Remembering MCC’s beginnings

I enjoyed the Trib’s April 2 editorial about MCC. But most folks don’t know that although James Connally Air Force Base was shuttered, there were still some military offices that were operational at the base when the college started classes there in September 1966.

Those were quite exciting times. As a member of the original faculty, I have many pleasant memories. The camaraderie on the campus between the faculty, administration and staff was excellent, because with a small, compact campus, we saw each other daily. The challenges were great, but we were all working together to form a brand-new institution. Looking at MCC today, we succeeded magnificently.

We used classrooms that were divided by a thin wall in a small, one-story building. Students were constantly attempting to get credit for two courses taken at the same hour because the lectures from one classroom could be heard in another. Occasionally, the military police would pursue students and faculty for traffic violations. And there was one elderly, adjunct instructor who wanted the Air Force to stop testing engines while his classes were in process. The burglary of a girl’s locker room by an airman to steal unmentionables is better left for another time.

I taught at MCC for almost 22 years and enjoyed watching it grow. I still do. But those first two years on the James Connally campus were the most exciting.

Clyde Koehne

Waco

Race is not the issue

In response to Jackie Lott’s March 25 letter stating that “many people just cannot accept a black man as president,” I ask the following: Do people not remember that Barack Obama is as much white as he is black? He is the first biracial president. 

But none of that matters. I was raised to know that it is not the color but the character of a person that counts.  Obama’s color — which is black and white — is not what people object to. The problem is his character.

Claytia Doran

Chilton

Bilingual teaching jobs in Waco

With regard to the recent arrest of Alta Vista Montessori Magnet School bilingual teacher Fernando Campos on charges of sexually assaulting a student, I don’t understand why Waco ISD is hiring teachers from other countries when there are plenty of qualified teachers living here who want and need jobs.

My daughter is an elementary, bilingual teacher with 14 years experience in Austin, and she has a master reading certification.

Two years ago, she applied to WISD for a bilingual elementary position and never received a call for an interview. She had excellent references from teachers and administrators here in Waco.

She called schools to verify that her applications were in order and on file for bilingual educator, but she never received an interview.

She eventually accepted a job in another school district, which requires her to commute.

Supposedly, WISD had a hiring freeze when she applied. If so, why were immigrants brought in from Mexico to take jobs that U.S. citizens were not even considered for?

Mary Callentine

Waco

Support Bill Flores for Congress

The more I learn of Bill Flores, the more I’m strongly convinced he is the best candidate to support pro-life, traditional family values and protect our Second Amendment rights, borders and security.

He has strong character, determination and convictions, and he will represent District 17 and Texas and bring back our constitutional rights. He will stop the liberal, socialist agenda of Democrats and President Barack Obama, and he’ll work to stop government takeover of areas that our Founding Fathers had no intention of ceding to the federal government.

He is a resident of Brazos County and Bryan and lives among us. He is bold and courageous, and I believe he will work hard to represent solid, traditional, conservative values and allow our voice to be heard.

I heard him speak recently in College Station, and I was impressed with what I heard — not just what he said but the sincerity and honesty and courage in his voice. I am blind from birth and so feel I hear a lot in someone’s voice. I can pick up on things. I hear character and sincere honesty in his voice.

Laura Ann Grymes

College Station

The real threat to democracy

A fundamental issue leading to the Revolutionary War was taxation without representation by King George and his royalty.

We have come full circle and now have a similar situation in our country whereby the majority of elected representatives in Congress vote as they see fit rather than how the majority of working, taxpaying Americans want them to vote.

Most Americans do not want the massive health care bill that was recently passed. It is one more example of a self-serving government that ignores the people’s wishes.  

As a peace officer, I swore an oath to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. But it is evident that the enemy within us is the real threat to our democracy.

Mylie Hudson

Robinson