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Teens will drink; keep them safe
Dear editor,
I was very sorry to hear about the drastic steps taken by what seems to be an overzealous prosecutor (“Two arrested for giving minors alcohol at after-prom party,” May 27 Democrat). While I have to agree that underage drinking is a concern, I would also have to say that this makes me a huge hypocrite. As I reflect on my high school years it is a miracle that I survived to reach adulthood. I can recall several times where I went to a friend’s house, had a few if not a few too many drinks and drove home. I’m sure many of us can recall similar incidents. For some reason kids have an attitude of invincibility which can lead to some very poor decisions being made, as parents we can only pray that our children learn from their mistakes and not die from them.
It amazes me that as a society we say “I do not condone teen sex” and give out condoms and other forms of birth control just in case, and then with the same breath we condemn underage drinking and demonize those that offer a safety net for when it does occur. I realize this is an uncomfortable and very slippery slope, but I would hate to imagine the “what if” had my son gone to some other party, drank and tried to drive home. Those of you who think your kids are the exception might need a reality check. Those perfect little children we raise are just like we were, curious, rebellious, and at times a little mischievous.
I hope this letter in some way helps to explain my mixed emotions. While in a perfect world I would have my son wait till he is of legal age to drink, I am not naive enough to expect it. For this reason I am thankful to both Patricia Parrish Linn and Gregory Ray Wright for making sure every kid in attendance made it home safe. From some of the statistics I have read, this is not always the case for prom night. I read that more than 1/3 of all fatal accidents involving teens happen in the months of April, May and June, the months normally associated with prom.
It is my most heartfelt wish to let everyone know what a loving, caring, and supportive parent you are Patti. You have raised some amazing kids, and from what I have witnessed getting to know your son Hunter these past two years, you have a lot to be proud of.
Steve Lemons,
Weatherford
Viewpoints
Letters to the editor, Wednesday, June 6
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Letters to the Editor – May 23, 2013
America is being destroyed by voter fraud and the buying of votes by the followers of Karl Marx.
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CNHI EDITORIAL: Seizure of AP phone records an insult to independent press
Distrust of government secrecy has been elevated to an exceptional level with the disclosure the Justice Department covertly examined two months of Associated Press phone records to determine who leaked details to the AP about a foiled terrorist plot.
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NOW HEAR THIS: ‘What we’ve got here is a failure to communicate’
This famous quote addressing communication failure is a classic line from the 1967 movie “Cool Hand Luke,” starring Paul Newman. Strother Martin, who played the role of the warden in a southern prison, would use this phrase every time he gave Luke a good whack with his baton. The concept resonated so well with moviegoers that it was voted No. 11 of the 100 all-time favorite movie quotes according to the American Film Institute.
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Letters to the Editor – May 19, 2013
Do you remember the “MISSION ACCOMPLISHED” sign that the personnel on the USS Abraham Lincoln displayed to greet President Bush when he went out to greet them?
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Guest opinion: Campaign with honor
All politics is local and personal! I hope that you and your family have a wonderful summer, filled with relationship building experiences and times of relaxation. As you do all the things that re-charge us for the next round at work and involvement in community and political activities, let’s reflect on the 2013 local elections for a moment.
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TISCIONE: Woe for calling evil good
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Letters to the Editor – May 17, 2013
As mercury pollution threatens our waterways and carbon pollution-fueled climate change worsens extreme weather, we need someone in Washington who knows how to get things done.
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Letters to the Editor – May 15, 2013
I just wanted to express my heartfelt thanks to the slobs, idiots and inconsiderate people who continually decorate the beautiful Texas landscape with their trash. I guess it’s really a form of art with beer bottles and cans, boxes, plastic drink containers, food packaging and just about anything else you can think of. It just doesn’t appeal to me. Thank you.
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NOW HEAR THIS: Not by the hairs of my chinny chin chin
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ESTES: Securing a bright future for Texas
Texas businesses have created more than 500,000 jobs since November 2011. Our economy is growing nearly 50 percent faster than the rest of the country and our cost of living remains low.
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Letters to the Editor – May 23, 2013
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