To the Editor:
Re “Talarico Is a Christian X-Ray,” by David French (column, March 10):
I am grateful for Mr. French’s view on the impact that James Talarico, the Democratic candidate for the Senate in Texas, may have on the political discourse in that state — and perhaps the United States. The approach Mr. Talarico is taking in his campaign is arguably not only a Christian X-ray, but an American X-ray and even a world X-ray.
Mr. Talarico offers a much-needed message for politicians of all stripes: Regardless of race, gender or religion, elected officials must treat their constituents as all citizens of the world should treat their neighbors — with integrity and love.
That is a strong foundation that can help lift all Americans out of the political and moral quagmire they now find themselves in.
Ken Kallish Toronto
To the Editor:
David French got it right: What if the public’s tendency to react against the ruling party is not “about ideology as much as about character and temperament?”
I stopped voting strictly on policy or issue positions decades ago. I vote on character. Why? Because I still believe that character drives ethical actions. Sadly, I now know that fear drives unethical actions. The evidence for this can be found in our Congress, which has not truly done its job for years.
I am a retired chaplain who favors progressive Christian theology. Why? Because Jesus made it abundantly clear: Love God, love your neighbor. The most important part of that biblical Scripture is mostly ignored: “There is no commandment greater than these.”
That simplifies everything, doesn’t it?
Wendy J. Manuel Northfield, Minn.
To the Editor:
I am hoping to see a general election in Texas between James Talarico and Senator John Cornyn (who faces a Republican runoff). I’m a born-and-raised Californian who is pretty much appalled by what I’ve seen recently in Texas politics. Its governor’s servility to the president’s desire for gerrymandering was a low in naked partisanship.
But a Cornyn-Talarico debate would be a debate between two true gentlemen. I would be happy to pay attention to how that plays out. It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to say that about any election in this country.
Senator Cornyn is all in on President Trump’s agenda, but he has not (to my knowledge) been crude, disrespectful or hostile in debate or public appearances. Mr. Talarico has demonstrated he has the same temperament, despite some reflexively progressive public positioning that I hope he is politician enough to moderate.
I don’t know how that will play in Texas, but for me it has the promise of something devoutly to be wished.
David Link Long Beach, Calif.
Sensible Advice for Good Health
To the Editor:
Re “The MAHA Movement Is Falling Apart,” by David Wallace-Wells (Opinion, Feb. 20):
I’ve got news for you. For all the incoherent, unscientific, made-up rhetoric of the Make America Healthy Again movement, pediatricians, family physicians and nurse practitioners have been promoting what’s good for kids and families for decades.
This includes advocating a sensible, science-based schedule of childhood vaccines, healthy, nonprocessed food, a good night’s sleep and meaningful daily exercise.
Just ask Grandma and Grandpa, who lived through times when their playmates got sick or died from diseases that we can now prevent from shots kids get early in life. Sensible parents made America healthy by paying attention to the basics and listening to the doctor’s trusted advice. Let’s do the same.
Daniel J. Levy Columbia, Md. The writer is a past president of the Maryland chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Talking to Strangers
To the Editor:
Re “The Big Benefits of Small Talk” (Well newsletter, nytimes.com, Feb. 27):
As a child in a small Irish town, I said hello to everyone. It was effortless and, I assumed, universal. By adolescence I decided that such behavior was terminally uncool, so I retired from public geniality.
Now, safely retired in every sense, I have resumed operations. I greet strangers again. Almost without fail they respond, and within seconds we are discussing the weather. In Ireland this is not banal. It is diplomatic. Rain, wind and the rare rumor of sunshine unite us more reliably than politics ever could.
Your article is right. Civilization does not collapse because we speak to strangers. It quietly improves.
Enda Cullen Armagh, Northern Ireland
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