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The new Toy Story 5 focuses on a new tablet for Bonnie. Readers respond to a column about the dangers of too much screen time for kids.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Photo courtesy Danny Minton<\/p>\n
Screen time\u00a0<\/p>\n
Re: “The challenge of fostering creative play \u2013 In ‘Toy Story 5,’ screen time is the enemy,” by Tyra Damm, Tuesday Opinion.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The experts cited in this column are right: Creative play is foundational to cognitive, emotional and social development. It builds resilience, collaboration, problem-solving and confidence, skills that will serve children long after they put down a paintbrush or finish building a cardboard masterpiece.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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At SPARK!, a local Dallas nonprofit organization, we witness the power of creative play every day. Children don’t need their creativity directed, they need a safe space to imagine, build, experiment and create. Give a child paint, recycled materials, blocks or an open-ended challenge, and they will surprise you with their ingenuity.\u00a0<\/p>\n
We see firsthand that imagination isn’t disappearing; it simply needs space to flourish. When we invest in creative experiences for children, we are investing in a future generation of innovators, artists, entrepreneurs and problem-solvers.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As technology becomes more integrated into childhood, the question is no longer whether screens belong in children’s lives, but how we ensure they don’t replace the hands-on experiences that are essential to healthy development.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Sponsor signage\u00a0<\/p>\n
Re: “Audit says parks lag on revenue goals \u2013 City staff face pressure to cut $14 million from the department’s budget, slash dozens of jobs,” July 3 Metro & Business story.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Regarding this story concerning the Dallas Park and Recreation budget deficit, sponsorships were mentioned, but what will sponsors get for their money? How about sponsor signage on the city golf courses and tennis courts? \u00a0<\/p>\n
They could be placed on tennis court fences and off the rough or on nearby tee boxes on golf courses. Pro golf events have tons of them, especially the DP World Tour. Nothing flashy, just simple, non-descript signs, green background, white logos and lettering.\u00a0<\/p>\n
If I was teeing off and had four to six signs to the back and sides, heck, I\u2019d feel like a tour pro!\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Justice is served\u00a0<\/p>\n
Re: “7 more sentenced in ‘antifa cell’ case \u2013 One defendant given a 50-year prison term, while those who cooperated got shorter penalties,” July 2 news story.\u00a0<\/p>\n
So, a protest outside an immigrant detention center becomes violent, and a police officer is hurt. But, never fear, justice is served: a 50-year prison sentence for the leader, a 30-year prison sentence for another violator.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Oh, but the Jan. 6 protestors were violent to begin with and harmed several police officers. They received a full pardon from our president. Justice? I don’t think so.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Joanett Blackburn, Dallas\u00a0<\/p>\n
Intent to harm\u00a0<\/p>\n
The work of the U.S. attorney\u2019s office in Fort Worth in prosecuting the insurrectionists at the Prairieland Detention Center should be applauded. The defense attorneys argued that they were protesting when one participant shot, with the intent to kill, one of the police officers doing his job. \u00a0<\/p>\n
Luckily, the gun jammed and no others were injured. Other participants were armed. This was never a protest that \u201cspiraled out of control.\u201d The intent to harm was present at all times. The punishments were appropriate.\u00a0<\/p>\n
All our immigration laws are important. Trying to prevent their enforcement should be severely punished. There was nothing political about these cases.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Jack Chandler Myers, Dallas\u00a0<\/p>\n
Immigrants are the solution\u00a0<\/p>\n
I do not understand the vitriol toward immigrants. They are the solution to an intractable arithmetic problem: Americans are not having enough children to grow our population and take care of the people here now. We need their labor, which they have traveled thousands of miles to give, and they pay taxes. They even bring their children!\u00a0<\/p>\n
All they want is to work, and we have lots of work that we don\u2019t want to do. They often endure hardships to do certain work. What is our response to them? Hunt them down, lock them up and deport them. It\u2019s not just cruel, it\u2019s morally reprehensible.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Over the past decade, my wife and I have had a bit too much interaction with the medical industry, and I can tell you that without immigration, we\u2019d be up the proverbial creek. From the laundry room to nurses and doctors and home health aides, it\u2019s immigrants and immigrants\u2019 children who provide the care. \u00a0<\/p>\n
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Immigrants are not the problem; they are the solution. We should be meeting them at the border with U-Hauls and giving them and their kids Social Security numbers.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Overzealous fealty\u00a0<\/p>\n
Re: “Paxton voted from home he no longer lived in, report says \u2013 Election lawyers say the AG may have violated Texas law,” Wednesday Metro & Business story.\u00a0<\/p>\n
President Donald Trump has alleged, without evidence, that voter fraud is rampant. Now, his sycophant, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, seems to be trying to prove Trump correct, by allegedly claiming an address where he does not live as his residence for voting purposes. \u00a0<\/p>\n
We knew Trump endorsed Paxton in the Senate race because of Paxton\u2019s loyalty, but committing a second-degree felony would be a rather overzealous means of demonstrating commitment to Trump\u2019s agenda.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ann Ward Purcell, Dallas\/Lake Highlands\u00a0<\/p>\n
Voter fraud\u00a0<\/p>\n
This news story says that Ken Paxton moved out of his Collin County home to a home in Denton County and did not change his voting address. For two years, he voted using the Collin County address, which would violate Texas law.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Paxton can now report that \u201cWe have found the voter fraud in Texas, and it is me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Thank the governor\u00a0<\/p>\n