We are all alike

KID, a second grader, has one parent who is African-American and the other parent who is Anglo-American. KID’s mocha skin is different from that of other classmates.

One or two classmates show a desire to cause KID harm socially and physically. The spiteful, nasty, and cruel actions against KID seem designed to embarrass and demean KID.

I suppose the wrongful, vicious, or mischievous purposes are assigned to bullying. Such conduct should be stopped.

Have you noticed that all humans have white eyeballs, pink tongues, and red blood? That said, we are all alike, regardless of skin tone, or accents, or language.

Anna Russell

Tyler

Principles of leadership

A congressman recently proposed allowing President Donald Trump to run for a third term. Why?

Trump ran for office in 2016 on the promise to “make America great again.” Did he succeed in his four years in office? If so, how sturdy was his success? If it couldn’t last beyond four years, how effective could any transformation have been? Or can America be great only if Trump is alive and in charge?

In a 2001 bestseller titled “Good to Great,” business consultant Jim Collins wrote about the sort of leadership that leads to lasting change. Long-term greatness required what Collins called Level 5 leadership.

Good leaders were often charismatic but the success they brought their companies was fleeting. It left when they left.

By contrast, great leaders brought lasting change. And they did so in sometimes counterintuitive ways.

For example, Level 5 leaders demonstrated humility. They were modest and self-effacing, prioritizing the company’s success over personal gain. They also downplayed their own role in successes and willingly gave credit to others.

They focused on long-term success that would last far beyond their own tenure. And they prepared talented people to carry the transformation forward.

Such leaders were also willing to take full responsibility for mistakes and poor results. Their ambition was for the success of the company rather than for personal glory.

Trump has touted his business acumen but do we see him applying these Level 5 leadership characteristics necessary for greatness in his role as the nation’s CEO?

After all, if Trump made America great again during his first term, why didn’t the greatness last? Is the nation fated to have greatness only if Trump is at the helm?

How sturdy is a transformation to greatness if it can be completely undone by another administration? An edifice built to last doesn’t easily collapse. An organization – or a country – whose greatness outlives any CEO has to be built on the principles of Level 5 leadership.

Reginald Killingley

Big Sandy

Thank you, Tyler

The overwhelming generosity of the people of Tyler helped provide joy to children in need through Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts this season. Across the U.S., the Samaritan’s Purse project collected 10.5 million shoebox gifts in 2024. Combined with those collected from partnering countries in 2024, the ministry is now sending over 11.9 million shoebox gifts to children worldwide.

Shoebox packers brought joy and hope to children around the world through fun, full, personalized gifts. For many children, this is the first gift they have ever received. Each shoebox gift is a tangible expression of God’s love, given to children in need around the world. Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and delivered more than 232 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 170 countries and territories.

Across the region, shoebox packers often shop for deals on shoebox items throughout the year, and many serve at a deeper level by becoming a year-round volunteer. Information about ways area participants can get involved year-round can also be found at samaritanspurse.org/occ.

Although local Tyler drop‑off locations for shoebox gifts are closed until Nov. 17-24, 2025, anyone can still be a part of this life-changing project by conveniently packing a shoebox gift online in just a few simple clicks at samaritanspurse.org/buildonline.

These simple gifts, packed with love, remind children around the world that they are loved and not forgotten.

Hannah Murphy

Samaritan’s Purse