Rather, a softball fan wonders, “Would a Muslim, Jew, or non-believer be just as welcome?” | Letters

Would the Kumbaya spirit also include Muslims and Jews?

I am an 86 year old OU alum and avid follower of Sooner softball from afar. I respect and admire these young women for their passion, determination and infectious spirit Kumbaya mind and athleticism. And Patty Gasso is a great, great coach who, based on her televised post-game press conferences, is a commendable, sensitive mentor who cares deeply about her players as individuals.

Although something surprises me. Going back a few years, many of the players who performed with Gasso during this perfunctory media spotlight often attributed their success on the field to devout Christianity. I have heard all about “Christ”. I have heard about ‘the Lord’. I have heard talk of ‘saving souls’. And so on and so forth, with Gasso, to a lesser extent, adding her voice.

Religiosity or lack thereof is personal; no one’s business but yours. But if you want to express your beliefs, go for it.

Still, it would be logical to deduce that Gasso’s teams are largely preachy Christian teams. Would a Muslim, Jew or non-believer be just as welcome to wear a Sooner softball uniform? What about their comfort level in the locker room? If activist teammates were trying to save their souls, would they just sit in the corner and listen?

– Howard Rosenberg, Agoura Hills, California

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“Oklahoma Consumer” would pay the price

Apparently OG&E wants another rate increase (again) – which falls on the heads of us, the Oklahoma Consumer. For private customers this is an increase of 13.85% on our monthly invoice. That means the average residential customer will see an increase of $19.02 per month compared to current rates, according to documents the utility filed with the Oklahoma Corporation Commission on Dec. 29, 2023.

The Oklahoma Corporation Commission approved a 1.9% ($2.07) base rate increase on the average home bill in September 2022. Unlike fuel costs that are passed directly to its customers, OG&E implemented the rate increase to recoup higher operating costs and investments in electric infrastructure. The company has been making them since 2012, utility officials said. It was the first increase in OG&E’s base rate since 2017.

The cost of living has risen dramatically in the last four years, let alone the last seven. How many of us have seen an increase in our income to that extent? That’s an extra ($228.24) per household per year! The company serves 821,000 customers in Oklahoma. That would amount to about $187,385,040 per year to do what? If OG&E were more concerned about customers than promoting other efforts, they might not have to ask for a rate increase.

My husband retired from OG&E after more than forty years with the company. I am proud of the retirees. And I am proud of the employees who go the extra mile, especially in times of need. Perhaps the upper echelon should reconsider where the money and expenditure is going and worry about the common man.

– Patricia Koch, Warr Acres

Editor’s note: Since writing the above letter, OG&E has said it is submitting an uncontested settlement that reduces the requested rate increase from $332.5 million to $126.6 million.

What keeps me awake at night

In my lifetime we have had men who put our country in great danger – Julius Rosenberg, the Walker family, Robert Hannsen, etc. But we managed to stop them. Now we have two (apparently) corrupt US Supreme Court Justices, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, threatening our democracy by taking what could be perceived as bribes or supporting the invasion of our capital, and it appears that we can’t touch them.

Anita Hill warned us about Thomas. Judges are appointed and trusted to rise above party and personal feelings and uphold the Constitution under which they are sworn. Congress could act with impeachment bills or Supreme Court corruption laws, but these are outnumbered by people whose only interest is personal gain.

I am kept awake at night for fear that our republic will be taken over by the current Benito Mussolini, who also befriended a terrible dictator. The Italians eventually stoned Mussolini, but only after he and Adolf Hitler had done enormous damage to the world.

–David B. Brinker, MD, Oklahoma City

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU softball fans wonder if nonbelievers would accept others