New District 12 House seat

Regarding the July 1 story “Waco lawyer considers run for new House seat,” the redistricting of Central Texas provides a unique opportunity for new leadership, and the best possible candidate is local attorney Josh Tetens. He embodies the qualities our community needs to move forward with enthusiasm and hard work.

 Tetens has displayed dedication and integrity while serving in a variety of civic roles, and he is a man we can trust. Through his established law practice, Tetens has shown perseverance and a passion for helping others. I am excited to endorse Josh Tetens for Texas House District 12 because I am confident that he would represent this district with strong principles and conservative values.

Erin M. Wheeler, Waco

* * *

I have known Josh Tetens since our days together at Baylor Law School. I witnessed there firsthand his hard work, dedication and enthusiasm for the law. Since then, Tetens has built one of the more established law practices in McLennan County, serving his community and his clients with passion and integrity.

Tetens is one of the most loyal and trustworthy friends I’ve ever had. I was thrilled to see your story about his possible candidacy for representative of the new district. There could be no better start for a new district than to have Josh Tetens represent it.

Seth Andrew Sutton, Waco

Making his complaint official

It seems that every day there is a headline or story in the Trib using the word “officials” to describe a person in charge or of authority. Please find another word. It’s becoming as annoying as someone using the phrase “you know” or the word “like” repeatedly in conversation.

J.L. Rader, Waco

Don’t we have worse problems?

Regarding Anna Meek’s Friday letter, she needs to get a life. Thousands of children in Waco go to bed hungry every night, and she’s concerned about how the fences look on Cobbs Drive and whether they are all facing the same direction? I’m stunned.

Lola Hopper, Waco

Respect the national anthem

Regarding the July 3 article in Parade magazine, “Is it time for a new national anthem?”— how can we say that we honor and cherish the service and sacrifices of our men and women in uniform, yet complain that a song is “too hard”?

Do the flag-draped coffins arriving even as you read this mean so little? Are we so comfortable and safe in our homes and lives that we’ve disconnected from those whose pain, loss and agony make it possible?

Yes, “The Star-Spangled Banner” is a dynamic, intense, forceful, militaristic song. But, as the guardian of liberty throughout the world, we are a dynamic, intense, forceful, militaristic nation. Regardless of whether this changes in the future, the fact will always remain that who and what we are was bought at great cost. It can never be repaid but should at least never be forgotten.

“The Star-Spangled Banner” is the perfect national anthem. It soars. It thrills. No matter if the lyrics refer to a struggle in our past; the point is that retaining freedom is a constant struggle.

Pam Zorn, Waco