Juneteenth Article Was Terrible
Do I need to remind you, Heber Taylor, that freedom is not free?
Your pompous article, “Juneteenth party is going to be bigger,” (The Daily News, Jan. 29) is a small victory for some Americans. But you’re not looking at the big picture, which is common with society.
We have lost most of our freedoms — look at the Patriot Act. Look at the Stop Online Piracy Act that almost passed Congress but was blocked. Now it’s worldwide under the disguise of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement. This bill bypasses the sovereign laws of participating nations and forces Internet service providers across the globe to act as Internet police. In other words, this site could be closed down without due process.
Did you notice the peaceful assembly this weekend in Oakland where riot police beat down a citizen in pajamas or transportation security administration agents in our airports groping genitals? Have your party; live in denial about freedom. Also, set a different route for the parade — right toward Lubbock for the Federal Emergency Management Agency concentration camp stationed there.
I think you should be supporting our constitution, not a party. After all, in a while you might not have a job.
M.G. Mowry
Galveston
Friends’ Artistic Gift Wasn’t Graffiti
Last year, one of my friends decided to give back to the island community by painting a beautiful mural on a seawall bench.
She and her husband spent countless hours working on their “gift to Galveston” (the title of their project). Their love blossomed as they worked together on their bench — it was where they shared their first kiss and the spot where he asked for her hand in marriage. Their public art project held a special place in their hearts and in the hearts of their friends and family.
I was appalled to hear that Artist Boat deemed their artwork “graffiti” and replaced it with mosaic tiles. It is an unforgivable act to destroy someone else’s art and replace it with your own.
Local free art is what makes Galveston Island so unique and funky. To destroy it is an attempt to destroy the true spirit of the island. The board of Artist Boat should make a formal apology to all the artists who spent many hours giving back to the community by creating beautiful murals on the seawall benches.
I’m sure my friends were not the only ones who were hurt by Artist Boat’s thoughtless actions.
Randi Riegel
Houston
Sincere Gratitude To Helpers After Fall
On Jan. 20, I had the bad luck of losing control of my bicycle while riding along the seawall at about the 3900 block. The result was a fall and a broken hip.
Immediately after the accident, I was surrounded by numerous good samaritans who assisted in assessing injuries, calling EMS, retrieving my bike and even found a pillow for my head. EMS arrived quickly and were very considerate and professional in their care.
The emergency room was efficient, and the doctors and nurses were very attentive and thorough. Surgeons repaired the hip Saturday morning, and I was released Sunday afternoon. University of Texas Medical Branch was super.
I would like to extend sincere gratitude to each and every one, from those who initially stopped to render aid, to those who provided the tremendous hospital care.
I was unfortunate to have incurred the accident and the injury, but I was very fortunate to have had it happen on Seawall Boulevard in Galveston.
The citizenry should be proud of the response to my predicament. Thank you.
Barney Oldham
Galveston
