, Americans celebrate Armed Forces Day with parades, public military displays, educational exhibits, “Support the Troops” motorcycle rides and more. At Crossroads Hospice & Palliative Care, we make it a point to honor America’s veterans throughout the year. On this special day, we want to ensure all current members of the armed forces— and veterans— receive the recognition and respect they deserve.
LaBerta Baker, Oklahoma City Baker is executive director of the Oklahoma regional office of Crossroads Hospice & Palliative Care.