Letters to the Editor: June 14

Letter of the Day: The right vision

Editor, Daily News:

John Spear in his guest commentary (June 5) expresses his feelings and vision for Old 41 very elegantly. Our Bonita Springs City Council was elected to their districts to carry out the will of their constituents, not to dictate what they think is best for them.

Three cheers and more to council member Ben Nelson, who has stuck to his guns and stayed the course and will vote for the Imperial Landing project. He is standing up for the people in his district.

We have lived here for 11 years now, and my husband was one of the citizens who worked long and hard for the incorporation of Bonita Springs. We want it to become the Shining Gem of Southwest Florida.

Mega-dittos to Lori Nelson, for forming a group in favor of the construction of Imperial Village. The vision of the Antaramian Group speaks of its quality and success.

As mentioned by John, our many community leaders, some of whom have now passed on, have also had this vision of beautification and revitalization of the Old 41 Road corridor. I know they are doing their part.

Let me take a moment to remember Ralph Richardson, Pat Lord and Chuck Temple and to encourage Rex Sims, Al Greenwood and Jacob Hammerle to continue to fight the good fight.

Lynn Becker, Bonita Springs, Past president, Bonita Springs Historical Society

Letter of the Day: Soft cadences and wings

Editor, Daily News:

Re: The start of the new hurricane season.

I was visiting my mother when Hurricane Wilma struck Naples last October.

We went to the Palmetto Ridge High School evacuation center.

There were so many "Wings of Wilma" there that we can hardly list them all. We had heard so many horror stories about evacuation centers that we were delighted to see the wonderful facilities. We were cheerfully greeted by American Red Cross volunteers who answered all our questions and kept the food and beverages coming. We felt very safe with the constant presence of the sheriff's deputies.

And the people, especially the many children, in the huge gym were not only pleasant to be around, but were helpful and sharing and available for a laugh.

We were even able to sleep all night, for at "lights out" at 9 p.m. the gym settled down to a quiet murmur of the soft cadences of whispered Spanish and English.

Early in the morning, we walked around softly to see the many families sleeping — with the children in the arms of their parents.

With so many wings flapping all the time we were there, this was as pleasant an experience as one could hope for.

Charlene D. Long , Salem, Mass.

Letter: More than a flag

Editor's note: Today is Flag Day.

Pete and Liz Hunziker of Naples submit this Flag Day essay by their grandson, Tavin Hunziker, of Rome, N.Y.

He did it this past school year for extra credit in the fifth grade — and won second place in a statewide Daughters of the American Revolution contest.

His theme: "What the flag of the United States of America means to me."

The flag of the United States means freedom to most people. It might also stand for the men and women who fought and died for us to get that freedom. Most people know that the stars on the flag stand for the 50 current states and the stripes stand for the original 13 colonies.

The flag can also mean new hope for people just like me.

I was born in Thailand where there isn't a democracy. The king of Thailand makes all of the rules. My mom and dad adopted me so the first time I saw the American flag was when my mom sent me stickers in the mail. I don't really remember because I was still a baby.

When I was two years old I came into the United States. The first time I actually remember seeing the U.S. flag was on my "special day" — the day I became an American citizen. That day my dad and I went to a big government building in Boston. We had to wait in a long line and finally they told me I was a citizen. They handed me a small American flag. That flag is now in my room next to my flag from Thailand reminding me of my past and my future.

So, as a fifth-grade American, the flag means the freedom to say what I want, the opportunity to go to school, the ability to travel freely, the freedom to have friends no matter what color their skin or religion, the privilege to vote for our government officials and mostly the opportunity to grow up and be anything I want to be.

Letter: Flying high and proudly

Editor, Daily News:

The Naples Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, an organization consisting of direct descendants of the American armed forces in the War of Independence, each year gives special recognition to five local homes or businesses on Flag Day, June 14, for the manner in which they display their American flags.

The following receive the special SAR flag plaques this year:

Fairfield Inn, 1785 Fifth Ave. S., Naples

Naples Community Hospital, 350 Seventh St. N., Naples

The Whitehall Condominium, 1255 Gulf Shore Blvd. N., Naples

Bayfront, 436 Bayfront Place, Naples

Henry Diclkiewicz, 338 Stella Maris Drive, Golden Gate Estates

All those who display the American flag daily should be complimented.

Charles Cortright , Naples

Letter: Soft cadences and wings

Editor, Daily News:

Re: The start of the new hurricane season.

I was visiting my mother when Hurricane Wilma struck Naples last October.

We went to the Palmetto Ridge High School evacuation center.

There were so many "Wings of Wilma" there that we can hardly list them all. We had heard so many horror stories about evacuation centers that we were delighted to see the wonderful facilities. We were cheerfully greeted by American Red Cross volunteers who answered all our questions and kept the food and beverages coming. We felt very safe with the constant presence of the sheriff's deputies.

And the people, especially the many children, in the huge gym were not only pleasant to be around, but were helpful and sharing and available for a laugh.

We were even able to sleep all night, for at "lights out" at 9 p.m. the gym settled down to a quiet murmur of the soft cadences of whispered Spanish and English.

Early in the morning, we walked around softly to see the many families sleeping — with the children in the arms of their parents.

With so many wings flapping all the time we were there, this was as pleasant an experience as one could hope for.

Charlene D. Long , Salem, Mass.

Letter: Just calm down

Editor, Daily News:

My wife and I spent more than 20 years cruising a 35-foot sailboat up and down the east coast of the United States and much of the Caribbean. We are most respectful of the weather and those who forecast its behavior. Further, we believe that in weather reporting any error should be on the side of over-caution.

Having said that, we believe that the broadcast media has gone way beyond conservative reporting and is using hyperbole to exploit this new hurricane season.

We are constantly being told how weary we are here in Southwest Florida from last year's storms. Tropical Storm Alberto has been verbally inflated from what is primarily an early summer rain event to "an ominous preamble of the terror ahead."

The morning news is 90 percent Alberto. Enough.

Give us the facts. Speak slowly and calmly. Spare the shrill, borderline hysteria.

You do more harm to an already damaged tourist industry and real estate market.

Dr. Joseph Harnett , Naples

Letter: Sharp divide

Editor, Daily News:

I appreciate Jeff Lytle's column on Monday and Brent Batten's on Sunday on the over-age Immokalee High School student-athletes.

I don't see how school administrators can be so pious when the kids at one of the poorest schools in the state are paying the price for the mistakes of very highly paid school people.

One would think they would be embarrassed.

Sue Basinger , Naples

Letter: What in the world?

Editor, Daily News:

Can anyone tell me why the price of gas in Orlando, on Disney property, is $2.77 a gallon and we are paying $2.99 per gallon in Naples?

Laura Knight , Naples

Letter: Wrong, wrong, wrong

Editor, Daily News:

Adults knowingly forging documents and registering for high school, adults knowingly trying out for high school sports teams, adults knowingly accepting high school athletic awards — and adults knowing this information and doing nothing about it.

This is so so wrong on so many levels, I do not know where to begin.

While I have heard many excuses as to why this situation occurred and why it was not promptly reported once realized, I have not heard real conversation about the long-term implications of this unfortunate situation.

The students of Immokalee High School, past present and future, are the real victims.

The Immokalee students have been stripped of their dignity and pride. Some students did not make teams because adults were playing on them; some students had to compete against adult athletes; and all future student athletes will now be punished for the mistakes of a few, misguided adults, their supposed role models.

Who are the real victims in all of this? The students at Immokalee High School and those soccer players at other Collier County schools.

Most disturbing is that the Daily News boys soccer player of the year is not a boy, but rather a man. The true boys soccer player of the year has been robbed of his rightful award, and that's a shame.

Clearly this was all about winning. If not, why were these men permitted to participate on these sports teams?

And what about a GED? That is what adults who never earned their high school diplomas do to earn them.

If these individuals did indeed receive a high school diploma the question is, should they be allowed to keep them?

Although they were the persons who perpetrated the deception, they were the only ones not hurt by all of this.

Kim Kelley , Naples

Letter: Now we know

Editor, Daily News:

Like many other voters in District 2, I've been puzzled for several years as to why citizens elected Kathleen Curatolo to the Collier County School Board. Finally, Jeff Lytle, in last Sunday's column, shed some light on this concern. He wrote she "chewed gum and watched" during a Collier County Public Schools press conference concerning athletes at Immokalee High School — when she had the opportunity to comment on policy, a School Board duty.

So now we know. Forget the enormous budget, the excessive staffing, the no-bid construction contracts, the second-class teachers' salaries.

Curatolo can watch and chew gum at the same time.

This will be a great bumper sticker when she runs for re-election.

Nick Hale , Naples

Letter: Mr. Know It All doesn't

Editor, Daily News:

It must be nice to be omnipotent — to sit in judgment and convict with certainty before investigations are concluded and facts established. But this is what letter-writer Michael Rodriguez has done, using factoids gleaned from the Internet to excoriate our Marines in Iraq.

Has Mr. Rodriguez walked in the boots of an 18-year-old Marine in the middle of a hot zone whose job description is to take a bullet for $14,000 a year? Has he felt the kind of fear, anxiety, stress, anger and pride that they do, or their commitment to God, country, freedom and democracy?

Has he ever been in a position of knowing that the 6-year-old approaching him on the street could be booby-trapped to kill him? Or the 4-year-old to whom he is offering candy may stretch out a hand holding a grenade — with the pin already pulled? Or that around the next corner an improvised explosive device (IED) hidden in the body of a dead dog may blow up his Humvee, and his buddies along with it?

Marines in Iraq face these situations every day as they carry out their mission to protect people like Mr. Rodriguez back home. But does Mr. Rodriguez appreciate their sacrifice, their courage, their valor?

No, he does not. He calls them "war criminals" who must be punished.

Perhaps Mr. Rodriguez might think twice next time before passing judgment on men in whose shoes he has not walked, and whose boots he is not fit to kiss.

Sally Barker , Naples

Letter: Good job

Editor, Daily News:

I would like to compliment Naples City Council for its reasoned approach regarding the issue of charging users for the value of the land that a public facility occupies, and in particular not unfairly singling out the airport property.

The city owns hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of property from which we citizens do not realize any monetary return on our investment. I can't think of any facility, including our parks, parkways, beach access, rights of ways, City Dock, Naples Pier and numerous other parcels, that pays "reasonable" if any rent for the land occupied.

Why should it be any different for the airport?

To be fair and consistent, shouldn't the "airport rent" proponents ask the city to get money from all of its "underperforming" assets? Or do we just have one more example of some people having no problem goring someone else's ox?

Peter Van Arsdale , Naples

Letter: Rest of the story

Editor, Daily News:

Re: The Daily News' glowing story "Goal! Germany uses World Cup to sell itself as land of innovation."

I read in the latest National Review: "As part of hosting the World Cup, the German government is preparing to ship in prostitutes for the use of spectators, building special huts around the stadium."

By golly, that is innovative! Are these little red huts? Is there a sign on them and what does it say?

I envision a new porta-hut business in Germany like our little blue porta-potties — at amusement parks, beaches, ski resorts, construction sites, etc.

Why hasn't the U.S. press picked up this combination sports, leisure, human interest and business story?

Peter Weggeman , Naples

Letter: The plan

Editor, Daily News:

What to do about illegal aliens?

First, close all borders — land and sea. Stop the dry foot/wet foot policy.

Stop granting citizenship to children born here of illegal aliens. All illegals are to pay a fine when convicted of a misdemeanor charge. Employers of illegals, when convicted of a misdemeanor, are to pay a fine.

Grant a three-month period to all illegal aliens to positively identify themselves, so that they may be granted a temporarily workers permit (TWP). To gain a TWP, persons must be free of any felony convictions.

Children born of temporary workers, after reaching the age of 18, and if their parents at that time are American citizens, may, if they wish, apply for citizenship. Schooling of temporary workers' children will be granted, but taught in English only.

Medical needs of temporary workers and families may be had, but with copay only.

All others, when found, will be placed in detention camps until identified, then sent back to their country of origin.

If a temporary worker is found after a five-year period to be free of any criminal convictions and, having learned the English language, wants to become a citizen, he may at that time apply to do so.

They must stand at the end of the line, and go through the five-year period of paper work as my legal alien wife had to do.

Temporary workers, until gaining citizenship, may not bring in other family members. Driver's licenses held by temporary workers may not be used for voting.

Humbert L. Gressani , Naples

Letter: What one country is doing

Editor, Daily News:

My last trip to Morocco convinced me that this country takes seriously the fight against terrorism.

First, a high-ranking official from security services told me how strongly and efficiently the cooperation between his country and the United States works. Since the terrorist attack in Casablanca in 2003, the government and Moroccan people are aware that some extremist Muslims are planning to bring chaos and death to this peaceful country.

The Moroccan government refuses religious extremism. I was delighted to see, traveling through Casablanca, Rabat and Marrakech, that many streets, avenues and roads display a big sign showing a hand in red with this warning, written in Arabic and French: "Don't touch my country!" It is pretty impressive.

Elections for the Parliament are in sight: a group of candidates, Iranian-style, wants to impose restrictions on liberties that Moroccans enjoy. All people with whom I spoke told me that they will never succeed.

Second, illegal immigrants coming from sub-Saharan countries try to go through Moroccan borders in order to reach Europe. The Moroccan army patrols the border located along the Sahara desert between the Algerian border and the Atlantic Ocean.

The army pushes back illegal aliens: Sometimes skirmishes follow and some aliens are killed. Unfortunately this is the price aliens pay. Morocco can't afford to sustain an overwhelming invasion of foreigners without identification to avoid being sent back to their countries.

Anne Marie Gressani , Naples

Letter: Can't let it go

Editor, Daily News:

I thought that I could let Cal Thomas' Friday column go by unanswered, but when I decided to throw it away I decided the headline is so outrageous and an absolute lie that I couldn't let it go unanswered.

It said: "A 'yes' to gay marriages is a 'yes' to anything."

I suppose that Canada, England, Spain and Holland now marry any two creatures who request they be married, since they allow people of the same sex to marry. There has been no "glue" that has held marriage together for millennia.

Marriage, as defined by those who think like Cal Thomas, is a very recent invention. A survey of the history of marriage will tell a much different and richer story.

The "facts" expressed in this commentary are opinions, and very misleading ones at that.

To use such "scare" tactics of the kind espoused by Mr. Thomas should be beneath the dignity of the Daily News to print.

Richard L. Tooke , Naples

Letter: Looking it up

Editor, Daily News:

Cal Thomas' Friday commentary on gay marriage warns against dismissing an "objective concept (same-sex marriage) rooted in unchanging truth" and cautions that "the country (is) equally split" on this issue. He suggests that gay marriage acceptance is a slippery slope that might lead to "social engineering," lawsuits and polygamy.

Looking back into history, we can remember some widely accepted unchanging truths. Blacks are inferior to whites and only men are competent to vote in elections. Scientists widely accepted the truth that matter can be neither created nor destroyed.

Thomas' slippery slope warnings are an attempt to obscure the central issue. Like civil rights for blacks and like suffrage for women, this is about equal rights — whether same-sex couples shall be afforded the same marriage rights, privileges and responsibilities as different-sex couples.

Our country clearly was split over and conflicted by slavery and women's suffrage issues, but conflict and open debate replaced the other "truths" with more reasonable ones. By questioning this "unchanged truth," we might find that it also is rooted more in tradition and custom than in principle.

Albert Bauer, Naples

Letter: Keeps going and going and ...

Editor, Daily News:

When today's cool couples take their wedding vows, do they say, "With this bling I thee wed"?

The way home prices keep going down, they may start spelling it reel estate.

If the dogs who are permitted in restaurants don't finish their meals, can they take home a people bag?

When the CEO of Starbucks has someone to write, does he tell his secretary to "take a latte"?

Suggested title for Wal-Mart's proposed bank: Walchovia.

If we have Mothers Day, shouldn't we also have Fathis Day?

I just figured out why that Italian contractor is so far behind finishing construction on U.S. 41 in Bonita. His workers commute back and forth each day from the original Naples.

Sudden thought: Is it called Con-gress because it's so often the opposite of Pro-gress?

Fred Tobias , Naples