U.S. aid to Ukraine is too little, too late
Biden and Russia’s war
Regarding “Fate of Biden’s presidency tied to fate of Ukraine,” (April 28): I don’t often agree with Marc Thiessen’s viewpoints, but in this case he is spot on. OK, so Biden was able to pull the NATO countries together to provide what amounted to moral support to Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people. But for months before the invasion, the Russians were building up their forces along the Ukrainian border while the U.S. and the NATO countries sat on their hands. If Biden had refrained from declaring that no U.S. troops would ever be involved and NATO had built its own substantial forces along the Russian and Belarusian borders, there’s a good chance the war could have been averted altogether.
Second, if the U.S and NATO would have supplied the Ukrainian army with heavy weapons early on to enable them to contest the artillery and missile attacks that have destroyed Ukrainian cities and towns and killed thousands of inhabitants, the course of the war could have been changed dramatically, as Zelenskyy says. Instead, the West is only now giving the Ukrainians what they have needed since the beginning of the invasion two months ago. Particularly disappointing has been the failure of Germany (where I lived and worked in the ’70s and ’80s) to act in this respect until just this week when Chancellor Olaf Scholz finally responded to the urgings of other NATO countries and even members of his own party. In short, we collectively locked the barn door after the horse had been stolen.
Thiessen’s assertion that Biden owns the war is true. No amount of military and humanitarian aid can really make up for the failures of America and NATO to act early on. Thousands of Ukrainians have already been killed and there has been the equivalent of billions of dollars lost in property damage. We can only hope that the valiant Ukrainian army and citizen recruits — aided by the latearriving tanks and heavy weapons finally being provided by the NATO countries — can win, or at least exact a long-term stalemate, against a vastly superior Russian army in terms of personnel and weapons. Yes, Biden’s presidency hangs on the outcome, but that’s minor compared to the result of the struggle between democracy and ruthless totalitarianism.
Ray Lawrence, Houston
Literature warnings
Regarding “Editorial: A stand for the First Amendment in Llano County,” (April 26): If book banning causes such a ruckus in public libraries and classrooms, then publishers need to label objectionable books on the cover. Whether a book received an acclaimed award or amassed skyrocketing sales does not prove it is worthy. Music has long been labeled if it contains explicit lyrics, or we have been provided the option of listening to a cleaner version. Movies are rated according to whether they are appropriate for adults or children to watch. Questionable literature can also include trigger warnings if necessary. Readers and those concerned about certain books can decide for themselves. Protecting democratic values starts with sensible choices.
Bill Pond, Humble
Religious liberty
Regarding “Supreme Court tackles case about praying football coach,” (April 24): On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court, in Kennedy v. Bremerton School District heard oral arguments for a high school football coach claiming he was fired from his job for engaging in “quiet, private prayer” at the 50-yard line after games. The trial record demonstrated the coach once formed informal prayer circles with team members after each game, leading the students in audible Christian prayer while in the midst of his formal duties. When the school district asked him to pray privately instead, he continued to kneel and pray on the field, and the school then put him on paid leave. The coach claimed he had been persecuted for his religious exercise.
Perhaps the coach should open his Bible and read Matthew 6:5-6, which reads, “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites, who love to pray standing in the synagogues and at the street corners, in order that they may be seen by men. Amen I say to you they have received their reward. But when you pray, go to your room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.”
Also, the Supreme Court could refer to this passage to help distinguish one engaging in a “sincere religious belief or exercise” versus one who is being a “hypocrite” or “showman.”