Letters to the Editor: June 13

Letter of the Day: What?

Editor, Daily News:

In May, a Gallup poll asked voters across the country what the most critical issues currently facing our nation are.

The Iraq situation, fuel prices, immigration reform, the economy and health care were top of the list for most Americans.

What was the response of our Republican representatives in Congress?

They introduced legislation to ban gay marriages, eliminate the estate tax and criminalize flag burning.

Gay marriage impacts less than 2 percent of the population; the estate tax affects less than 1 percent; and there were three reported incidents of flag burning during the whole of last year.

Now we know the priorities of the GOP, and how far removed they have become from mainstream America. They can hardly complain when the voters respond in kind in November, and hand them the defeat at the polls they have worked so very hard to earn.

Tom Robinson , Bonita Springs

Letter of the Day: Bound for bigger trouble

Editor, Daily News:

After reading, listening and discussing oceans of opinions on how to handle illegal immigrants, I am at loss.

Some solutions offered are too gentle, some are too strict, many are totally impractical.

Left with that, my bones tell me that our greatest danger will be with who remains in the United States if strong efforts are made to round up the illegals and send them home.

Obviously, the easiest people to locate and deport are those working in an honest effort to put bread on the table. The group that thrives on robberies, doping, drive-by shootings and other activities destructive to society will be much more difficult to bag.

Result: We are left with the dregs.

Bad deal!

Maybe a little less money spent on some of the attention-seeking, political ideas and more on rounding up the bad guys might help a little.

Can't hurt.

Jim McTague , Naples

Letter: Picking two

Editor, Daily News:

Saturday was a great day for letters — plenty of items needing a response.

But two stood out above all the rest, by D.A. Baumgartner and Jo An Carter.

D.A., bashing Democrats (for bashing President Bush), criticizes liberals and Democrats for failures of the Republican-controlled government. Even Republicans have decried the strong-arm tactics of this administration.

Bashing Democrats and liberals for not proposing a solution to the Iranian crisis, he proffers none himself.

D.A., we don't have to be in that fight. Iran has no delivery system (nor did Iraq) for nuclear weapons capable of reaching us. If they become a threat, the Israelis will stop them without our help. Turn off "Faux" News, come outside and see the world as it is.

Jo An states "it would be great if Planned Parenthood would also promote abstinence. The unplanned pregnancies, (sexually transmitted diseases) and abortions would really go down."

Here we go again: The problems of the world today can be blamed on (choose one) the media, especially television, the teachers, Planned Parenthood — everywhere but where it belongs. On the parents.

In the good ol' days to which Jo An refers, parents taught abstinence, manners and respect for elders.

They didn't blame anyone else for their child's behavior. Teachers provide children with facts from which decisions are made. Parents teach children to make the right decisions. Planned Parenthood is not responsible for the sexual promiscuity of our children. We are. The parents.

Lead by example and accept responsibility. Don't pass it on.

James C. Athanas , Golden Gate

Letter: Headlines get an F

Editor, Daily News:

Since January, I have tolerated what I believe to be "the negative slant " your paper has put on numerous articles regarding Collier County. I refer in particular to articles regarding our real estate market and the effect a "potentially damaging hurricane season" will have on our economy and the housing market. My biggest concern relates to the negative slant you put in the bold headlines which often are not substantiated by the article itself.

Since many of your readers and most visitors probably do not always read the entire article, the negative and misleading headlines negatively influence the perception of residents and visitors.

I did not save all the articles referred to above, but two that were published this past week are just examples.

The first, published on Saturday and headlined "Development along Immokalee Road to continue despite F for congestion," has nothing to do with Immokalee Road in Collier County. It reported on Lee County issues.

The second, earlier in the week, with a headline about environmental concerns plaguing developments north of Immokalee Road, dealt primarily with developments that are off of Bonita Beach Road, not Immokalee Road.

Since Collier County is a great place to live, why punish the county by being so negative? A balanced and accurate slant to your headlines would be greatly appreciated.

Ron Salvagio, North Naples

Letter: See it the Rotary way

Editor, Daily News:

With the privilege of fielding a sports team goes the responsibility — the responsibility to the athlete to know and to adhere to the rules of the game, to have the athlete in proper physical condition and to have the athlete be academically eligible to participate.

In order to ascertain one's responsibility for what one thinks, says or does it is imperative that the Collier County School Board act by "The Four-Way Test" as adopted by Rotarians worldwide:

"First, is it the Truth?

Second, is it Fair to all concerned?

Third, will it build Good Will and Better Friendships?

Fourth, will it be Beneficial to all concerned?"

By mishandling the facts given by law-enforcement officers to school staff and administrators, the board members let the entire school community down, especially the parents. They did not act in the honest, professional manner expected of them.

The Collier County School Board and the Florida High School Athletic Association set the rules and they are ultimately responsible to see to it that these rules are followed — and they are accountable for the disciplining when the rules are broken.

The administrators have demonstrated extremely poor judgment. This is an unacceptable model for their staff and students. It will be beneficial to all concerned for those administrators in the Immokalee High School athletic and academic programs who were involved with the over-aged players to leave the educational profession before the start of the new school year.

It is not fair to all concerned for the Collier County taxpayer to have to pay the fines imposed by the FHSAA.

Hank Dawson , Naples , Rotarian

Letter: Bound for bigger trouble

Editor, Daily News:

After reading, listening and discussing oceans of opinions on how to handle illegal immigrants, I am at loss.

Some solutions offered are too gentle, some are too strict, many are totally impractical.

Left with that, my bones tell me that our greatest danger will be with who remains in the United States if strong efforts are made to round up the illegals and send them home.

Obviously, the easiest people to locate and deport are those working in an honest effort to put bread on the table. The group that thrives on robberies, doping, drive-by shootings and other activities destructive to society will be much more difficult to bag.

Result: We are left with the dregs.

Bad deal!

Maybe a little less money spent on some of the attention-seeking, political ideas and more on rounding up the bad guys might help a little.

Can't hurt.

Jim McTague, Naples

Letter: Right there

Editor, Daily News:

You guys really missed a great chance to plug your own paper, re: the gentleman who had a problem finding information on lawn watering rules.

You can find the list of rules and times on the right side of the back page of the Local & State section along with the weather.

Dori Hobson , Naples

Letter: A feeling of pride

Editor, Daily News:

There are times in life when you seem to be in the right place at the right time.

Such was the case for my wife and I when on Thursday we attended the "Uncommon Friends" ceremony at the Sanibel Harbor Resort. This is an event where many Southwest Florida companies are recognized for outstanding "ethics, spiritual leadership and community commitment."

Four Bonita Springs companies were nominated. They were The Bonita Bay Group, Colonial Bank, Home Banc and Nelson Marine — all four very deserving of that recognition. The final top five of over 100 nominated were The Bonita Bay Group, Colonial Bank, Home Banc, The American Red Cross and the Salvation Army. Three of the final top five were from Bonita Springs with the No. 1 company being Home Banc.

What an honor to be associated with a city that can produce three of the top five finalists of such a prestigious award.

It is truly a reflection of not only the type of companies we have in our community, but, more important, the type of people who live in our community. What a special and grateful moment that was. What a special place to live.

Mayor Jay Arend , Bonita Springs

Letter: Signs of a larger ill

Editor, Daily News:

SOS (Save Our Schools) indeed.

On June 8 you published a letter from Tom Briscoe, co-chairman of Save Our Schools and a teacher at Lely High School, in defense of Manny Touron, Immokalee High School principal and soccer assistant coach.

The next day comes the revelation that two more over-age players were discovered to be playing on the team he trains.

As Collier County School Board member Linda Abbott says, "The system failed."

Nobody has addressed the question of how long has this been going on. How many aspiring young soccer aficionados have lost slots on the team because of ringers? How many competing schools have been denied a level playing field?

This deserves the attention of reporters and police.

It also points to the need for a tamperproof national ID card.

As it stands, terrorist cells can hide in our high schools and elsewhere for years without fear of detection, nurtured by the society they seek to destroy. Let us swallow our politics and vote for a law-and-order Congress.

Give them the tools to protect all of us. Thank you.

Mario DeMicheli , Naples

Letter: The truth, his way

Editor, Daily News:

Editorial Page Editor Jeff Lytle stated that precision in your reporting of facts is all-important.

I will remind you that your job as editor is not just facts, but truth!

Truth has become a subjective element in our lives. It is what anyone wants it to be for themselves. In the Immokalee High School debacle the debate gets very cloudy because facts are skewed to meet the prevailing truth of the illustrious grand "subjectiver" — one who emphasizes subjectivity — Collier Schools Superintendent Ray Baker.

The truth being promulgated by this "subjectiver" is that Manny Touron is a good principal in Immokalee.

How can you be a good principal and allow this to knowingly happen — with over-age students in the school and playing competitive sports against the rules?

So "good" has become relative to situational ethics.

Baker is applying the reflective thinking of the great founder of modern educational philosophy, the right Rev. Dr. John Dewey.

However, you are not bound by this philosophy unless Baker has "the goods" on your acquiescence to his philosophy.

The ultimate need for new leadership in Immokalee is to provide the necessary hope for athletes who will not be entitled to compete for college scholarships in the normal process, who will lose ambition to live out their dreams and who will struggle against further discrimination on another playing field.

Your writers are known to have believed school authorities in the past and deprived the public of the truth. This is provable. So, I'm not surprised that you have taken to mollycoddle your friend, Baker.

Naples is a place where those in the know control what the know is all about.

Erich Abraham , Naples

Letter: On the level

Editor, Daily News:

It is commendable that a 30-year-old man desires to get a high school education in order to better his and his family's life.

It is deplorable that a 30-year-old man looks to boost his ego and his image by competing against boys on an athletic field.

Unfortunately, it is apparently acceptable for certain school coaches and authorities to assist certain groups of persons to win at all costs in a vain attempt to gain equality for that group.

Alas, they forget: In order to achieve equality one should compete on an equal basis. Then, and only then, can one be truly equal.

No?

Raymond Axberg , Naples

Letter: Then drop it

Editor, Daily News:

The Naples City Council is wasting a lot of time discussing how much money the city can get out of the Naples Airport Authority.

The question shouldn't be to complain about low lease payments. Council members need to determine how much the city spends on the airport and decide if they want to keep paying them or have the airport reimburse the city for those costs.

If the answer is the city doesn't contribute any money to support the airport, then the issue should be dropped.

The airport authority and the city are both public entities. Maybe the City Council should ask the School Board to pay the city some money, because some of the schools are inside the city limits. That would make as much sense as the current complaint about low lease payments.

After all, what percent of the people in Naples have kids in school? That is the kind of argument we are hearing as a reason for trying to get more money from the airport.

The airport wasn't built to enrich the City Council.

Brian Betsworth , Naples

Letter: What would the Republicans do?

Editor, Daily News:

I submit a question for the Republican candidates for governor who were scheduled to appear tonight in Naples:

In the past 12 months, there have been in excess of 40 resident parks in Florida that have been turned into condominiums. Generally, these were long-standing, land rental communities with all residents being evicted.

Florida does have some laws designed to help the evicted residents, but the laws are weak. It appears nothing is being done to curb this action, and this practice seems to be gaining momentum.

Do you have a position on this and, if so, what is it?

Robert Maze , Naples

Letter: Like a Fox

Editor, Daily News:

Let's take a good look at Vicente Fox, president of Mexico.

Doesn't it seem that his middle name should be 'Sly'? Or should that be his first name?

Sly Fox is so clever that with his illegal immigrants, he is managing to take over our country — without firing a shot!

Nettie Grant , Naples

Letter: No difference

Editor, Daily News:

To all the newspapers that are making an extra effort to let the public know when a crime is committed by someone who is here illegally: What is the purpose in that?

When a crime is committed, it is wrong and against the law. It should not matter what the criminal's immigration status is.

If they are breaking the law they are criminals, no matter where they are from.

Marie Hidalgo , Immokalee

Letter: C.P.'s experience not OK

Editor, Daily News:

Since I have had 69 foster children, I have followed the case of C.P. (I can't use the real name because of confidentiality) with great interest.

C.P. is like so many other foster children. I have advocated, nay begged, for necessary psychological and psychiatric services — all to no avail.

If C.P. had received more in-depth counseling, then possibly the adoptive parents and C.P. would have had a better chance for a successful adoption.

I have always believed we pay now or we pay much more later.

Secondly, oftentimes foster children, especially at the therapeutic level, destroy things in the foster home. The Victim's Advocacy fund through the Florida Attorney General's Office is the conduit for reimbursement. This year, under Charlie Crist, the fund has run out of reimbursement money. Crist is running in the Republican primary for the office of governor. If he cannot manage the attorney general's budget, how will he be able to handle the state's budget?

I believe we have a more fiscally responsible and compassionate candidate in Burt Saunders, who is running to succeed Crist as attorney general.

Fritzi Ryan , Naples

Letter: We did good, but today ... ?

Editor, Daily News:

Questions!

We senior citizens did a good job in our youth and middle age.

Everything became plentiful and conveniences were made.

How about the trip to the moon! We did good.

What happened?

No privacy. Santa Claus took over Christmas. There are attempts to take out "In God We Trust." Animals are treated like human beings. Girls marry girls. Boys marry boys.

Don't like your face? Change it.

Pills to make you well will make you sick.

And they call it the golden years. For whom?

Marie Dekkers , Naples

Letter: Don't look now, but ...

Editor, Daily News:

While you were playing on your computer and watching "American Idol," "Survivor" and MTV, your country experienced the largest invasion in world history.

Twelve million to 14 million illegal immigrants and lawbreakers invaded our country. Our lawmakers are condoning it and want to legalize it.

Why are our lawmakers and unions backing this invasion? I think the lawmakers are buying votes for more social programs and so-called cheap labor.

But why the unions? Well, once the vote-buyers get their way, our minimum wages might double and the unions can get a lot more for their members and also organize all those millions. There goes the cheap labor.

It hurts to see President Vicente Fox of Mexico visiting 10 percent of his constituents, and his cash cow and maybe his new provinces.

Wake up. Call your congressmen. The liberals of both parties are taking your country away while you enjoy the good life.

How long do you think this cheap labor pool will last? Until they are legal and can get on welfare, good stamps and other social programs. They will get unionized and demand much higher wages — the wages we should be paying our own citizens.

I would like to see a guest-worker program, but to legalize 12 million to 14 million, and their offspring, is criminal.

Buying forged green cards, Social Security cards and driver's licenses shows intent to break our laws and contempt for our laws.

Dick Miller , Naples