Letters to the Editor: June 6

Letter of the Day: Signing off

Editor, Daily News:

After teaching 46 years, I have a few thoughts as I retire.

When I began teaching, John Kennedy was president and society for the most part held teachers in high regard and was extremely supportive of them.

As I leave teaching, George Bush is president, his brother is my governor and, oh, my, the changes we're seeing.

Today almost everyone considers himself more of an expert on education than the teacher.

My personal assessment of teaching today is that it's better than ever. Teachers in most schools I'm familiar with are not only meeting the needs of much more diverse student populations, they're doing better jobs under more adverse conditions.

Yes, there are serious problems in education, but they have little to do with the quality of today's teachers.

They have more to do with ambitious, meddling politicians; with remarkably poorly designed accountability measures; with too many parents with priorities other than their children; and with far too much unnecessary paperwork.

Sometimes they have to do with administrators with the wrong priorities, with inadequate reporting, or even with school board members who are more concerned with political posturing than with learning from those who really know what students need.

Despite these changes and problems, I want to say that teaching remains a wonderful profession. I have been privileged to teach with some of the best teachers anywhere during my tenure. I will miss both them and teaching.

John Hancock, Ph.D. , Teacher, Naples High School

Letter of the Day: Just think

Editor, Daily News:

For all the conservatives like me, who tend to be frustrated with the Republicans straying far afield from conservative principles, we have the Daily News to thank for giving us a glimpse of the far left House leadership, if the Democrats take the House. In the article recently published entitled "Liberals would take over if Democrats win House," just reflect on the list of "Democratic chairmen." Could make you want to have Jim Wright back. Even Frank Church!

Joe Kiernan , Bonita Springs

Letter: Our own fault

Editor, Daily News:

It is said we deserve the representatives we elect.

How can it be that the county commissioners have been blind to the housing problem all this time, and at election time there is a great wringing of hands? They have given developers carte blanche.

They have complained that a development proposal by Habitat for Humanity would throw too much traffic on the roads, while at the same time they say OK to another mega Wal-Mart and Home Depot on the same road.

Ever since I have lived here, their halos have been tarnished. Now they are just black.

Shame on us. We elected them.

K.O. Dupee , Naples

P.S. — Give us a change. We desperately need housing.

Letter: One that got away

Editor, Daily News:

I'm curious about the total lack of media coverage for the Free Kids Fishing Clinic on Saturday at the Naples Pier. This 10th annual event was highly touted by large ads in your paper the preceding week. As a volunteer, I witnessed several hundred children, an equal number of accompanying adults and dozens of volunteers who appeared to be participating in a major event.

So far, I have seen no mention — including in your Sunday paper — of this splendid happening.

Did you not feel that the event was worth covering? You presumably were one of the sponsors!

Robert Kiesling , Naples

Letter: Danger zones

Editor, Daily News:

Re: Jack Tymann's commentary on Sunday.

What a noble thought — having left and right politicos forced to room together.

Likewise the liberal and conservative media and the various talking heads.

I would add one caveat. All of the parties must walk through a metal detector and pass a drug test prior to entering their rooms.

John Froloff, Naples

Letter: Verdict is in

Editor, Daily News:

To Leroy Huenfeld and John Bartoldus re: their yearly call to jury duty.

They should feel honored. God made so few perfect heads that he put hair on all the rest!

Just a pleasant thought for the day for those of us not in the hirsute category.

Lee Sutton , Naples

Letter: There for us

Editor, Daily News:

On May 8 our son, Trevor, died as a result of an automobile accident. The outpouring of love and compassion from the Naples community has helped us get through this tragedy. There are so many people to thank.

First of all, Collier County EMS for providing us with three meals a day, all of the Collier County fire departments, the Collier County Sheriff's Office, Naples Community Hospital, Gina's Cafe in the Park, Michelbob's, Office Max, all our wonderful friends and family, and Jeff Lytle of the Daily News for showing the Naples' community a bit of what our wonderful son was made of.

Thank you all so very much.

Tim, Carol, Tiffany and Chelsea McGeary , Naples

Letter: Stay tuned

Editor, Daily News:

It is with sincere regrets and deepest apologies that The Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce is postponing the Democratic Candidates for Governor Forum scheduled for today, June 6.

U.S. Speaker of the House, Dennis Hastert, has scheduled a debate and vote on Homeland Security budgets for the same time, which will require Rep. Jim Davis to stay in Washington.

We appreciate both candidates' willingness and commitment to reschedule this forum. We are especially grateful to our sponsors — Comcast, Naples Daily News, WGUF Radio — and our partners — The Philharmonic Center for the Arts, the American Business Women's Association and Naples Press Club — for all of their help and support.

The candidates also wish to extend their regrets for any inconvenience caused.

In the weeks ahead we will be working with the candidates and our partners to reschedule this important event.

Mike Reagen, President & CEO, The Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce

Letter: Cause and effect

Editor, Daily News:

Doesn't the government involvement in affordable housing really mean subsidizing low wages?

If employers can't find workers at the wages they're paying, then they will have to raise wages and the housing will then be affordable for their employees.

Government is not the solution to the problem.

Ann Cox, Naples

Letter: In it for themselves

Editor, Daily News:

If any of you out there still thought the U.S. Senate cared about you or your opinions, the newly passed immigration bill should put that thought to rest.

Isn't it ironic that the only four Democrats who voted against it were in hotly contested races, and the only Republicans who voted for it were in safe seats or not running in 2006. The only thing politicians care about is winning re-election and keeping their party in power.

Sen. Mel Martinez of Florida was the sponsor of this piece of trash, and he can rest assured I won't forget it.

John Daughterty , Naples

Letter: What we should fear

Editor, Daily News:

Re: Anne L. Schuch's May 31 letter responding to the story on a faith-healing service at Ave Maria University.

Raising God-fearing children is a godly principle. An online dictionary gives several definitions for the word "fear," but this one is the most fitting: "Extreme reverence or awe, as toward a supreme power."

Both the Old and New Covenants are replete with "fear of the Lord." To fear God is to honor His commandments. As the Scriptures state: "If you love Me, you will obey Me."

Yes, God's love is given freely to all people "who receive Him."

For those who reject Him, at death, they will be separated for all eternity from God's love. This is what we should fear.

Heather Sponaugle , Bonita Springs

Letter: Safety first — at any cost

Editor, Daily News:

I just finished reading the May 28 Perspective story, "Fatal freedom."

I ride a motorcycle. I put about as many, if not more, miles on my bike than I do my car. When I leave my driveway, I'm wearing a helmet, protective clothing, gloves and boots — no exceptions.

It doesn't matter if the trip is to the store or cross-country.

It may be a false sense of security, but I feel I have peace of mind that I've protected myself as well as I can. Now I can focus my attention on the other drivers and road obstacles on my journeys.

I also believe other drivers notice me more and give me a little more space in traffic.

These are only my opinions. People should be allowed to act as smartly or as stupidly as they see fit.

The two things that upset me most about the article are the claim that helmets are effective only up to 13 or 14 mph, and Tim Burchett's statement: "You can make statistics say just about anything you want."

The other disturbing part was the Michigan License Beverage Association's support of a helmet law rollback. Motorcyclists not wearing helmets having a few drinks in Michigan's taverns will probably not only boost business for tourism, but also hospitals and mortuaries.

I hope the $1 billion a year that helmet rollback proponents say today's laws are costing Michigan in tourism is worth it.

Roger Bush , Naples

Letter: Our hero

Editor, Daily News:

Collier County Commissioner Tom Henning's tax-cut plan cannot come at a better time.

The tax-decrease proposal will help offset the insurance increases and stimulate the real estate market.

Commissioner Henning's leadership role should be recognized by his fellow commissioners. They should support the proposal and give tax relief to the residents of Collier County.

Michael Dedio , Naples

Letter: How to get it done

Editor, Daily News:

After Pearl Harbor, the government turned to private industry. The auto industry built tanks, the shipping industry built battleships and aircraft carriers, the aviation industry built fighter planes and bombers. The government called on them because they knew how to get the job done.

After the war, New York City was in desperate need of housing. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. purchased all the land from 14th Street to 23rd Street, from First Avenue to the East River, including Avenues A, B, C and D. A deal was struck with the powers that be that Met Life would build affordable housing. In turn, the city gave Met Life the land tax free for 20 to 25 years. Met Life accomplished its goal of providing affordable housing. The tax deferral has long since passed, but to this day Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village are the best buys in New York City.

School Boards are failing in education. They should stay out of affordable housing. The government is entangled in too much red tape. It, too, should stay out of affordable housing. Private enterprise is the only way to go.

It is the building industry's business to build houses. Let's leave it to the experts!

Richard Calabrese , Golden Gate Estates Candidate, Collier County School Board, District 5

Letter: Reflection

Editor, Daily News:

If I had been in Vice President Dan Quayle's shoes when the late U.S. Sen. Lloyd Bentsen said, "I knew Jack Kennedy, and you are no Jack Kennedy," my response would have been:

Thank you, senator. In all my life that is the finest and best compliment I've ever been given.

William G. Price , Immokalee

Letter: Touchdown!

Editor, Daily News:

Naples had a very special day on Saturday, May 27, thanks to Naples native and Atlanta Falcons fullback (and Super Bowl ring owner) Freddie McCrary.

Special thanks also to his family for doing the legwork for McCrary's charitable foundation with free shirts with dynamite logos, games, footballs, prizes, plenty of great food and the host — the National Football Leager himself — making sure everybody got involved and the smaller children got extra special TLC.

Bill Crane , Naples

Letter: One that got away

Editor, Daily News:

I'm curious about the total lack of media coverage for the Free Kids Fishing Clinic on Saturday at the Naples Pier. This 10th annual event was highly touted by large ads in your paper the preceding week. As a volunteer, I witnessed several hundred children, an equal number of accompanying adults and dozens of volunteers who appeared to be participating in a major event.

So far, I have seen no mention — including in your Sunday paper — of this splendid happening.

Did you not feel that the event was worth covering? You presumably were one of the sponsors!

Robert Kiesling , Naples

Letter: More to the story

Editor, Daily News:

As a board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist who practices in Naples, I feel compelled to comment on the coverage your paper has recently given to Dr. Wendy Humphrey's wrongful death medical malpractice trial.

I only know the details of the case as you have presented them in the newspaper. I do not believe you have adequately characterized the cancer this patient suffered from. Uterine leiomyosarcoma is a rare cancer that is difficult to diagnose (as evidenced by the difficulty the pathologists had even making the diagnosis in this case).

It is highly malignant and has a poor prognosis with early development of metastatic disease.

Each day many young women are seen in this city for abnormal, irregular or heavy bleeding. Most cases of abnormal bleeding in young women are caused by non-malignant conditions. For a woman in her 30s to undergo three surgical procedures (including a hysterectomy) in the span of a few years for abnormal bleeding is an "aggressive" evaluation. It is aggressive enough that many insurance companies and Medicaid will often deny a doctor's request to proceed with the surgery.

I empathize with the patient and her family's frustration and anguish. I wish no patient, friend or family member ever had to experience the ravishes of cancer. I know Dr. Humphrey and am certain she feels the same.

However, I hope the Naples community will not allow this dedicated, hard working physician to be forgotten or belittled as the legal proceedings unfold (for most of us through this paper).

Louis F. Foley, M.D., Naples

Letter: True asset

Editor, Daily News:

As the president of the Collier County Medical Society, I would like to express our support for Dr. Wendy Humphrey.

Recent articles in theDaily News do not do her justice.

She is a fine physician, respected by her colleaugues and admired by her patients. She is a true asset to our community.

I would not hesitate to refer my patients to her.

Charles Anderson, M.D. , Naples