Value of Fox News
Conservative thought
Regarding “Editorial: Tucker Carlson's hate sells. After Buffalo shooting, who's still buying ‘replacement theory?' ” (May 16): I find it laughable that you are begging readers not to watch Tucker Carlson. Do you not realize that you are the reason we all watch Tucker Carlson? You refuse to report the news in a fair, balanced way, so we have no choice but to watch Fox News to get the other side of the story.
Bernie Weber, Katy
Could it be that Tucker Carlson speaks inconvenient truths that the Chronicle and others are too closedminded to accept?
Jack Gibbs, Hempstead
Tucker Carlson responded on his show to the criticism he has received with regard to the so-called replacement theory. Carlson provided many examples, video and text of talking heads and politicians discussing the impact of providing citizenship to the millions of undocumented people on voting demographics. Carlson also provided a column in the New York Times that even used the word “replacement” in the title. If the editorial board would have taken time to do actual research instead on relying on reports by others they would have found that the evidence is contrary to what the editorial espoused.
David Keller, Houston
Regarding “Trend not conservative — it's autocratic,” (May 16): Michael Taylor's exceptionally cogent analysis demands that we understand our Constitution, and that in particular we focus on the complicated functions of the First Amendment. Amid too many confusing cries and overwrought protestations about preserving American freedoms, we keep missing a key axiom of liberty, namely that it cannot exist without matching responsibility. Without responsibility, freedoms degenerate into the license for anarchy.
A similar axiom, often noted, is that we can never have peace without also ensuring justice. So likewise, we will never deserve our freedoms without also tying them to our responsibilities. The corollary is that we won't ever deserve free speech without assuring responsible speech. To shout “Fire!” in the crowded theater is plainly irresponsible speech. Yet, even now we face an awkwardly designed and poorly managed cyber theater. Here, fomented and poisoned by incendiary and irresponsible hate speech, members of a panicked and misinformed online mob clamor and threaten to harm the innocent and the law-abiding in the real world.
And even now, when individuals and corporations speak freely, rightly and responsibly, public officials autocratically try to punish them or slander them with irresponsible speech. As Taylor points out, “Our system depends on (these bad actors) getting slapped down ...” It is high time for us to exercise our prerogative for responsible democratic action.
Robert F. Forker, Houston
Regarding “Opinions: Conservatives, let's keep winning, not fight each other,” (May 7): I read and reread Anthony Holm's piece and found his premise to be confusing: Are not “conservatives” supposed to “conserve?” How can you be conservative if you do not advocate for conserving the rule of law, the U.S. Constitution, America's greatest asset (human capital), America's lifeblood of human capital (immigration), the very planet that we inhabit, voting rights for everyone and a woman's reproductive rights — to name just a few examples.
Thomas R. Temple, Houston
Inspirational
Regarding “UTHealth grad, 80, earns nation's first doctorate in health informatics after sister's misdiagnosis,” (May 13): I greatly appreciated reading about the achievements of Joe Bridges regarding using artificial intelligence to reduce diagnostic errors as he earned his doctoral degree. I am nearly as old as him, and his story inspired me keep going as I try to improve health care through my patient safety advocacy. I was also inspired because, like Bridges, I had a family member seriously harmed due to a missed diagnosis. In the case of my family member, the victim died. Finally, I am inspired because it is so easy to sit back and cruise through our final years, thinking we earned a rest. Bridge's story inspired me to treasure my last years and my accumulated knowledge as an opportunity to leave a legacy of help for future generations. Inspired, indeed.
John T. James, Houston