Letters to the Editor: June 15, 2006

Daily dose of comment and insight from our readers.

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.

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What would he say today?

Editor, Daily News:

Regarding the article about the dismay of residents of Jeepers Road in East Naples at the destruction of their view:

My late husband worked very hard to secure the Lake Avalon property and the beautiful forest adjacent to it south of Jeepers Road for a botanical garden. He was told by Collier County officials who toured this property with him, “It can never be built upon.”

This was in 1995.

He told them he had no interest in building on it — the wetlands near Bayshore Road would make a perfect Amazon riparian area. The melaleuca would be harvested for excellent mulch for the garden, and the upland woods would shelter young rain forest trees from drier zones as they matured. He knew this was a perfect spot for a rain forest exhibit as a large African tulip tree on the Jeepers Road side, among other things, showed the area did not freeze.

So much for preservation of sensitive land. Tons of fill took care of that little wetland. We can see this approach everywhere in our county. Is there any thought to our fragile hydrography?

Must every area — small and green — in the urban area be developed? The ugly, scraped lot on the west side of U.S. 41 north of the old Inn of Naples is another example of a lovely natural area no longer providing a peaceful view and clean air to neighbors. Smaller wooded parcels on U.S. 41 East and U.S. 41 North sport development signs.

So sad.

Mrs. Robert W. Read/Naples

Take bites out of crime

Editor, Daily News:

Regarding a couple of stories in the paper recently, I have an idea.

We could take the guy who watered his grass on the wrong day and the 6-year-old who kicked the teacher and put them in the same jail cell — due to overcrowding, of course.

But yeah — let’s get tough on crime!

Minnie Shaw/Naples

The real deal

Editor, Daily News:

Not that Manny Touron needs anyone to defend him, but I felt that I could not read any more derogatory e-mails without saying something.

I have personally seen Mr. Touron walk out to the street at the end of the school day to talk to and shake hands with his students.

As a former ESOL teacher in Collier County Public Schools for 17 years, I never saw another principal do this or anything like it.

I was appalled by what I read in the naplesnews.com blog — comments written by the community in response to what has occurred at Immokalee High School, most probably by people who have never even taken the time to go to Immokalee.

I agree there is no room for over-age students in high school, but many times this is not so easy to verify when student’s records from other countries are incomplete or sometimes even forged.

To attack a person of Mr. Touron’s integrity without knowing anything about him, except what you read in the Daily News, is absolutely ridiculous.

These people need to get a reality check and all the facts before they accuse a man who has given his heart and soul to his community, students, parents, teachers and the schools he has directed.

Those of us who truly know Mr. Touron know that one mistake does not define one’s character. It’s easy to send anonymous e-mails and destroy a person’s character. Why not take a more active role as a volunteer in a school instead of criticizing people who are trying to make a real difference in people’s lives?

Collier schools could use more principals like Mr. Touron, who does not give just 100 percent to his students and school, but actually still believes in the American dream — something many people in this country forgot along time ago.

Stay strong, Manny. There is an entire community of parents, teachers and students who support you and believe, like you, that you are really making a difference.

Efrain Diaz/Massanutten, Va.

Back at ya, Lytle

Editor, Daily News:

On Monday, Editorial Page Editor Jeff Lytle complained of the Collier County School Board and its administrators for expressing “an urgency to put all this behind us and move forward on new challenges” with regard to Immokalee High School Principal Manny Touron and his handling of overage students.

One would think that Lytle would be more appreciative of this stance since he publishes Jack Tymann’s guest commentaries ad nauseam. Tymann’s message, while always couched differently to conceal it, is always the same: Don’t ask any hard questions, go along to get along, support the current administration, read some more of my drivel and things will look better in the morning.

This was Tymann’s message during last year’s problems with former Federal Emergency Management Agency director Michael Brown.

After Katrina, Tymann wrote: “We are again mired in counterproductive finger-pointing, draining energy from constructive dialogue and long-term planning” and “at this moment, shouldn’t we be looking to tomorrow’s challenges, rather than yesterday’s failures?”

Isn’t this the same position Lytle is criticizing the school administration for taking? And yet he seems to be so enamored of Jack Tymann.

In yet another commentary, Tymann wrote: “What if parents, teachers and coaches focused on our children’s failings and shortcomings, rather than praising their achievements.”

I suppose the same could be said of high school principals. Let’s see if Lytle takes the advice he is so fond of publishing.

Kenneth R. Costello/Naples

At what cost?

Editor, Daily News:

Re: Story headlined “New anti-drug message comes on wheels,” about the Collier County Sheriff’s Office turning a drug suspect’s SUV into a crime-fighting vehicle.

Before jumping on the bandwagon for forfeiture, people should be advised that 80 percent of the property confiscated is never accompanied by an arrest, let alone a conviction, for drugs or any other crime.

A mere accusation by law enforcement can cause an innocent owner to lose his property. Even though no evidence of drugs and no illegal activity is uncovered, it is near impossible to recover wrongly seized money and property.

Redford Givens/San Francisco

Freaked out — and no help

Editor, Daily News:

Over a month ago I had to put down my 15-year-old poodle.

Never thought I would ever get another pet.

But my husband and I went out and purchased a new poodle puppy, 11 weeks old.

Well, my car was in the shop last weekend. I had a loaner. I went to Wal-Mart on U.S. 41 East to pick up a few things and took the puppy inside with me in my purse.

After shopping I turned on the AC and put the puppy in the car. I spilled a soda and, while trying to clean it up, I got out and shut the door to go around to the other side.

When I did that it locked the doors with my new little baby inside.

I totally freaked out.

Couldn’t handle losing another puppy.

Not knowing what to do, I went back into Wal-Mart and called 911.

When Naples police officers came — even though this was outside city limits — they said there was nothing they could do! They wouldn’t even get out of their car or even call a locksmith for me. All an officer did was hand me his cell phone — like I had the number for a locksmith somewhere!

I went back into Wal-Mart and called a locksmith myself. The police could have at least called a locksmith for me.

I was panicking and crying.

Never again will I ever donate to any functions they call about. If they call, I will let them have a piece of my mind.

I treat my animals like my own babies.

I don’t mean to be so disrespectful, but to me the police were worthless. Hope I never have a real emergency.

Darlene Berry/Naples

Going south

Editor, Daily News:

Just when I thought President Bush had done everything stupid any human being do, he proved me wrong.

At a time when our men and women are dying daily in his terrible, unnecessary war in Iraq, our national debt is astronomical and growing every hour, high gas prices are threatening our economy and the illegal immigrants are taking over our country, our great leader is concentrating on changing the Constitution to ban gay marriage.

Bush should be impeached, because if he continues for another three years we will be owned outright by China — and we will be known as the United States of Mexico.

Irene Bretzlaff/Naples

And turn off the lights

Editor, Daily News:

United Nations weapons inspector in Iraq, Scott Ritter, in his book, “Iraq Confidential,” recounts events before our invasion.

While the United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM) was seriously attempting to find, but not finding, weapons of mass destruction, the CIA was conjuring up weapons of mass destruction and situations to exterminate Saddam Hussein. Ritter lamented that the CIA was a hindrance to UNSCOM’s work, and he became aware that the United States’ goal was Saddam’s demise. This was prior to 9/11 and America’s safety wasn’t involved.

“Iraq liberation” never received a congressional vote; Congress’ vote pertained only to weapons of mass destruction, of which Iraq had none, and the 9/11 terrorists, with whom Saddam had no connection. Nevertheless, it’s hard to imagine leadership so ignorant it couldn’t envision invasion’s inevitable results.

Regarding Iran, President Bush’s stance toward Iran was always belligerent, and our actions in the Middle East have been duplicitous, aggressive and threatening, seriously damaging our credibility in any negotiations.

Iran’s leaders have reiterated they don’t want war and seek legal nuclear energy only. We scoff at this, conjure up accusations, deny them respect and lay the groundwork for failure. We’re worse than useless — we’re igniters of a mutually destructive outcome.

Furthermore, if we’re not imperialists, why do we continually crave dominance in the Middle East, plan to build a nearly $1 billion embassy (largest in the world) and keep 14 permanent military bases in Iraq?

Our long-term Middle East bombings and occupations guarantee ongoing hatred and retaliation. Only our withdrawal can end our self-flagellation. It’s time we own the results of our immoral choices, control our greed and stop killing ourselves.

Jane Varner/Naples

We’re not so dumb

Editor, Daily News:

According to the major national newspapers, wire services, electronic media and the local newspaper, the top news stories, in no particular order, have been:

Brad Pitt and Anjolina Jolie’s baby, Katie Couric, Meredith Vieira and whether or not dogs should be allowed in restaurants in Naples.

Our secondary story, buried on later pages, and in small print, included redeployment of the fully repaired USS Cole. This is a major story in our war on terror and should have been the lead story in all media. The USS Cole is a symbol of the United States’ commitment to bring worldwide terror to an end.

The liberal media, however, does not find this to be a worthy news story.

The dumbing-down of America by the media continues, and al-Qaida wins again.

Paul Teal/Naples

He is one of us

Editor Daily News:

The article about Bill Hansen, former ex-prisoner of war, was great.

But there was no mention of Bill being affiliated with the Collier Chapter American Ex-POWs as commander.

Even though he is not well, he is doing a great job.

Fran Erlichman/Naples; Public relations, Collier Chapter American Ex-POWs