Behind the Opinions

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A user’s guide to the commentary pages of The Dallas Morning News

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A12 01-04-2016 Set: 16:38:44
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12A dallasnews.com
BONNIEBISHOP
Assistant totheeditorial board, 56
Bonniehandles the
administrativedu-
ties for theEditorial
department and
assists onspecial
projects. Shecele-
brates almost 30years of workingat
TheDallas MorningNews.
ONLINEFORM
http://www.
dallasnews.com/
sendletters
Wedonot accept
letters viaemail
LETTERS&VIEWPOINTSPOLICY
We value reader submissions. We receive far more than we can print and
publish a representative sample. Letters should not exceed 200 words.
Viewpoints columns, which may be submitted through viewpoints@dal-
lasnews.com, should not exceed 600 words. Letters and columns are ed-
ited for length and clarity. Include your name, address with ZIP code and
daytimephonenumber. Submissions becomepropertyof The News.
MAIL
Letters FromReaders
The Dallas MorningNews
Box655237
Dallas, Texas 75265
EDITORIALS
The Dallas Morning News
Established October 1, 1885
Publishers
George BannermanDealey 1885-1940
E.M. (Ted) Dealey 1940-1960
Joe M. Dealey 1960-1980
James M. Moroney Jr. 1980-1985
JohnA. Rector Jr. 1985-1986
Burl Osborne 1986-2001
James M. Moroney III
Publisher andChief Executive Officer
Mike Wilson
Editor
RobynTomlin
Managing Editor
KevenAnnWilley
Vice President, Editorial Page Editor
Saturday, November 21, 2015
I
t’s OK to admit it now, now that we know
how the first chapter in the Jeff Banister
story turns out.
“Never, ever quit” sounds like somethingyou
might hang onthe wall of a highschool football
team’s locker room, not exactly a rallyingcry for
millionaire professional athletes.
Yes, Banister beat cancer growingup. Yes, he
told his dad he’d rather die than lose his leg —
andbaseball. Yes, he made it through10days of
paralysis after a collisionat home plate.
Yes, hefought his waytoasingleat-bat inthe
major leagues.
But “Never, ever quit”?
Actually, yes.
Before the games even started, Banister lost
his best pitcher to a season-ending injury, then
his next-best for five months, also to injury. His
first team in his first big-league managing job
started8-16, worst inthe AmericanLeague.
After the crashandburnof 2014andthe end
of the Ron Washington era, interest in the local
baseball franchise ebbed.
What those bandwagon fans missed was a
slow, patient awakening. Two steps forward,
one back, and the Rangers were long-shot con-
tenders. Then, they won41of their last 63regu-
lar-season games to leap past the Houston As-
tros and Los Angeles Angels to win the AL
West.
That meant a 21-game turnaround from
2014, whenthey wonall of 67 games. More im-
portant, it meant Banister’s teampassed on re-
peated chances to just play out the string and
cash their paychecks — and instead fought
their waytoatitle.
Banister was quick to characterize his AL
Manager of the Year award as an achievement
for the entire organization, and he’s right to a
degree. He’s the fifthrookie manager to winthe
awardandfirst Ranger since BuckShowalter in
2004.
“I thinkwetookall theclichés off theT-shirts
and brought themto life,” Banister said. “There
were plenty of times where it would have been
easytojumpoff themessageandchangecourse.
But when everybody outside of the clubhouse
didn’t believe, those guys did. We had the same
message over and over. And we were relentless
withthat.”
Which makes “Never, ever quit,” in retro-
spect, exactlyright.
Never, Ever Quit
Rangers’ Banister gets team to personify slogan
The Rangers’ Jeff Banister is the fifth rookie
manager to be named American League
Manager of the Year.
The Associated Press
Not found in teachings
Re: “Massacre in Paris — Wave of gun
and bomb attacks kills over 140 at concert,
stadium, restaurants,” Saturday news story
The deadly attacks in Paris have killed
more than 100 people — a terrible atrocity
for which ISIS has taken responsibility.
These perpetrators acting inthe name of Is-
lam are not deserving of being called hu-
man beings —they are monsters.
If prophet Muhammad were alive today,
he would be appalled at the way ISIS and
other militant groups are slaughtering in-
nocent lives in the name of Islam. In his
farewell pilgrimage address, he said, “Even
as this month, land and day of Pilgrimage
are holy, so has God made the blood, prop-
erty and honor of every human being sa-
cred.”
I reiterate that he emphasized“every hu-
man being,” not just Muslims. If ISIS calls
themselves Muslims, then how come they
are so foreign to this very basic teaching of
Islam, which is to show compassion and
love to humanity? Clearly they are not fol-
lowing any religion and in the process have
painted a very dissolute picture of Islam
only to gain personal motives.
We need to stay united in denouncing
acts of terror by ISIS and continue to per-
ceive this evil as our mutual rival. God will-
ing, we get to witness its downfall very
soon.
Nadia Ahmad, RoundRock
Missed opportunity
Re: “France bombs Syrian city — ISIS
targets destroyed in wake of carnage in
French capital,” Monday news story.
As a former U.S. Air Force F-16 fighter
pilot and combat veteran of the 1991 Gulf
War, I amdeeply troubled by the news that
Frenchfighters bombedISIStargets inSyr-
ia, including anISIS“commandpost, jihadi
recruitment center, weapons and ammuni-
tion depot, and a terrorist training camp.”
According to President Barack Obama,
U.S. fighters have beenflying ground attack
sorties against ISIS targets for months. If
so, why haven’t these specific targets al-
ready been taken out? Is this part of Oba-
ma’s “strategy of containment?” If the pres-
ident’s goal is the destruction of ISIS, wait-
ing for other nations to do the job after
they’ve beenattackedis not aneffective bat-
tle plan and shows a genuine lack of leader-
ship.
KeithRosenkranz, Grapevine
Don’t overthink a meal
Re: “Woman watched the males eat,” by
Adele Ford, Tuesday Letters.
Why were you “saddened and outraged”
at the older male and two young “sons” who
ordered Subway food, while his wife only
watched?
Didyouinteract withthese people? How
do you knowthis was his wife? Howdo you
knowthese were his sons? Maybe the wom-
an wasn’t hungry. Maybe she just doesn’t
eat restaurant food. I’m surprised you
didn’t offer to buy her something to eat.
How do you know this was a “cultural
happening?” How is this any of your busi-
ness?
Your entire letter is based on assump-
tions. Maybe you should just eat at home if
this “turns your stomach sour.”
Jack Vestal, Dallas
Citizenship games
For years we’ve read Mark Davis’ col-
umn imply how Barack Obama may not be
eligible to be president of the United States
because (1) he might have been born out-
side the United States, or (2) because one of
his parents was not a U.S. citizen. Mark Da-
vis also wrote about how he supports the
proposed laws requiring, as he put it in his
column in 2011, “evidence of natural-born
citizenship as a condition for appearance
on the ballot.”
So now we have Ted Cruz born in a for-
eign country and Marco Rubio, whose par-
ents were not U.S. citizens when he was
born — both accusations leveled at Oba-
ma. So I’mwondering: did I miss the rejec-
tion of Cruz and Rubio as candidates or
does the right wing change their convic-
tions if their favorite candidate can’t meet
their citizenship requirements?
Mark Bauer, Colleyville
@easyaim1
Cruz’s posturing
In the past couple GOP debates, all the
candidates seem to be desperately fum-
bling over one another as to who can look
more like an outsider. But two candidates
in particular who usually stand out as the
obvious alternatives, Ted Cruz and Donald
Trump, have remained unusually cordial
toward each other despite all the mud
flinging.
In July it was reported that Cruz met
Trump in private at the Trump Tower.
When asked, Trump played stupid as to
why they were meeting. Now Trump is do-
ing everything he can to topple the other
front-runner in the race, and in the pro-
cess making himself look like a total fool in
my opinion.
Meanwhile, Cruz has made the state-
ment that Trump’s voters will eventually
turn to him. Convenient that Cruz has re-
mained out of the spotlight, and under the
radar of the media.
Dan Michaels, Dallas
Thanks for trusting women
Re: “Texas’ ‘Undue Burden’ — Good to
know justices will rule on abortion law,”
Tuesday Editorials.
Thank you for acknowledging that Tex-
as women should be trusted to make their
own reproductive choices. Under the guise
of making abortion safer for women, Texas
is making it less safe by forcing the closure
of health centers and suggesting that
women go to other states with fewer re-
strictions. These laws are clearly not about
the safety of women but about controlling
them.
Rights should not be determined by
ZIP code. Thank you for your wise and
brave editorial.
Debbie Barnes, Dallas
@_debbiebarnes
Uptown isn’t anti-bar
Re: “Uptown proposal resisted — Many
want to be sure effort to calm nightlife
doesn’t go too far, cramp area’s style,” Sat-
urday Metro story.
I am pushing back against some of the
reported and observed feedback. (Not the
reporting, but the comments themselves.)
Most of the opposition seemed to come
from businesses, not residents, though one
bar owner spoke up in support. One resi-
dent commented that “no one” supports
the proposal. That is not true and pre-
sumptuous to speak for everyone.
In addition, (1) The online comment
that bars were here first: No one is asking
to eliminate bars —just to eliminate exces-
sive noise (loud outdoor TVs and bands)
and public drunkenness. City Council
member Philip Kingston commented that
currently there are three “bad actors.” (2) A
proposal to barricade McKinney at late
weekend hours, comparing it to Bourbon
St. in New Orleans: There are parallel
streets to Bourbon in the Quarter. There
are no parallel traffic-ways to handle traffic
off McKinney. (3) Other suggested solu-
tions: I interpreted the alternatives were
meant as a temporary solution while wait-
ing for the wheels to grind on a permanent
one.
Dolores Rogers, Dallas/Uptown
LETTERS
John Branch/Branchtoon.com
Kershaw, baseball give back with West Dallas academy
Muchis expectedof Los Ange-
les Dodgers star left-hander
Clayton Kershaw, the highest-
paid pitcher in baseball histo-
ry. Muchis givenback, as well. Kershaw’s foun-
dation has teamed with Major League Base-
ball, its Players Association and the Mercy
Street community center to unveil plans for an
Urban Youth Academy in West Dallas. This is
the sixth such academy in the nation, designed
to help develop the game inunderserved areas.
As important, it also will provide educational
programs, tutoring, college prep classes and openings to internships. Kershaw, who grew up in
Highland Park, has devoted much personal time to Mercy Street. “We wanted to give kids a
chance, whichis all Kershaw’s Challenge is about,” he said. “It’s not just sports. …It’s anopportuni-
ty for these kids tohave coaches telling themthey’re worthit, that they canmake a difference.”
Cowan left lasting legacy on students and at UD
We all canrecall that one teacher whomade the most profoundimpact onus. We remember those
lessons decades after we’ve left school. For many in North Texas, Louise Cowan was that teacher.
Cowan, the former University of Dallas Englishprofessor who co-foundedthe Dallas Institute for
Humanities and Culture, died Monday of natural causes. She was 98 and had stayed devoted to
education for nearly 70 years. The Fort Worth native led a literary forumthat attracted students
such as former Dallas Mayor Annette Strauss and philanthropist Margaret McDermott, and her
achievements included the Charles Frankel Prize fromthe National Endowment for the Human-
ities. Hers was a passionate life of service well-lived.
Trust but verify
It took Dallas Area Rapid Transit awhile, but the agency is toughening its vetting of contractors.
The change comes after The Dallas Morning News reported that the agency paid millions to a
company, URSCorp., that didn’t disclose informationabout serious pending litigationfromother
projects across the country, including a deadly bridge collapse in Minnesota. DART officials now
promise to ask more specific and probing questions of potential contractors about previous work
andlegal issues.
Defeating fear with compassion
Whilemanypoliticians aroundtheworld, includingour ownGov. GregAbbott, want tobar Syrian
refugees inorder toprevent terrorists fromsneaking in, a sympathetic voice of reasoncomes from
a most unlikely source: Despite a wave of deadly attacks inParis last week, FrenchPresident Fran-
cois Hollande is vowing not to back away from plans to take in 30,000 refugees in the next two
years. “The people of Syria and Iraq have fled because they are martyred by the same people who
attack us today,” he reminded the world this week, as he also vowed rigorous screening and other
steps tokeepFrancesafe. Safetyis paramount, but fear must not quashthecompassionatespirit of
liberty.
Abad omen for Dallas County health
Nearly half of Dallas County children in grades three through eight are over-
weight or obese, according to findings released Tuesday by Children’s Health.
That 49 percent is an alarming statistic on its own, made even more dishearten-
ing by the fact that it grew10 percent in one year. And it’s downright staggering
when you consider the national average is only 31 percent. (Only 31 percent?) It’s a bad omen for
the county’s future health, too: The healthhabits and eating decisions kids are learning today will
be hardtokicklater inlife.
Hits and Misses
E
ditorials represent the insti-
tutional opinion of the newspa-
per. That opinion is shaped by
the editorial board on behalf of the
newspaper’s owners. The editorial
board is advisory to Vice President
and Editorial Page Editor Keven Ann
Willey, who is advisory to the newspa-
per’s editor and publisher. The edito-
rial board has developed this state-
ment of philosophy to guide its think-
ing:
“As the soul of the newspaper and the
conscience of the community, the editorial
pages provoke, inspire and challenge readers.
We believe in a progressive conservatismthat
advocates civil rights, fiscal responsibility,
environmental stewardship, effective local
governments, public accountability and an
internationalist foreign policy.”
Howeditorial opinions are devel-
oped: Editorial board members offer
topic ideas during regular staff meet-
ings. The topic, message and tone of
the proposed editorial are often hotly
debated. The editor listens carefully
to the debate, selects a course of ac-
tion and asks for a volunteer writer.
Often the editorial writer whose argu-
ments have carried the day volun-
teers. Editorials are unsigned because
they represent the institution’s view,
rather than the viewof the individual
writer.
The best editorials are memorable.
They are persuasive, compelling, rele-
vant to readers, passionate, construc-
tive, timely and provocative. They are
well-researched and smartly written.
They are, by definition, opinionated.
Sometimes, the most powerful edi-
torial is a photo with a single sen-
tence. Other times, it’s a1,000-word
treatise. The power is in the topic se-
lection, the logic employed and the
rhythmof the writing. In shaping the
content of daily and weekly commen-
tary pages, the editors keep the de-
partment’s five aspirations top of
mind: Provide strong community
leadership, provide a forumfor in-
formed debate, get newvoices/view-
points on the pages, actively engage
readers and increase readership of
these pages and the newspaper as a
whole.
Editorial
Page
KEVENANNWILLEY
Vicepresident andeditorial pageeditor, 57
At TheDallas MorningNews sincelate2002, Kevendevelopedher
interest inpolitics early. Whenher familylivedinWashington, D.C.,
her mother usedtotakeKevenas ababyinher bassinet totheU.S.
Senategallerytowatchthelikes of Everett DirksenandEstes
Kefauver debatetheissues of theday. Threedecades later, Keven
was apolitical columnist for TheArizonaRepublic inastatethat for
most of the’80s and’90s was best knownfor impeaching, indictingor otherwise
politicallyimpalingits governors. Editorial pages under her directionwonthe2010
Pulitzer Prizefor editorial writingandwerefinalists for thesameprizethreeother
times since2001. KevenstudiedbrieflyinEuropeandMexicobeforegraduating
magnacumlaudefromNorthernArizonaUniversityandstarting(but never finish-
ing) amaster’s programinSpanishliterature. Sheis amember of thePulitzer Prize
board, enjoys hikingandbiking, andlives withher chef husbandindowntownDallas.
Email: [email protected] Twitter: @KA_Willey
A user’s guide to the commentary pages of The Dallas Morning News
Behind the opinions
NICOLESTOCKDALE
Deputyeditorial pageeditor, 38
As deputyeditorial pageeditor, Nicoleis theEditorial
Department's operational chief, managingmost of the
editorial writers andrunningtheday-to-dayproduction.
Sheis alsoinchargeof thedepartment’s digital strategy.
Shejoinedtheeditorial boardin2006after sevenyears as
a copy editor at The Dallas Morning News and The Wichita
Eagle. Nicolewas borninNebraskabut didmost of her
growingupinKansas. ShegraduatedcumlaudefromWichitaStateUni-
versity, withadegreeincommunicationandpolitical science. Thesedays,
shecalls Far NorthDallas home, whereshelives withher sportswriter hus-
band, Corbett Smith. Theylovetakinglongcampingtrips at national parks
but spendmost of their wakinghours chasingaroundtheir threespirited
youngchildren—andforgettingtowatchmovies they’veNetflixed.
Email: [email protected] Twitter: @nstockdale
Opinion Blog
Editorial board members
get warmed up by airing
their theories, arguments
and peeves on the Opinion
Blog. They often butt
heads on subjects that
later end up as published
editorials. You can watch
the debate unfold and join
the conversation at
dallasnews.com/
opinionblog.
DOMDiFURIO
Digital intern, 22
DomDiFurio contributes to the blog and
the Editorial Department’s social media
accounts. He is passionately interested in
the way technology intersects with culture,
as well as howit impacts human interaction and lifestyle. He
enjoys photography and videography, and outside of work he
likes to try his hand at cooking up newrecipes. He’s a graduate
of Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Jour-
nalismand Mass Communication, where he learned that you
should never tweet.
Email: [email protected] Twitter: @DomDiFurio
Social media
OnTwitter, youcanfollowmembers
of theeditorial boardandget up-
dates onour latest opinionpieces by
following@DMNOpinion. OnFace-
book, youcanshareyour views on
thelatest headlines bylikingthe
official Dallas MorningNews Face-
bookpage: facebook.com/
dallasmorningnews. AndonYou-
Tube, youcanfindour viditorials and
other videocommentary:
youtube.com/dallasnews.
Online
MASTHEAD
This tells youthe
paper’s topnews
executives andpast
publishers.
CARTOON
We subscribe
to cartoonists
nationwide and
cull through
drawings daily
to pick the best.
Political cartoons
on the Editorial
page are generally
consistent with
the newspaper’s
views on issues.
Cartoons on the
op-ed page
reflect a variety
of perspectives.
EDITORIALS
Here we
offer the
newspaper’s
institutional
opinion.
HITS AND MISSES
This quick, witty
Saturday staple
offers a venue for
commentary-in-
short on a variety
of developments.
LETTERS
Want toget somethingoff your chest? Letters
areyour chance, impededonlybyour 200-
wordlimit andour editingfor clarity, styleand
accuracy. TheNews receives about 450each
week; about10percent will seeprint inour
representativesampling.
Thereis noshortageof onlineforums where
peoplecananonymouslyname-call, makeup
facts andthrowbombs. But inour published
letters totheeditor, peoplesigntheir names
andpubliclystandbehindtheir opinions. That
makes themstandout amongthechatter.
Contributors areright tofeel honoredtosee
their submissions chosenfromacrowded
fieldandtheir arguments presentedinTexas’
liveliest forumfor informeddebate.
Welovefocusedletters that makeapoint with
humor, ironyor precision. It surprises some
peopletolearnthat weplaceapriorityon
letters that disagreewithour editorial posi-
tions. (For tips, seedallasnews.com/letters.)
Towritealetter totheeditor, useour online
format dallasnews.com/sendletters. It offers a
quickwayfor readers tosend—andfor us to
consider —letters. Or sendus avideoletter:
Just shoot somethingonyour phone, upload
it toYouTube, andsendit todallasnews.com/
send-video-letter.
Theonlyother waytosendaletter tothe
editor is viatheU.S. Postal Service: Letters
FromReaders, TDMN, P.O. Box655237, Dallas,
Texas 75265. But trust us, theonlineformis
quicker —andit doesn’t chargeanythingfor
confirmationor areturnreceipt!
For queries about these
pages, contact the Editorial
Department
Main number 214-977-8205
Email [email protected]
SHARONGRIGSBY
Editorial writer andproject editor, 59
Sharonleads our “BridgingDallas’ North-South
Gap” project, begunin2007toadvocatefor the
southernhalf of thecity. Her Dallas roots runback
to1980, whenshejoinedtheDMNnewsroomafter stints inNew
YorkandDetroit. She’s aBaylor grad, whereshedrovetheadminis-
trationcrazywithher student newspaper commentary. After sever-
al decades as aDMNeditor indepartments includingmetro, politics
andfeatures, Sharon’s excitedtobewritingagain, especially
lookingfor ways tomakeDallas asmarter city. Whenshe’s not at
work, Sharon’s likelyrunningat WhiteRockLake, antiquingfor her
oldEast Dallas homeor patiently(not somuch) tryingtokickintoa
yogahandstand.
Email: [email protected] Twitter: @SharonFGrigsby
A13 01-04-2016 Set: 16:38:44
Sent by: cci News CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK
The Dallas Morning News dallasnews.com Monday, January 4, 2016 13A
“Sept. 11 is not consignedtohistory like
Pearl Harbor. This war is still goingon.”
—Former NewYork Mayor Rudy Giuliani,
on the anniversary of the 2001 terrorist
attacks (Fox5NY, Friday)
“Godwilling,
there will be no
such thingas a
Zionist regime
in 25 years.” —
Iran’s supreme
leader, the
Ayatollah Ali
Khamenei,
predictingthe
elimination of
Israel (Bloom-
berg, Friday)
“Masses of youngmen in their 20s with
beards singing‘Allahu akbar’ across
Europe. It’s an invasion that threatens
our prosperity, our security, our culture
andidentity.” —Right-wingDutch politi-
cal leader Geert Wilders, on waves of
refugees enteringEurope fromAfrica
andthe Middle East (Reuters, Thursday)
“Acceptingmigrants escapingtosave
their lives is our duty.” —Polish Prime
Minister Ewa Kopacz (The Washington
Post, Thursday)
“Ikea can’t keepupwith the demand.” —
Christoph Hillenbrand, senior official of
Germany’s Upper Bavaria district, on
difficulty in supplyingbunk beds for all
the refugees (The Daily Mail, Thursday)
“When we laugh with each other —and
not at each other —God’s love is pre-
sent in a special way.” —Pope Francis,
promotingthe app-basedcampaign
“Joke With the Pope,” a charitable fund-
raisingproject (CNN, Thursday)
“We will have somuch winningif I get
elected that you may get bored with
winning. Believe me.” —Republican
presidential hopeful DonaldTrump, on
what kindof foreign policy toexpect
froma TrumpWhite House (The Dallas
MorningNews, Thursday)
“We’re All Mexican.” —Title of upcoming
musical track featuringa bevy of Hispan-
ic recordingstars, in response toanti-
immigrant statements fromDonald
Trump(Billboard, Thursday)
“That was a mistake. I’msorry about
that. I take responsibility, andI’mtrying
tobe as transparent as I can.” —Demo-
cratic presidential candidate Hillary
Clinton, on usinga private email server
duringher years as secretary of state
(ABCNews, Tuesday)
“Corporations can only commit crimes
through flesh-and-blood people.” —
Deputy U.S. Attorney General Sally Q.
Yates, on a newgovernment focus target-
ingindividuals in prosecutingcorporate
wrongdoing (The NewYork Times, Thurs-
day)
“It’s not going to be based on genitalia
alone. We will have an advisory com-
mittee, experts that helprepresent the
transgender population.” —San Fran-
ciscoCounty Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi, on a
newpolicy tohouse jail inmates together
basedon gender preference (The Los
Angeles Times, Thursday)
“Today, we
have the
biggest news
in iPadsince
the iPad.” —
Apple CEO
TimCook,
unveilinga
faster, bigger
model (Fox
News,
Wednesday)
“This is archaeology on steroids.” —
British archaeologist Vince Gaffney, on
the discovery of a much bigger ringof
giant stones hidden beneath the earth
near Stonehenge (USAToday, Tuesday)
TALKINGPOINTS
The Dallas Morning News Section P Sunday, September 13, 2015
Have questions
or comments about Points?
Email [email protected].
Points
Susan Perry: Imagine a society that chooses leaders
based on past behavior instead of promises in glitzy
TV ads, she says. 6P
THINK SHARP
Monkey politics
Down with salad
To save the planet,
end craze for wasteful
and wasted lettuce,
says Tamar Haspel
A
s the worldpopulationgrows,
we have a pressing needto eat
better andfarmbetter, and
those of us trying to figure out howto
do those things have pointedat lots of
different foods as problematic. Al-
monds, for their water use. Corn, for
the monoculture. Beef, for its green-
house gases. Ineachof those cases,
there’s some truthinthe finger-point-
ing, but none of themis a clear-cut
villain.
There’s one food, though, that has
almost nothing going for it. It occupies
precious cropacreage, requires fossil
fuels to be shipped, refrigerated,
aroundthe world, andadds nothing
but crunchto the plate.
It’s salad, andhere are three main
reasons we needto rethink it.
Saladvegetables are pitifully lowinnutri-
tion. The biggest thing wrong withsalads is
lettuce, andthe biggest thing wrong with
lettuce is that it’s a leafy-greenwaste of re-
sources.
InJuly, whenI wrote a piece defending
cornonthe calories-per-acre metric, a num-
ber of people wrote to tell me I was ignoring
nutrition. WhichI was. Not because nutrition
isn’t important, but because we get all the
nutritionwe needina fractionof our recom-
mendeddaily calories, andfilling inthe rest of
the day’s foodis a jobfor crops like corn. But if
youthink nutritionis the most important
metric, don’t direct your ire at corn. Turn
insteadto lettuce.
One of the people I heardfromabout
nutritionis organic consultant Charles Ben-
brook. He andcolleague DonaldDavis devel-
opeda nutrient quality index —a way to rate
foods basedonhowmuchof 27 nutrients they
containper100calories. Four of the five low-
est-ranking foods (by serving size) are salad
ingredients: cucumbers, radishes, lettuce and
celery. (The fifthis eggplant.)
Those foods’ nutritional profile canbe
partly explainedby one simple fact: They’re
almost all water. Althoughwater figures
prominently injust about every vegetable (the
sweet potato, one of the least watery, is 77
percent), those four saladvegetables
topthe list at 95 to 97 percent
water. Aheadof iceberg lettuce
has the same water content as a
bottle of Evian(1-liter size: 96
percent water, 4percent bottle)
andis only marginally more nutri-
tious.
Take collardgreens. They are 90
SeeHASPEL Page 5P
T
amar Haspel argues that saladis over-
rated. Andsure, saladgets a lot of at-
tention—but Haspel calls saladover-
ratednot because of the hype but because, she
argues, it’s nutrient-poor, expensive anda tax
onour foodsystem.
Holdthat thought. To me andmy col-
leagues at Food52, a saladcanbe so many
things —not just a bowl of lettuce —so how
couldthis be true? We have a saladconfusion
onour hands. Here are where Haspel’s as-
sertions steer us wrong:
1. “Saladis lettuce.”
What is a “saladvegetable”? There’s no
definitionof what a saladis, or the type of
salads that are being discussed—infact, she
seems to equate lettuce withsalad. My salad
today could’ve beenany number of things (it’s
summer, so there’s a lot to play with), but it
hadzucchini, grains andcheese —no lettuce.
Saying that saladhas a lettuce problemis like
saying pasta has a creamsauce problem. Not
all pastas have creamsauce, andnot all salads
have lettuce.
Haspel does define some of these “salad
ingredients”: “Four of the five lowest-ranking
vegetables (by serving size) [onthe nutrient
quality index] are saladingredients: cucum-
bers, radishes, iceberg lettuce andcelery. (The
fifthis eggplant.)” I’ll get to the nutritionpart
ina second, but I’mnot sure why these four
ingredients are siloedas “saladingredients” —
andeggplant is left out —whenyoucanmake
a saladwitheggplant; a soupor two, drink or
taco withcucumber; anda soup, pizza, sauté,
braise or pickle withradishes. Celery is the
start of so many dishes, andlettuce doesn’t
always meansalad.
2. “Saladfools dieters intomaking bad
choices.”
Salad, you’re so sneaky! Wrong. Saladisn’t
fooling anyone —misinformationabout
ingredients andtheir nutritional value is. So
what do we do about this? The solutionto the
misinformationabout salad/lettuce isn’t to
eliminate salad/lettuce or the consumptionof
salad/lettuce entirely, as this article purports.
Rather, it’s to knowwhat you’re eating.
3. “Saladingredients are lowinnutrient
quality.”
Yes, I canmake a saladwithlettuce (which
the article says is full of water, not nutrients),
friedchicken, croutons andmayo dressing,
andit might not be great for me nutritionally.
But I canalso make a burger out of black
beans andquinoa andit canbe really goodfor
me. Saladis a type of food, like a burger; nei-
ther are ingredients withinnate nutritional
values.
4. “Lettuce has unfortunate repercus-
sions onour foodsupply.”
Haspel mentions that lettuce is the top
source of foodwaste, “becoming more than1
billionpounds of uneatensalad” every year,
but she doesn’t explainwhy or whether that 1
billionrefers to lettuce leaves, pre-made sal-
ads andother saladingredients. Moreover,
the study creditedwiththis information“did
not include mixtures of freshfruit or vegeta-
bles (e.g., fruit salad, platters of vegetable
sticks, andpre-packagedsalads made from
Let us understand there’s
more to salad than iceberg,
and end fearmongering,
says Ali Slagle
SeeSLAGLE Page 5P
Michelle Collins/
Staff Artist;
iStock
Correction: In the Sept. 6 Points sec-
tion, a box on the Sept. 19 One Day Uni-
versity gave the incorrect cost to attend
the event. The cost is $179, but you get a
15 percent discount by entering the code
POINTS. Register at onedayu.com.
nowhere andis senseless.”
Welcome to TedCruz, Donald
Trumpandthe FreedomCaucus.
Really, have we ever seenbum-
bling onthis scale, people at once so
cynical andso naive, so willfully
ignorant inusing levers of power to
produce some tangible if incre-
mental good? These insurgents can’t
evenacknowledge democracy’s
legitimacy —if youcan’t persuade a
majority of your colleagues, maybe
youshouldaccept their position. You
might be wrong!
People who don’t accept democ-
racy will be badat conversation.
They won’t respect tradition, in-
stitutions or precedent. These fig-
ures are masters at destructionbut
incompetent at construction.
These insurgents are incompe-
tent at governing andunwilling to be
governed. But they are not a sponta-
neous growth. It took a thousand
small betrayals of conservatismto
get to the dysfunctionwe see all
around.
ReachDavidBrooks
throughnytimes.com.
T
he House Republicancaucus
is close to ungovernable these
days. Howdidthis situation
come about?
This was not just the work of the
FreedomCaucus or TedCruz or one
month’s activity. The Republican
Party’s capacity for effective self-
governance degradedslowly, over
the course of a long chainof rhetori-
cal excesses, mental corruptions and
philosophical betrayals. Basically,
the party abandonedtraditional
conservatismfor right-wing radical-
ism. Republicans came to see them-
selves as insurgents andrevolu-
tionaries, andevery revolutiontends
towardanarchy andends updevour-
ing its own.
By traditional definitions, conser-
vatismstands for intellectual humil-
ity, a belief insteady, incremental
change, a preference for reform
rather thanrevolution, a respect for
hierarchy, precedence, balance and
order, anda tone of voice that is
prudent, measuredandresponsible.
Conservatives of this dispositioncan
be dull, but they knowhowto nur-
ture andruninstitutions. They also
see the nationas one organic whole.
Citizens may fall into different clas-
ses andpolitical factions, but they
are still joinedby chains of affection
that commandultimate loyalty and
love.
All of this has beenoverturnedin
dangerous parts of the Republican
Party. Over the past 30years, or at
least since RushLimbaughcame on
the scene, the Republicanrhetorical
tone has grownever more bombas-
tic, hyperbolic andimbalanced.
Public figures are prisoners of their
ownprose styles, andRepublicans
fromNewt GingrichthroughBen
Carsonhave become addictedto a
crisis mentality. Civilizationwas
always onthe brink of collapse.
Every setback, like the passage of
Obamacare, became the ruinationof
the republic. Comparisons to Nazi
Germany became a staple.
This produceda radical mind-set.
Conservatives startedtalking about
the Reagan“revolution,” the Ging-
rich“revolution.” Among people too
ill-educatedto understandthe dif-
ferent spheres, political practitioners
adoptedthe mental habits of the
entrepreneur. Everything hadto be
transformational anddisruptive.
Hierarchy andauthority were equat-
edwithinjustice. Self-expression
became more valuedthanself-re-
straint andcoalition-building. A
contempt for politics infestedthe
Republicanmind.
Politics is the process of making
decisions amiddiverse opinions. It
involves conversation, calmdeliber-
ation, self-discipline, andthe capac-
ity to listento other points of view
andbalance validbut competing
ideas andinterests.
But this newRepublicanfaction
regards the messy business of poli-
tics as soiledandimpure. Compro-
mise is corruption. Inconvenient
facts are ignored. Countrymenwith
different views are regardedas
aliens. Political identity became a
sort of ethnic identity, andany com-
promise was regardedas a blood
betrayal. Aweirdcontradictory
mentality replacedtraditional con-
servatism. Republicanradicals have
contempt for politics, but they still
believe that transformational politi-
cal change canrescue the nation.
Republicans developeda contempt
for Washingtonandgovernment,
but they electedleaders who made
the most lavishpromises imagin-
able. Government wouldbe reduced
by a quarter! Shutdowns would
happen! The nationwouldbe saved
by transformational change! As
StevenBilakovics writes inhis book
Democracy Without Politics, “even
as we expect ever less of democracy
we apparently expect ever more
fromdemocracy.”
This anti-political political ethos
producedelectedleaders of jaw-
dropping incompetence. Running a
government is a craft, like carpentry.
But the newRepublicanofficials did
not believe ingovernment andso did
not respect its traditions, its dis-
ciplines andits craftsmanship. They
do not accept the hierarchical struc-
tures of authority inherent inpoliti-
cal activity.
Inhis masterwork, Politics as a
Vocation, Max Weber argues that the
pre-eminent qualities for a politician
are passion, a feeling of responsibili-
ty anda sense of proportion. Apoli-
ticianneeds warmpassionto impel
actionbut a cool sense of responsi-
bility andproportionto make careful
decisions ina complex landscape.
If a politicianlacks the quality of
detachment —the ability to let the
difficult facts of reality work their
way into the mind—then, Weber
argues, the politicianends upstriv-
ing for the “boastful but entirely
empty gesture.” His work “leads
How the GOP lost its way
Cruz and Co.
destroyers, not
builders, says
DavidBrooks
The Dallas Morning News dallasnews.com Saturday, October 17, 2015 21A
I
t’s October again, so once again
I’mstanding onthe sidelines,
viewing the breast cancer hoopla
withamazement.
As a 31-year survivor, I remember
the time whenour disease wasn’t
“celebrated” withso muchattention;
backin1984, quiet fear still ruledthe
day. The first KomenRace for the
Cure hadbeenrunhere inDallas
just the year before, andonly 800
people tookpart. Now, there are
hundreds of races worldwide, with
hundreds andthousands of partici-
pants.
I startedtaking part inthe local
race inits secondyear. I still go, but I
don’t run. I don’t evenwalkany-
more. NowI sit quietly inthe survi-
vors’ tent witha lot of elders like me
who are living out that once-impos-
sible dreamof long-termbreast
cancer survival. We still have our “big
moment” whenwe leadthe parade
to the podiumat race’s end, but
otherwise we’re largely forgotten.
WhenI reportedmy first diagno-
sis (sadly, I hada secondin1997) to
my daughter, then24years old, she
respondedwiththe practicality of
one who workedina hospital and
hadalready seenmuch: “Mom,
please tell me this is not hereditary.”
Inmy case, genetic testing says it
seems not. Just plainbadluckfor
me.
But it was genetics, not badluck,
for my late husband, one of the rare
menwithbreast cancer. They form
only1percent of all the diagnoses,
andsince there is (as yet) no routine
screening for males, their symptoms
are most oftenignoredwell past the
disease’s early stages. We hadgood
times betweenhis 2008discovery
and2014death, but we accepted
fromthe start that metastasis would
eventually cause the latter. It’s
strange, Fredwouldsay, knowing
withreasonable certainty that unless
youstepoff a curbandget rundown
by a bus, youcanbe sure inadvance
of what will eventually kill you. And
he was right.
The substantive pinkinserts ina
recent Sunday’s Dallas Morning
News cheeredme withtheir report-
ing, especially the emerging willing-
ness of mento speakout andwarn
others that, yes, breast cancer can
happento you, too.
For quite a long time, a very large,
healthy-looking mancouldbe seen
glad-handing it at the Dallas Komen
race site; actually, he couldn’t be
missed, because he wore a custom-
made pinksuit! But he hasn’t been
among us inthe past fewyears. Why
amI not surprised?
Well, I’ve packagedupthose two
pinkinserts andmailedthemfor my
daughter —now55 and, so far,
breast cancer-free —to share with
her hospital colleagues. AndSatur-
day, I’ll once againget upearly, put
ona pinkcapandheadto the survi-
vors’ tent at this year’s Dallas Komen
Race for the Cure. I hope to pass on
hope to some young womenthat
there canbe a good, long life ahead
for them.
I was one of the lucky ones who
foundthat out before the hoopla that
still amazes me. Inmy era, we quietly
consideredourselves lucky just to be
alive after diagnosis andtreatment.
But nagging reality tells me, be-
cause I knowbreast cancer fromthe
inside, that I’monly enjoying a very
long remission. This disease has a
nasty habit of returning to knock
downsurvivors who were happily
standing, evenfor long periods of
time. I went throughthat knock-
down13years after my first bout and
hadto pull myself upagain.
So if I happensomeday to stepoff
a curbandget rundownby a bus,
only thenwill people be able to read
inmy obituary that I was truly cured.
Harriet P. Gross is a
Dallas freelancewriter.
Reachher at harriet
[email protected].
A breast
cancer
testimony
Harriet P. Gross survived;
her husband wasn’t as lucky
Texanof the Year: One reader nominatedall Texas lawen-
forcement officers: “Texas andits counties andcities would
degenerate into total chaos without them.” Hear, hear. Submit
your nominationat dallasnews.com/texanoftheyear.
Coming Sunday: Awriter asks, why is it so easy
to joke about wanting to murder your childand
so hardto talk about worrying youmight actually
die of love? Inthe next Points section.
JOINOUR
BLOGDEBATE
dallasnews.com/opinionblog
A
s a resident of Dallas anda
survivor of domestic violence,
I have a little bit of shame in
claiming the Dallas Cowboys right
now.
Last Sunday markedthe endof
Greg Hardy’s four-week suspension
fromthe National Football League.
Clearly, Hardy’s sentence should
have remainedat the original 10
weeks, because he seems to showno
signs of remorse or change of heart.
It is a fact that football is impor-
tant to Americans, andbeing from
Dallas, I understandwinning is
important to Cowboys’ fans. Greg
Hardy is a great athlete, andwith
recent weeks being what they were
onthe field, the Cowboys needhis
athleticism. But whenwe place
points onthe scoreboardover wom-
en’s emotional andphysical well-
being, we have a significant problem.
Initially, I was madwhenthe
Cowboys brought Hardyon. ThenI
tookastepback; I believeinsecond
chances whenindividuals show
remorsefor their
actions. It was my
hopetohear from
Hardythat hewas
sorry, tohear him
speakout against
theobjectificationof
womenandthe
violenceagainst
them, andtotake
thetimeawayfrom
thegametoevaluatehowhecould
usehis platformtobeanexamplefor
others.
Well, last weekwhenI checked
Twitter, GregHardywas trending,
andit wasn’t for anyof theabove
reasons. Whenaskedabout the
upcominggameagainst theNew
EnglandPatriots, Hardycreepily
saidhewas hopingthat TomBrady
wouldbringhis wife, Gisele, the
Brazilianfashionmodel.
Thesetweets shownosignof
remorse. Theyshownosignof a
changeof heart, andtheyshowno
signof respect for TomandGisele’s
union. It is ashamethat Hardycould
not followtheexampleof RayRice,
whohas shownremorsefor his simi-
lar actions. Riceis nowsomethingof
aspokesmanagainst domestic vio-
lenceand, tothebest of our knowl-
edge, seems toberepairinghis mar-
riage.
This oneinstanceis onlyasymp-
tomof theactual problempresent
withinour society. I heardseveral
peoplesaysomeversionof, “I don’t
carewhat hedoes off thefield, as long
as his act is together onthefield.”
That attitudeis what I findmost
disturbing.
Wehaveacultureof silenceinthis
countryregardingdomestic vio-
lence. Individuals don’t want to
discuss it, andwedefinitelydon’t
want totalkabout it whenit is not
convenient. But therealityis, it is
never convenient, andit is never easy.
Our sons lookuptotheseplayers as
rolemodels. It might seemextreme,
but theobjectificationof women
begins somewhere. Shouldn't webe
consideringcharacter as well as
ability, consideringour youngpeople
arewatchingandlearningthelife-
styles of theseplayers?
If I let mysonwatchthegame
withhis dadonSunday, as heso
regularlydoes, what is themessage
wesend?Put points ontheboardand
youcanlivethewayyouwant. Treat
womenhowever youwant, andeven
get cheeredalongtheway.
I certainlydon’t want mysonto
growuptobelikeGregHardy. When
yousettleintowatchtheCowboys’
next game, consider what his ex-
ampleis teachingthenext genera-
tionabout character andrespect for
women.
AutumnMilesof Dallas
isauthor of “Appointed:
Your FutureStarts
Now” andthefounder
of TheBlushNetwork, a
conferenceministrydedicatedto
spirituallychallengingthewayyoung
womenthink. Reachher through
www.AutumnMiles.com.
Hardy makes me ashamed to claim the Cowboys
I believe in second chances
—if someone has remorse,
says AutumnMiles
GREG
HARDY
VIEWPOINTS
JIMMITCHELL
Editorial writer, 61
Jimhas beenwithTheDallas MorningNews since
1984, joiningtheeditorial boardin1998. His
specialtyis business andeconomics, but he’s
beenknowntocraft editorials ontopics as
diverseas theWright amendment battle, emergingtechnologies,
international AIDSpolicy, citypolitics andcultural andsocietal
shifts. JimgraduatedfromLoyolaUniversity, earnedamaster’s
degreeinjournalismfromNorthwesternUniversityandattended
business andeconomics workshops. MeetingNelsonMandelain
SouthAfricawas his most unforgettablecareer moment.
Email: [email protected] Twitter: @JimMitchell18
JAMESRAGLAND
Metrocolumnist andeditorial writer, 54
James beganwritingfor TheNews in1985. It was
supposedtobeabrief stoponhis waytoalaw
career inspiredbyThurgoodMarshall andAtticus
Finch. Threedecades later, he’s still usinghis pentocrusadefor
justiceandequality. James coveredCityHall for TheNews andthe
mayor of D.C. for TheWashingtonPost. From1994-99, James
workedas aneditor ontheDMNmetroandpolitical desks. He’s
gonethroughexecutivetraining, taught at auniversityandpicked
upaCertificateof LeadershipfromSMU(1998). HebecameaMetro
columnist in2000andjoinedtheeditorial boardthis month. James
is aDistinguishedAlumat Texas A&M-Commerceandamember of
theTexas IntercollegiatePress AssociationHall of Fame. He’s mar-
ried, has threechildren, andloves antiques, poetryandsports. And
longago, hewroteacountrysong.
Email: [email protected] Twitter: @jamesragland61
MITCHELLSCHNURMAN
Business columnist andeditorial writer, 60
Mitchhas beenacolumnist since2001 andhas
coveredbusiness news inNorthTexas for over
30years. His earlystories wereabout Ross
Perot’s pushtoreformpubliceducation, in-
cludingtheno-pass, no-playrulethat challengedtheprimacyof
Fridaynight lights. Perot set Texas onapathof progress and
showedhowbusiness leaders couldinspirepublicpolicy. Mitch
joinedTheDMNin2012after workingat theFort WorthStar-Telegram
andDallas Times Herald; this is his first monthontheeditorial board.
Heearnedhis bachelor’s injournalismat theUniversityof Missouri-
Columbia. Heandhis wife, Kay, liveinCoppell andhavefour sons.
Email: [email protected] Twitter: @mitchschnurman
Viewpoints
The Viewpoints page, published
Monday-Saturday, appears opposite
the Editorial Page. In shorthand, it’s
the op-ed page. We review100-200
manuscripts daily fromwhich we
select the three or four best. What
qualifies as best? Sprightly written,
fresh arguments with strong points
of viewon timely topics. And we
place a premiumon local subjects.
We carefully keep track of the
ideological bent of the columnists
we publish to ensure that we run a
balance of opinion. Viewpoints and
Points have published about 1,300
columns this year, with the total
liberal voices and total conservative
voices separated by about 1 percent-
age point. In addition, we make sure
controversial topics —whether it’s
local fracking or national health
care —get columns fromboth sides.
The Viewpoints page includes:
■ Syndicated and other national
columnists: These columnists, who
write regularly, boast an expertise
and reader following that give them
exposure in multiple newspapers.
We have access to more than 30of
these writers. Charles Krautham-
mer, David Brooks and Kathleen
Parker are three of our conservative
voices. Ruth Marcus, Leonard Pitts
and Esther Cepeda are among the
liberal columnists.
■ Local columnists: Several local
writers’ work has earned thema
recurring spot on Viewpoints, in-
cluding Mark Davis, Heather Wil-
helmand Ralph Strangis. Most of
our local columns are by one-time
contributors with expertise on a
timely topic. Viewpoints also fea-
tures Voices volunteer columnists
fromNorth Texas. (See dallasnews
.com/voices for more informa-
tion.)
■ To submit a column: Columns
should be no more than 650words.
Submit to viewpoints@
dallasnews.com.
Points
Points is the Sunday commen-
tary section of The Dallas Morning
News. It’s the place to find sharply
written, in-depth analysis of cur-
rent events and trends, as well as
eclectic and unconventional takes
on issues fromthe world of poli-
tics, ethics and morality, pop cul-
ture, foreign affairs, technology,
the arts and, most of all, dispatches
fromthe front lines of the culture
war. Points aims to be a fun, stylish
read for intellectually engaged
people.
The Points section includes:
■ Essays and columns: Who
writes for Points? No weekly line-
up is the same. You might find a
nationally syndicated columnist, a
Dallas Morning News writer and
other thought-provoking experts
fromour backyard or across the
globe. Some will debate fromthe
right, some fromthe left, but most
come froma place that defies such
rigid categorization. The common
thread that ties themall together is
a counterintuitive approach that
lives up to Points’ “Think Sharp”
motto.
■ Special Points features: Each
week, the section cover includes
Talking Points, a round-up of nota-
ble quotes fromthe week’s news,
fromthe piquant to the poignant.
You’ ll also find our weekly Q&A,
Point Person, in which members of
the editorial board interviewa
provocative newsmaker or an
insightful expert, with a focus on
ideas that enlighten and challenge.
■ Editorials and cartoons: On
2P, you’ ll find our Sunday Editorial
Page, and on 3P, we treat readers
to an expanded selection of letters
to the editor and additional car-
toons.
■ To submit a column: Most col-
umns run at 750words. Submit to
[email protected].
JACQUIELYNNFLOYD
Metrocolumnist andeditorial writer, 57
JacquielynnFloyd, asixth-generationTexan, is a
veteranjournalist whohas writtenanopinion
columnfor TheDallas MorningNews since1999.
BornandraisedinAustin, FloydlivedinFort
WorthandinsuburbanWashington, D.C., beforemovingtoDallas.
Prior to joiningThe News, she was a reporter for the Dallas Times
Herald. Shehas workedas abeat reporter andgeneral assignments
writer, coveringeverythingfromluridmurder trials totheWinter
OlympicGames. Once, whileonassignment, shewas apassenger
inahot-air balloonthat caught fireduringaroughlanding. Shewas
unharmed, but thesoles of her sneakers weremelted. Floyd, who
joinedtheeditorial boardthis month, is marriedtofellowNews
editorial writer MikeHashimoto. TheyliveinDentonCounty.
Email: [email protected] Twitter: @jfloyd_dmn
MIKEHASHIMOTO
Editorial writer, 57
Everythingandnothingabout Mike’s first two
decades at TheNews preparedhimfor lifeonthe
opinionpages. In20years withSportsDayand
onthecitydeskandlongbeforethat, hehadgrownusedtobeinga
lonelyright-wingnut —withstaunchDemocraticparents and
sisters andatypical collegeexperienceat Universityof Texas at
Arlington—sotheeditorial boardoccasionallyoffers himalittle
company. Today, hewrites editorials, offers personal thoughts at
our OpinionBlogandwrites theoccasional op-ed. Agraduateof
Dallas’ Kimball High, heandhis lovelywife, Metrocolumnist and
editorial writer JacquielynnFloyd, liveinFlower Moundsurround-
edbyspoiledcats.
Email: [email protected] Twitter: @MikeHashimoto
MICHAELLINDENBERGER
Editorial writer, 44
Michael Lindenberger is anativeKentuckian
andhas beenburdenedall his lifewithacorre-
spondinginterest inbourbon, politics, history,
horseracing, andserial commas. Hestartedhis career as editor of a
Tennesseeweeklyin1993andlater as managingeditor of asmall
dailyinIndiana, andhas beenworkinghis waydowntheladder ever
since. Hefirst cametoTheNews in2000, workingmost recentlyas
Washingtoncorrespondent for business. Heearnedhis lawdegree
fromtheUniversityof Louisvillein2006, andhas frequentlycon-
tributedtoTime magazineas alegal affairs writer. Hewas aKnight
JournalismFellowat Stanfordin2012-13. This is his first monthon
theeditorial board.
Email: [email protected] Twitter: @Lindenberger
LEONAALLEN
Editorial writer, 51
Leona Allen is a Pulitzer Prize-winningjournal-
ist whohas spent 30years as a reporter, editor
andnewsroommanager. She’s reportedon
subjects that include education, criminal justice, local govern-
ment and state government. She started at The Dallas Morning
News in1994. Before becomingan editorial writer, she servedas
statehouse bureau chief, suburban editor, general assignments
editor, night city editor, deputy metroeditor, assistant managing
editor and deputy managing editor in her career. While at the
Akron Beacon Journal, she was part of the reportingteamthat
won the1994Pulitzer for public service journalismfor its year-
longexamination of race relations in Akron. The Dallas native is a
graduate of North Texas State University (nowthe University of
North Texas). She lives in Garland.
Email: [email protected] Twitter: @ldallen
Editorial board and staff
MIKEDRAGO
Assistant editorial pageeditor, 49
Mikeoversees content selectionandeditingof thedailyViewpoints pageandtheSundayPoints section. Herejoined
thenewspaper in2014after workingtwoyears as vicepresident for content at IdeaGrove. Beforethat, hewas a
career-longnewshound. Heworkedfor nineyears at TheAssociatedPress beforemovingtoTheDallas MorningNews
in1999. Hespent thenext13years workingas educationeditor, criminal justiceeditor, stateeditor, cityeditor and
assistant managingeditor. Mikewas borninDetroit but considers himself anaturalizedTexan. Heis agraduateof
GrapevineHighSchool andtheUniversityof NorthTexas, withabachelor’s injournalism. Whenhe’s not onthejob,
Mikestays busywithhis family: his wife, Amy, twoteenagedaughters anda6-year-oldsonwholoves Star Wars andsoccer.
Email: [email protected] Twitter: @mikedrago

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