JEERS: To Mr. White & R.W.H, although I share in your concerns that the government is moving too far left into a more secular form of body, let us not forget that its original intent was to indeed separate our new nation from religious rule. Not only was King George III the absolute ruler of England and its North American colonies, but the king was also the head of the Church of England. As such, many of his political views could not be challenged because of the powerful spiritual and military autonomy by which he ruled his empire. People were scared to go against the head of the church. For this reason, it was in fact the signers intent to eliminate the marriage of religion and politics. Lastly, please don’t insult me by assuming because they were Christians, they believed that all people were “... created equal.” Beginning in 1772, slavery as a practice began to end in England, some 90 years before the Thirteenth Amendment was passed here in the United States. Indeed, it’s too bad that the slave-owning Thomas Jefferson and the other slave-owning signers of the Declaration of Independence refused to extend these so called “ ... inalienable rights” endowed by their creator to their own slaves. This fact alone should be proof that involving religion and politics doesn’t necessarily equal a good thing ... remember, Satan was once an angel too.—A.C., Wake Village, Texas



JEERS: To whoever sets the traffic lights along Richmond Road from Robison, across the I-30 to McKnight. On a normal day the traffic along that section of Richmond is bad enough, but during the Christmas rush, or any holiday, it’s worse than in Los Angeles. I speak from personal experience on this because after getting out of the Marines in 1980, I spent about 20 years in L.A. As bad as the traffic was and as much as everyone complained about it (including me), at least the timing and duration of the traffic lights was coordinated to help the flow of traffic instead of hindering it. The lights along Richmond, alas, do the exact opposite. I’m sick and tired of it and it’s time something was done. Therefore, I propose a one-day boycott of every business along that stretch of Richmond Road, the first Monday in January—the 5th. If any business along that piece of road (including the mall) can be reached from Richmond, boycott it for one day. If the merchants start screaming about lost business, maybe the city will finally get off its taxpayer-financed rear-end and do something about it. Otherwise, if things don’t improve “real soon now,” every store along that stretch will lose my business permanently. It’s just not worth it anymore. What do you say? Want to join me in a one-day boycott the first Monday in January?—M.V.W., Texarkana, Texas



JEERS: To the City of Texarkana, Texas, for wanting to raise property taxes. I recently read where someone said a property tax increase would only affect homeowners and not affect renters. A property tax increase affects all the citizens of the city in more ways than one. The landlord will pass on the increased expense to the renter by raising rent. Small business owners will have to raise prices for goods and services to cover the increase in property taxes for the business since it increases expenses. Now, back to homeowners being affected by the increase. There are many homeowners who are just barely hanging on trying to keep all the bills paid and the mortgage paid to avoid foreclosure. One more added expense could be just enough to push more homeowners closer to foreclosure. Please let your feelings be known to City Hall administration.—W.H., Texarkana, Texas



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