Letters to the Editor: Nov. 7, 2003

The Naples Daily News welcomes letters of up to 250 words. We reserve the right to reject letters or edit for clarity, brevity, good taste and accuracy, and to prevent libel. No poetry, attacks on private individuals, or letter-writing campaigns, please. Writers should limit submissions to one letter every two weeks. Include a phone number and make certain you have signed your letter.

Letter of the Day — 'Adopted' is the right word

Editor, Naples Daily News:

I found Jeffrey Scott Lewis' guest commentary on adoption offensive. He said the term "adopt" should be reserved for adopting children rather than pets or adopt-a-road programs, for example.

I "adopted," not "sponsored," two wonderful cats from one of Collier County's animal shelters.

And in reality my cats are not pieces of property; they are living beings that are just as much alive as any human being -- if not more so, considering their eyesight, sense of smell, sense of hearing, etc., are many times more sharp than those of humans.

Just because they can't build a bomb or aren't responsible for the dumping of billions of gallons of toxic materials into the oceans, they don't deserve to be knocked by someone who had the chance to write a wonderful article on the "meaning" of adopting a child, but chooses instead to write an article about how not to misuse the "word" adoption when referring to animals.

It's our secret, right?

Editor, Naples Daily News:

On a recent Sunday morning at low tide the pipe on the beach (shown above) that gushed water over the sand and into the gulf looked liked one I saw many years ago in Pompeii -- ancient, crudely made.

It was in the early 1990s shortly after settling in Naples, while walking on the beach with my wife, that I first recognized the water moving up through the ebbing tide as the fabled Fountain of Youth. No doubt about it. I hadn't seen the pipe then -- just the water emerging from out the sand. A miracle! (I must say the pipe I saw on the recent Sunday is not as attractive as the fountain of water that appeared without its source.)

That summer, about six years after I had retired, and for a few years thereafter, whenever I spied folks I guessed were tourists I would explain to them about this special fountain sought without success by Ponce de Len. Then my wife and I would continue our walk allowing them some privacy, as they stood close, contemplating the endless stream appearing from nowhere and for no reason.

A couple of years later I realized that I might be spreading a rumor or a folk tale and so I did consult with Dr. Jon Staiger, the city's natural resources manager. He was most cordial in his welcome and knowledgeable about the phenomenon. He told me that the water was overflow, piped from a lake some hundreds of yards due east. The lake was fed by a well or, perhaps, a spring. I don't remember which.

So much for the reality! But one never knows, does one?

Nowadays, I envision all those visitors whom we encountered on the beach back in their homelands -- Germany, France, Argentina, Japan, wherever -- recalling their trip to Naples and remembering a certain young man explaining the Fountain of Youth.

P.S. -- Curious souls may find the fountain on the beach somewhere between the sixth and seventh house north of the Port Royal Club.

Those dangerous donkeys

Editor, Naples Daily News:

Re: donkey basketball.

I was a high school football coach in St. Louis for 30 years, and yes we had our share of injuries; thankfully, nothing serious.

The two most devastating injuries happened during donkey basketball games. The first was between faculty and students. As you know, the donkey handler controls the animals. As a faculty member was riding for a layup, the handler signaled the donkey to speed up and in the process threw the rider, crushing his leg. He was out the entire school year on disability undergoing rehab.

The second happened the following year.

The school board would not allow students to ride, so the event was faculty against prominent community leaders. This time a faculty member was thrown on his head.

(Helmets are not required.) He still has neurological problems to this day.

Can you say "Christopher Reeve"?

The following year the school board canceled all donkey games and the faculty breathed a sigh of relief.

What a hero

Editor, Naples Daily News:

Don Carini, I so enjoyed reading the story Wednesday morning about your courageous act of catching a purse snatcher. God bless you!

Who would think some thug would try to do this at 10 a.m. at a Publix.

They usually attack the elderly and the victims are not as lucky to survive.

You really are special and it probably shows in your business ethics as well.

We recently moved to Naples and quite frankly were surprised that there is as much crime as there is. We all need to be cautious and aware at all times, and work as a team to help our local law-enforcement officials keep our area safe from these other terrorists.

Thank you for being so brave!

Sad, disappointed

Editor, Naples Daily News:

I was both saddened and very disappointed in the article that appeared in Wednesday's paper by staff writer Brigid O'Malley.

I was saddened to learn that we lost such a well-respected veteran police officer, but also a loving husband, father and friend to many.

I was very disappointed and upset to read the paragraph that Brigid felt she needed to include about Naples Police Officer Hugh May's past experience with the department.

I for one totally understand freedom of speech, but thank God I was taught the respect of other people's feelings, especially in such a difficult time as this. One would wonder if this had been your husband, father, brother or close family member, would it have been that important to include it?

In closing, I would like to take the opportunity to say I am sorry to the family and many friends of Officer May and may you find peace and comfort in knowing that there are those that have you in our thoughts and prayers.

May God bless.

Awesome?

Editor, Naples Daily News:

What are nomads? Are they any relation to snowbirds? When I last checked the dictionary, the word "awesome" meant filled with overwhelming respect.

Dee Modjeski probably doesn't like either nomads or snowbirds but speaks of these evil nomads who travel here from the North loaded down with their awesome garbage in order to toss it off on Naples' lovely roads.

Seems it comes from their horrid homes up North.

We travel here from the North each winter with money to add to the economy of this fine city and have yet to bring any garbage to toss out with us along the way.

People like Dee are not a good welcoming committee. Could your litter problem possibly be caused by the awesome citizens of Naples themselves?

Oh, come on

Editor, Naples Daily News:

This is in response to Dee Modjeski.

Apparently she has an ax to grind with the tourists. Think about this:

1. If you take away the tourists and the snowbirds, Naples would still be the Everglades.

2. I wonder if the tourist who tossed the mattress on U.S. 41 hauled it down from up North.

3. Most of the debris along the road is pitched by the locals, mostly the younger set.

It's here in the summertime when the tourists and snowbirds are not.

4. My wife and I have spent the last 15 winters in beautiful Southwest Florida and have yet to throw anything out a car window; we were taught better.

Have a good day, Dee.

P.S. -- Life is good.

Nomads pay the bills

Editor, Naples Daily News:

I always enjoy reading your paper including the letters to the editor section. I was, however, appalled that you would include in the Nov. 4 edition the Letter of the Day from a Dee Modjeski.

It appears to me that without "these nomads," millions of dollars would not be spent in this great city each season and otherwise.

To imply that the northern "snowbirds" are dumping mattresses, beer cans and fast-food trash on key roads in this town is remarkable. I suppose that the only time this happens is during the so-called "season."

That is about as stupid as saying that northerners are blasting their boom boxes and running around with loud mufflers on their northern vehicles and motorcycles.

I suppose that this reply means that "northern litterbugs" actually can read.

How insulting

Editor, Naples Daily News:

Isn't it wonderful that freedom of speech allows letter writer Dee Modjeski to blame tourists for all the garbage tossed on the roadside?

She must really believe that the year-round residents of Naples are all without fault and couldn't possibly be litterbugs.

I love Naples; that's why I spend my winters here. I don't litter up North nor do I litter here in Naples and I resent the accusation.

Compare and contrast

Editor, Naples Daily News:

Two local news stories have me troubled (more than usual) about life in Naples.

First we hear of a hard-working, young, black mother, trying to make a decent living while ensuring proper day care for her children. One morning she makes a truly horrible mistake which costs her the life of her baby. It is decided that the lifetime of unimaginable sorrow and guilt she will endure isn't punishment enough, so she is being charged with manslaughter.

Meanwhile, over on the other side of the tracks, we find a spoiled, privileged, drug-using playboy who mysteriously ends up with not one, but two young women dead in his bed. He intentionally supplied the drugs that killed these two girls, but you don't see any manslaughter here -- just a nice, tidy plea agreement for drug charges.

Over 10 years ago, I wrote to this newspaper with a comment about Naples being a great place for "rich, white, straight, Christian males." Silly me -- I actually had hoped that was changing.

Education update

Editor, Naples Daily News:

-- Collier County is a special place. It has better homes, better parks, better medians, better private sector services, etc.

Why shouldn't it have better facilities to house our students?

We spend more money to construct schools for three main reasons; greater classroom and hall space to accommodate students, state-of-the-art technology and subcontractor costs that reflect supply and demand in an area with incredible growth. That is accomplished with a two-mill ad valorem tax levy which is exactly the same as 60 of the 67 counties in Florida. We should be proud of our school facilities rather than thinking of doing things "on the cheap."

-- The Gay Straight Alliance at Gulf Coast High School is not a creation of the Collier County public school system, except that it is in compliance with the federal equal access legislation. To deny its existence would mean no clubs not specifically related to an academic course could be allowed. This would result in the end of service clubs and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, as examples.

-- After four years, I am very tired of the same group of people, with the support of the Daily News, pretending that all School Board members, past and present, other than Linda Abbott, are incompetent. Constant spurious attacks on the system do not help things. To the contrary, they consume time and effort better spent on children.

A public school board which cannot agree that paying public money to private schools is inappropriate has a problem. I think of the potential of the public's support of an Osama bin Laden school of Muslim fundamentalism or the Ku Klux Klan school of racial hatred.

The goal: the end

Editor, Naples Daily News:

Well, the Naples-Fort Myers Greyhound Track is in the news again. How unfortunate that it is because two dogs suffered immeasurable pain. It is almost incomprehensible that these animals had to wait more than even two minutes for care. Can you imagine if one of the runners in the recent New York City Marathon had stumbled, torn a leg off or broken a leg and had to sit on the curb to wait an hour for medical help?

And please, don't anyone tell me that the level of pain for the dogs would be any different than for a person. The fact remains that the people at the track only look at these animals as a commodity.

They don't care. Period.

The quote in the newspaper had one of the officials stating that some people would like to see the tracks close down.

He got that right!

These dogs lead a miserable life. They do not receive adequate care, attention, never any affection, and their lives are over when they stop making money.

There are several outlets for people if they want to gamble. I don't care what people do with their money -- just set the greyhounds free. Close the tracks forever.

There is only One

Editor, Naples Daily News:

Many of your liberal Democrats in the Senate are so angry and distraught that the partial-birth abortion ban was passed.

This is the most horrible medical procedure ever performed on a living baby.

There just doesn't seem to be enough babies in the world to satisfy the pro-death crowd's lust to kill!

There is only One who has the power of life and death and He is being discounted in the abortion issue.

Excuses the abortion gang uses for the procedure are lame and ridiculous! They bring up rape, incest or to save the life of the woman. That's about 1 percent of the abortions being performed; what about the other 99 percent? Could it be just that they are selfish and spoiled women who won't take responsibility for their actions?

Our society is overrun with promiscuous alley cats who have no concern for human life. They just want to satisfy their passions and the consequences of their acts are of no concern to them. Have these people ever heard of personal responsibility? Roe v. Wade was an abomination on our society that is being used as an escape hatch to bail out those promiscuous alley cats who have no conscience.

Yes, I think Roe v. Wade must be overturned and the woman held accountable for her actions. And the doctors should be charged with murder. Why not adoption instead of abortion? Some people have more compassion for their pets than human beings!

Wake up! You're killing a human life!

Eddie nears 80

Editor, Naples Daily News:

I'm almost 80 years old and have seen many things deteriorating on Earth and it makes me sad.

Service in our stores has degenerated in recent years. Recently I went to Sears to buy something. I looked and couldn't find it. I asked a clerk and he couldn't find it either. Just as I was leaving that department, I looked again and found it.

I then went to the clothing department and not a clerk was in sight. I then went to another department and still not a clerk in sight.

Stores don't seem to have enough clerks anymore, and if a person is lucky enough to find one, they either can't understand English or aren't familiar with the merchandise. Some clerks are rude and surly.

Good service and quality merchandise seem to be a thing of the past.

Industries change their styles all the time, and the things I'm used to aren't made anymore. Oh, for the good old stores of yesteryear when clerks were helpful and merchandise was practical and well-made.

When I went to school, children dressed neatly. Now they go to school looking unkempt. Most of the clothes sold are for young people, and the styles are outlandish. Boys wear baggy pants. Some of the girls dress seductively.

Our oceans, rivers, lands and swamps are dying because of our plastic and synthetic way of life and our use of chemicals, gas, oil and animal husbandry. We have been detrimental caretakers of Earth.

Helping Habitat

Editor, Naples Daily News:

We were invited to be a part of a bus tour of Habitat for Humanity homes in East Naples.

What a wonderful thing the dedicated people of Habitat for Humanity are accomplishing!

Everyone should contribute to this marvelous project.

You can write to: Habitat for Humanity, 11550 U.S. 41 E., Naples, 34113.

Just?

Editor, Naples Daily News:

Does anyone else wince, as though stabbed, when it is announced that another American military person is killed in Iraq? They don't tell us when they are "just" injured.

I have no relatives engaged in this war -- just the thoughts that all of these are my sons and daughters.

Was this war worth these lives? Were we threatened to the point that we needed to place 200,000 lives at such risk?

Have you heard that our president, currently busy campaigning, has never attended a funeral service for one of these victims?

Much is seriously awry.

Good heavens, no

Editor, Naples Daily News:

I am in the seventh grade at Seacrest Country Day school in Naples. I went to the Good Charlotte concert at TECO Arena on Nov. 2 with a group of my friends. I am a huge fan of Good Charlotte. I even lost my voice from the concert.

Then I read your review. I noticed there was a slight mistake. Joel, the lead singer of Good Charlotte, did not say anything bad about the president or the office of the president.

It was the band Goldfinger.

I also want to say that Good Charlotte doesn't swear in their songs. Good Charlotte rocks!