The battle for Texas

Our state

Regarding “San Jacinto Day” (Editorial, April 21): Look at the reality of San Jacinto and the war for Texas independence instead of the myth. In recounting what it calls the myth of the battles of the Alamo and San Jacinto, the editorial does not state one piece of the commonly accepted “myth” that is not true.

Born and raised in Texas, I never heard one claim that persons of Hispanic or African descent did not fight alongside Anglos. In fact, it is well known that they did. No one has ever asserted that it was a “male only” war or contended that women did not make ammunition, tend the sick and wounded, provide financial support or keep families together, as women had done and continued to do in virtually every war before and since.

As to the contention that the fall of the Alamo had nothing to do with the victory at San Jacinto, except to provide a rousing battle cry, what a keen grasp of the obvious! As to the assertion that San Jacinto did not secure independence, the Mexican government may have refused to recognize the new republic, but when did Mexican forces next move north across the Rio Grande before Texas became a state?

Tom Moore, Katy

Penalty too light

Regarding “Texas couple get 7years in prison each for enslaving Guinean girl” (HoustonChronicle.com, April 22): I find it absolutely appalling that a married couple in Texas would import ayoung girl from the West African nation of Guinea to serve as a slave in their home for 16 years, yet get a sentence of only seven years each in prison and a fine of $288,000.

This child was never allowed to attend school and was required to serve as a home slave the entire time she was in their custody. Her tasks were to cook, clean and take care of children close to her own age while the children were afforded the rights to attend school, becoming educated at this girl’s labor expense.

The minimum sentence these parents received should have been the amount of time they enslaved this young girl, the actual cost of employment for 16 years of service, and added charges of tax evasion as well.

This woman now enters society with no education and must live with the mental abuse the rest of her life.

Rodney Martinez, Houston

Ominous plans

Regarding “Fixing the nation’s racial wealth gap is possible” (Opinion, Thursday): The fairy-tale solutions to the so-called “racial wealth divide” in this country as outlined by author Josh Hoxie are nothing more than a repeat of Bernie Sanders’ propaganda. Contrary to what both Hoxie and Sanders say, there is no free lunch, whether it’s the ludicrous Medicare-for-all, reparations or an endowed fund for all children born in the U.S.

Who pays for all this? Answer: It will be the middle class, as always. And hitting up the wealthy with extra high tax rates doesn’t solve anything.

These far-left propositions that have been put forth won’t work now or down the road unless the majority of voters want total national bankruptcy.

Eric Johnson, Houston

Safety and Trump

Regarding “Kim arrives in Russia for meetings with Putin seen as message to U.S.” (Nation/World, Thursday): Bashing Donald Trump is afavorite pastime of many, many people in this country, while most, if not all believe that Jimmy Carter was and is an honorable man. I am one of them.

But I also believe he wasn’t a good president. He was ineffective and presided over the worst economic decline since the Great Depression. Even worse, he let a Middle Eastern radical regime hold 52 Americans hostage for a year and a half and never did a single meaningful thing about it.

Some people are contemptuous of Trump, but they still know that if this country or our vital interests were under attack, Trump would act. More important, the world knows it. I, for one, feel safer with Trump in power than I ever did with Carter or would with any of the “honorable” men and women declaring an interest in running for office in 2020, at least so far.

Bill DeGeorge, League City