Letters: Looking ahead, WSU and ‘from the left/right’
Let’s start dancing.
As the saying goes, “We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.” Yes, my wife and I miss the adventures of traveling and experiencing foreign cultures, but we are just as eager to laugh and socialize freely with our friends. Even going to the grocery store is like the zombie apocalypse. When you do make eye contact, you don’t know if you are getting a pleasant smile in return under that mask or a COVIDweary frown. I think all of us are also anxious to see the small businesses open up completely free of any COVID-related encumbrances. People need to get back on their feet and start dancing again. Gregg Cross, Xenia
Rethink proposed liberal arts cuts. Tom Hanks
— a longtime supporter of Wright State University who lent his name to its Center for Motion Pictures — had this to say, through his assistant, about the impending cuts to the College of Liberal Arts:
“The years in college are meant for self-discovery — when class-clowns become physicists and go into law. When athletes go into medicine, and bookish readers go into governance. With the liberal arts, kids who think they will become office workers become novelists, historians, and playwrights. Students who think they are the CPAs of tomorrow instead discover their love of storytelling and make their first films. Actors in college might be former wallflowers.”
A great university is a place for all learning, disciplines, sciences and arts.
In the 56 years since its founding, Wright State became an institution of learning, creativity, and expression. I implore the president and the board of trustees to forego draconian cuts in the humanities and the arts, which are essential to a wellrounded education. W. Stuart McDowell, chair emeritus of the Department of Theatre, Dance and Motion Pictures, Wright State University
Parker a cancel culture example. Recently some readers have criticized columnist Star Parker, calling her writings “toxic.” In my view, this is a prime example of the cancel culture. It seems some do not want to hear opinions contrary to theirs and therefore claim those comments to be divisive and should not be heard. Ms. Parker’s background was difficult, and her writings are from her life experiences. When I read a Paul Krugman, Leonard Pitts or Robert Reich I see what I might consider divisive and toxic comments; however, the last thing I would want is for them to be canceled. While the desire of no right or left would be nice, that is not the reality. Tim Stump, Englewood
Appreciate the left/ right balance. One of the main reasons I subscribe to the Dayton Daily News is because I appreciate your paper’s efforts to balance opinion on your op-ed page. The letter writer’s view (“Do away with ‘from the left’ and ‘from the right,’” March
13) that this “perpetuates our partisan divide” is incorrect. The divide exists, whether or not you choose to use those words. But your balancing act does show that at least one media outlet is attempting to provide a greater spectrum of thought. Thank you for those efforts. Charlie Nye, Indianapolis