Letters to the Editor: Nov. 8, 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 — The Gator Party

Editor, Naples Daily News:

With the 2000 fiasco behind us and another big election coming in 2004, I propose the following:

From the discouraging rate at which the citizens of Collier County vote, I think they should form a new political party. All of those who are too lazy to get off of their duffs and go to the polls and vote could unite.

Meetings could be held at several convenient locations throughout the county.

Of course no would show up because they were all too busy harping and complaining about everything the government does and how lousy our representation is, liberal or conservative.

Just think how much fun it would be to miss out on all of the real issues concerning our county -- education, new roads, the Gulf, growth, etc. And the list just goes on and on.

I think that since the donkey and the elephant have already been taken, we should call it the Gator Party. A pretty close "daffynition" of their mascot would be:

Gator: amphibian; cold blooded; thick, wrinkled skin; very large mouth; minuscule ears and bad eyes. They do not care to hear what you have to say or look at another point of view, but are always ready to roar their opinion.

The moral is: If you do not or will not vote ... shut up!

Jumping Jupiter

Editor, Naples Daily News:

Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system, more than 11 times the size of Earth. It is over 483 million miles from the sun and takes 12 years to complete its orbit around the sun.

Although Jupiter is far away, it is a relatively easy target to find and observe with a telescope. It is visible for five months at a time. Then for three months it slips behind the sun and it cannot be seen at all.

Because Jupiter is a fast-spinning planet if you observe it carefully through a telescope for several hours you may see the atmosphere change during the viewing session. However, you can't see Jupiter's surface. That's because Jupiter's atmosphere is mostly hydrogen and helium and is impossible to see through.

What you can see, through a medium- to large-aperture scope is a huge atmospheric storm that has been raging on Jupiter's surface for hundreds or even thousands of years.

This giant storm appears as a massive red spot on the globe.

This storm is so large that two Earths could fit in it. If you look closely at the photo accompanying this you will see the spot in the lower left corner.

Other worthwhile targets for amateur astronomers are Jupiter's moons. Jupiter has 16 moons. When the planet is visible you may see one or more of Jupiter's four largest moons, Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto. The others are too small to be seen without a large astronomical instrument.

Some people with very good eyesight claim they can see Jupiter's largest moons with their naked eyes. However, most of us need a telescope.

This time of the year you can observe Jupiter in the eastern sky before sunrise. To find Jupiter in the night sky, look for a very bright object (star-like) that is not blinking.

Slow enough to see it

Editor, Naples Daily News:

When I was young, an Illinois State Patrol officer pulled over my grandmother because I had thrown a Kleenex out the window.

I haven't littered since.

If a person rides in my car, they throw their garbage on my floor until it can be disposed of properly. I started this habit long before I moved down to Florida seven years ago.

If you think the trash has appeared with increased traffic, it's just that people are driving slow enough to see it now.

Do your part by adopting a road and doing regular trash pickups. Plenty of companies in the area do this already.

There is a woman I often see walking along Airport-Pulling Road picking up trash in the morning after playing tennis. She is an inspiration.

Thank you for doing your part, since you obviously are not one of those throwing trash on the side of the road.

My epitaph

Editor, Naples Daily News:

Re: article on Naples Police Officer Hugh May.

I read the article about Officer May's death and mourned with his family and friends, though I did not know him. However, I was appalled to note that in the article by staff writer Brigid O'Malley she felt the need to include the paragraph about his past history with the police department.

Brigid, just in case you decide to write an article when I pass away, let me beat you to the punch so my name isn't tarnished after my passing.

I smoked pot and drank some alcohol; I was drunk more times than I care to admit.

I ran away from home more times than I can remember.

I hitchhiked across the country and back at age 17. I was pregnant at 18 before I got married, and later divorced.

I still love rock 'n' roll!

Now I'm a mother-in-law and a grandma, married for 13 years this month, love the Lord, and don't drink or smoke!

May I rest in peace!

More pay means more meddling

Editor, Naples Daily News:

Your editorial urged the Collier County School Board not to take the pay increase encouraged by the Florida School Board Association which would boost individual pay to more than $32,000 per year.

Frankly, I have trouble with any public school board member making anything close to the amount being paid in Florida.

Here's why:

First, the roll of a public school board should be that of policymaking. Other responsibilities follow such as constituent representation, top administration hiring, etc.

For this, the board should be remunerated enough to cover their out-of-pocket expenses.

Watching this and the prior board at work is like watching gnats being examined under a microscope. As the pay rises so does the activity level.

As an ex-business owner, I have found that the owner (board) should set the policy, make certain that the best management is on board and then get out of the way and let them do their jobs.

Second, as the board pay rises there is the risk of people running for a seat on the board for the wrong reason -- that is, to augment their present lower pay, to add to their retirement income or provide other non-pay perks.

Being a school board member should be "payback" time for those sincerely interested in the future of children.

If the first role of the board is followed, school boards would not find their responsibilities taking the time of a full-time job.

Cut through the scum

Editor, Naples Daily News:

You are to be commended for publishing the photos of 25 individuals wanted on outstanding arrest warrants on Oct. 30.

As a result of your publication, it is my understanding that several of the persons have already been arrested.

I am a new resident of Naples and have not seen this wonderful disclosure before.

Keep it up -- at least once a month. None of us want to see this scum running loose and preying on society.

Second bananas

Editor, Naples Daily News:

Wish I were a monkey.

I can't believe the City Council of Naples gave a band of monkeys more rights than I have!

The next time I apply for a job, want to rent an apartment, dine in a restaurant, get beaten up or just want to live my life like anyone else in Naples, I am going to tell them, "I am a monkey!"

As a gay man in Naples I still can be discriminated against and I can do nothing about it.

If the monkeys have a problem they should have to write or call the state capital and wait for a reply like I do.

Where did the mayor come up with this one? I think it is time for a reality check at voting time.

TAG isn't it

Editor, Naples Daily News:

Let's have some truth in advertising from the Taxpayers Action Group (TAG) of Bonita Springs which is accosting every patron going in and out of the Bonita Springs Library.

By asking "Do you want to lower your taxes? Then sign our petition," these TAG people are attempting to sway people who know nothing of the substance of the TAG petition.

This is rather misleading. Their proposed action will not lower anyone's taxes, but it would certainly hamper the efficient running of city government.

That's not even to mention the cost to the public of requiring public votes for many expenditures.

These same people lost the argument when Bonita Springs voted to become a city and elect representatives. Are we now to deny the representatives the work we elected them to do? If so, bring on the anarchy!

What's going on?

Editor, Naples Daily News:

Re: Iraq -- what's really going on.

It has become evident to me and perhaps to some of your other readers that we cannot rely on the national media to give us the whole picture. Television has become so obsessed with what it calls "the story" that it has relegated the rest of any total picture to almost total obscurity.

In so doing it has gone much further and convinced itself that it -- the media -- is actually more important than "the story" itself.

If you don't agree, I suggest that you watch Tom Brokaw or Dan Rather as they sign off each weeknight.

If we listen to or read whatever sources of information we may find, we learn that considerable progress is being made in northern and southern Iraq. Perhaps because the most comfortable accommodations are available in central Iraq -- specifically Baghdad -- television reporters and their reports seem to be concentrated there. And this is exactly where most of the damage is being done -- to American troops and the Iraqi infrastructure. That's where "the story" is!

But, even there, the "real story" is just beginning to emerge. Central Iraq is becoming the new "Israel" where tactics used against the hated Israelis are now being focused on the hated "America." Can anyone forget the pictures of Palestinians dancing with joy in the streets when they heard and saw the damage done to us on 9-11? Hatred of America is now being expressed in central Iraq in the same manner as hatred of Israel has been and is expressed in the streets of Jerusalem.

Unfortunately, until we figure out how to deal with this reality, it will continue.

Do I have the answer? I'm not that clever.

But realizing what we're up against is a small step forward.

Which way will they go?

Editor, Naples Daily News:

The Muslim world is at the crossroads of its future. If Muslim people want to succeed, and be a part of the modern, prosperous world instead of enduring lagging economies, fundamentalist turmoil and auto-destructive extremism, they have to think critically.

For example, American-Muslim activists intend to boycott an invitation to the White House; they plan to stay away from a Pentagon invitation to celebrate the end of the Ramadan. This is a negative attitude. They are Americans, aren't they?

They have an opportunity to speak freely with officials and show their patriotism. At the same time, they can have a fruitful dialogue and distance themselves from extremists.

As the controversial Malaysian leader Mahathir Mohamad says, "We should stop all this violence among people." He underlines the lack of democracy and good economic realizations in rich Arabic and Muslim countries. They haven't improved people's lives; neither have they given women's rights. In this country we make a difference between peaceful people and extremist Muslims who blindly kill whoever disagrees with them.

American Muslims must be role models for other Muslims. They should pressure Muslim dictators to open up their minds.

Is well-being contrary to Muslim laws? I don't think so.

By using all modern tools to improve the life of billions of Muslims, their leaders will change the world forever.

God bless America.

Easy for him to say

Editor, Naples Daily News:

Does the Bush administration believe that we are all stupid or perhaps just don't hear right?

Speaking to reporters recently, our president said, "The more successful we are on the ground, the more these killers react."

By this logic, as more American soldiers, Iraqis and aid workers are killed or wounded we should interpret that as progress.

Following this to its ultimate conclusion would obviously mean that if there were three times as many men lost amid bloodier and more sophisticated attacks we should conclude that we are doing even better.

A more reasonable conclusion would be that when there is an increase in the scale of vicious attacks, it indicates a complete failure of strategic policies.

Obviously this is not the fault of our heroic soldiers, but those who planned the occupation of Iraq. Our soldiers are dying as a result of this failure.

I get a sick feeling when I recall the president's macho statement, "Bring 'em on!" But he is not in the line of fire.

Adjustable?

Editor, Naples Daily News:

Picture this!

Thought I'd seen most all of it, but a cosmetic surgeon's ad in the Daily News had me on the floor!

They say one picture's worth a thousand words. Three of his words can't help but evoke a thousand, no, make that 2,000 pictures:

"Adjustable Breast Implants"!

Interested?

Editor, Naples Daily News:

Let's face it, the big trouble in the world today is based on a simple concept -- usury.

"Thou shalt not lend upon usury to thy brother; usury of money, usury of victuals, usury of anything that is lent upon usury." -- Deuteronomy.

The Islamic faith prohibits charging interest when lending money, but Christianity, the dominant faith of the West, ignores what the Good Book says on that issue.

While I am a firm believer in the separation of church and state, some of the more just and righteous laws can be found in religious literature.

"Usury ... bringeth the treasure of a realm or state into a few hands." -- Sir Francis Bacon.

The richest 5 percent of the people in this country own 60 percent of the wealth. The United States has less than 6 percent of the world's population but owns nearly 50 percent of the wealth.

Usury?

The rich industrialists and bankers who control everything from the price of paper clips to recessions to wars would fight to the death of every soldier on the planet (excluding of course their sons or daughters) to keep their money-making- money scam going.

It raises the question of who really are the evildoers?

Did we make right decision?

Editor, Naples Daily News:

We are shown constantly how badly things are going in Iraq. I do not aim to diminish the magnitude of the problem, which does appear to be a near-impossible mess. I do, however, wonder what we would now have in Iraq and at the United Nations if the United States had not made the decision to invade.

Those who argue so vehemently against the Iraq war should consider what we would now have in its place. Would Saddam Hussein have continued to defy the United Nations, sensing that it did not have the will to follow through on its own ultimatums? And how long would it have taken Saddam to realize that he could throw out the inspectors and get away with it? And how many other dictators would take the U.N.'s inaction as a blank check to do anything they choose without worrying about the U.N.?

Can anyone really assume that Germany, Russia and France finally would have agreed to do what in the long run is clearly necessary and what they clearly do not want to do?

If after several more months the United Nations had still been dithering about what to do with Iraq we could very well have an even bigger mess facing us. The loss of lives and the huge expenses are major problems not to be taken lightly.

I'm suggesting that it would not be a picnic now if we had not invaded. History may show that, as painful as it has been, we made the right decision.

Accuracy elusive

Editor, Naples Daily News:

Letter-writer K.C. Jones implies that we would not be in Iraq if President Bush had fought in Vietnam rather than "hiding in the National Guard."

The implication is that those enlisting in the Guard/Reserves have some sort of guarantee of avoiding active duty.

This cheap shot will surely be appreciated by all of those citizen soldiers who have served over the many years including those who are presently "hiding " in Iraq.

When will it end?

Editor, Naples Daily News:

The U.S. Central Command has enlarged the R-and-R leave program for our troops in Iraq. There are concerns that morale is getting to be a problem.

With all the killings and injuries of our troops, they (our troops) don't know if they will be the next ones to die. They are objects of a Russian roulette type of situation.

When will all the killing stop?

Over there

Editor, Naples Daily News:

I wonder if the Bush bashers ever considered the following:

That due to his courageous leadership in taking the fight to the terrorists on their own home ground, they can still enjoy a leisurely evening in their favorite Naples restaurant or bar without some suicide bomber coming in and blowing the place to bits.