Letters to the Editor: June 20

Letter of the Day: The Bonita view

Editor, Daily News:

I live in Bonita, close to downtown, and would love to see it revitalized. I like Buffalo Chips, the renovated Lyles Hotel (hope to see it as a historical center!), Riverside Park and the Dixie Moon Cafe. Everglades Wonder Gardens is sad. They should close it down and send their animals to the Naples Zoo.

The Antaramian project is a great kick-start. Just keep it "old-Florida" style, make sure there is room for restaurants and art galleries and just a fun place to visit.

We don't need a library there, there is one not less than a mile away (by the way, push Lee County for expansion!). We don't need green space — it's green now, overgrown with weeds. Make it a come-to attraction! That's what we need.

I would really recommend that the city of Bonita Springs bring in Andres Duany to suggest a plan for making downtown a viable space!

Adam Janowski , Bonita Springs

P.S. — I moved here from Naples, because I like the atmosphere! I can hear peacocks and cocks crow in the morning! So cool!

Letter of the Day: Our summer of '29

Editor, Daily News:

Summer vacation 1929 was extraordinary. Harry, Garland, Cabell and me (age 8) took off shoes the last school day and walked barefoot until September.

We cut lawns mornings to get money for cowboy movies, candy and popcorn. Tom Mix, Hoot Gibson and other cowboys never disappointed us.

We went to the quarry pit every afternoon to play in the water.

On our first summer trip to the quarry, a homeless mutt followed us and guarded our clothes. He followed us home and split off with Harry. The next day he went home with Cabell, then me, then Garland. He did this all summer. Each of us prepared porch pads for Jack to sleep and eat.

One day as we were splashing around in water Jack began barking. We rushed over and saw Jack fighting a water moccasin. The snake would coil, spring at Jack and miss him by inches.

On the snake's third attempt Jack picked up the snake by the back of the head. He shook the snake until its head was bitten off. The snake's body wiggled on and on.

Two things are a mystery: How did Jack know how to fight poisonous snakes? Where did Jack come from?

Jack disappeared when school resumed.

Since our hometown (Colonial Heights, Va.) was on Route 1, then the only direct route from the Northeast to Florida, maybe a snowbird dropped Jack off to spend the summer in our hospitable hamlet.

Jack did like Boston baked beans.

Buddy Eubank , Naples

Letter: Energized?

Editor, Daily News:

President Bush "discovered" that the United States is addicted to imported oil. Imported oil is a significant component of the unsustainable U.S. trade deficit, and it supports "schools" that teach hatred of the U.S. and encourages terrorism. Unfortunately, the Bush administration only talks about reducing imported oil.

What should it do? Auto mileage standards should be significantly increased, especially for SUVs and light trucks. The Bush administration makes only minor increases and still excludes some the largest vehicles. We should urgently increase the efficient U.S. production of ethanol to replace oil in gasoline. Using ethanol would produce U.S. jobs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, lessen our dependence on foreign oil and reduce the trade deficit.

What is this administration doing? We should use U.S. coal resources to generate more electricity using the cleanest possible processes. Although coal is a "dirty" fuel, using existing clean processes would minimize new pollution. Coal can substitute for imported natural gas and would be a reasonable interim step.

What is this administration doing? Of course we should be investing resources in cleaner, renewable energy such as wind, solar and geothermal. We should also be developing much more efficient and cleaner vehicles.

What is this administration doing? The energy problem is a major risk to our economy and to our national security. The Bush administration is spending $1 billion a week on the war in Iraq.

What is it doing to solve the energy problem?

Aaron Knott , Naples

Letter: What a drag

Editor, Daily News:

If there is a lasting legacy to the Bush administration, it will be the short-term destruction of the Republican party. The Republicans finally have control of the Senate, House and White House, and look what they've done.

They've cut taxes and increased spending, driving our country into unbelievable debt. They've initiated foreign policy that makes Vietnam look like a good idea. Big government keeps getting bigger and more inept.

It will take years for the Republican party to recover from the damage. I'm sure Dwight Eisenhower is rolling over in his grave, along with Dick Nixon and Ronny Reagan.

Some pundits cry that the Democrats don't have an answer. Maybe there is no answer to this mess. We need to vote everyone out of office in Washington, start fresh, and put in term limits for Congress and the Supreme Court.

And, of course, pass a balanced budget amendment.

William R. Foster , Naples

Letter: Crackdown in order

Editor, Daily News:

I am writing this to complain about the unsafe conditions with the dump trucks that haul materials over our roads.

I drive to work in Bonita Springs every day on U.S. 41.

In the last few days there have been three accidents involving dump trucks.

The law-enforcement personnel have been way too lax in enforcing the traffic laws.

These trucks are dangerous and they are always speeding. Most of them have worn tires or their brakes don't work.

The Sheriff's Office needs to enforce the traffic laws to save lives.

Phil Cross , Fort Myers

Letter: Finally

Editor, Daily News:

President Bush's second visit to Iraq was good — very good.

There have not been very many opportunities to say anything positive about this president, but this is one.

The reason Bush actually visited Iraq, hopefully, is to thank all of our troops who are presently serving, the 2500 who have died, the 20,000 who are seriously injured and all of their families.

Joseph Yurko , Naples

Letter: Still a burning issue

Editor, Daily News:

A recent survey by the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed an increase in the youth smoking rate. Twenty-three percent of students (grades 9-12) smoked a cigarette within the month of the survey being taken.

The tobacco industry continues to target the nation's youth market with their deadly products, using underhanded marketing tactics.

R.J. Reynolds in particular has launched several marketing campaigns that seek to link smoking with alcohol use, gambling and rebellious behavior.

To entice this impressionable market, R.J. Reynolds is selling alcohol-flavored cigarettes. Although they claim these new cigarettes are marketed towards young adults, their appeal to youth beginning to experiment with alcohol is obvious. This campaign deceptively presents smoking as fun and safe with a sexy, exotic appeal.

Informing citizens on ways to combat these powerful market forces, the American Lung Association's "Continuing the Flavored Cigarette Trend" report exposes some of the marketing techniques used to hook young people on this deadly product. While the state of Florida has increased spending for youth tobacco education from $1 million last year to $5.6 million in 2006-07, we must continue to protect our children by demanding greater funding of youth programs and stricter regulation of tobacco sales and promotion.

Alcohol-flavored cigarettes are proof that tobacco companies are trying to attract and addict a new generation of smokers. To become an advocate for Florida youth tobacco education, visit www.lungfla.org

You have the power to save the life of someone you know.

Shirley M. Westrate , St. Petersburg , Area executive director, American Lung Association of Florida

Letter: The big difference

Editor, Daily News:

I am trying to understand Ann Coulter's rancor against the people who consider themselves liberals. What occurred in her childhood to propel such loathing?

But even more distressing is the market value of her venom, because as I attempt to analyze her sordid ramblings, she trips gaily to the bank. While she obviously shuns Webster's definition of the term, I am buoyed by the description of liberalism as a political philosophy based on belief in progress; the essential goodness of the human race and the autonomy of the individual; and standing for the protection of political and civil liberties.

What does it mean to be a liberal? If being a liberal means a willingness to pay a few dollars more in taxes to help the mentally disabled, those without job skills and medically uninsured, then I am proud to be a liberal.

If being a liberal means building one less bomber so that there are funds to pay for child care and housing assistance for the working poor, then I am proud to be a liberal.

If being a liberal means protecting the environment for our children and children's children, then I am proud to be a liberal.

If the immortal words of Emma Lazarus on the Statue of Liberty have any meaning in today's world, then I am proud to be a liberal.

Webster's definition further states that a liberal is marked by generosity and open-mindedness. While I disagree with conservatives, I do not hate them. If I did, I would not be a liberal.

Arlyne Goodwin , Naples

Letter: The real thing

Editor, Daily News:

Re: June 8 letter by E.J. Lo Presti headlined "Odd coupling."

Authentic abstinence education teaches youth how to avoid risky behavior and/or unsafe relationships so they do not become victims of rape or are ever inclined to become a rapist. It teaches youth the dangers of risky behavior caused by Internet porn, etc., to have self-control (a character trait) and to stay away from situations where they can be victims of rape.

There are events that take place before the crime that lead up to the crime. These events are usually caused by behaviors.

Lo Presti evidently is unaware of the true approach and benefits of authentic abstinence education which encompasses real "prevention" and outreach to start over again.

Nobody likes rapists going through the revolving-door justice system. Authentic abstinence education helps us have fewer rapists in the future because it teaches youth that sex is for two mature adults who want to spend the rest of their lives with each other, and that sex is not to be used only for their personal pleasure at someone else's expense.

Kathleen Sullivan , Naples , Founder, Project Reality

Letter: And the winner is...

Editor, Daily News:

Atheists are attacking my Christian stand in a May 1 letter to the editor.

I may quote some scripture or give my viewpoint on Christian living, but these atheists call me crazy and insane, so I want to stress my viewpoint in another manner.

The latest letter writer made a statement that sounds like he is the one who might be crazy, as he said, and I quote: "If God would only hold a press conference or appear on TV, maybe I could be 'sold.'"

The following pattern should be used to give clarity to any so-called atheist:

I will say to you, I will live my Christian life until I die, and if your I-want-no-God attitude is the right one, then I still haven't lost the debate. My good Christian life has brought nothing but blessings to me — just like the Lord says in the Sermon on the Mount: "Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake."

But when we arrive at the end of our lives, if you are wrong and I am right, then you are a "lost person," and the result of your life is darkness, turmoil and no forgiveness from almighty God and His Son Jesus Christ. You cannot depend on yourself and the wits you have to live a life as you state in your letter of May 1.

For me, it's a win-win situation.

Daniel H. Lee , Naples

Letter: Why, why, why? — but no whining

Editor, Daily News:

Things I wonder about:

Why are there still people who don't seem to understand that the radical Muslims won't stop until they have destroyed this country and our way of life? We must continue our course of action. They don't understand the word "negotiate."

Why do we always seem to wait until things get way out of hand before we move — be it on immigration, roads, conservation, the environment, etc.?

Why some tend to blame our soldiers for killing civilians when we know that the insurgents use them as cover? It's the insurgents who are responsible for their deaths!

Why there is so much whining about gas prices but we do nothing to alleviate the situation? There are many things we can do but it's easier to whine.

Why does bottled water get such a bad rap? If tap water is so great, why does it kill goldfish (bottled water doesn't).

Just wondering?

Lee B. Miller , Naples

P.S. — Please, Daily News, try to put a more positive spin on the news!

Letter: The big picture

Editor, Daily News:

The death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and its consequences highlight a reality for me.

The war in Iraq is not a war against any one or more terrorists. It is not a war of one army, one country or one government against another. It is a war between cultures, mores, values, religions, ethics, philosophies, political beliefs, senses of fairness and attitudes of life.

It is fundamentally a war between societies who differently interpret life, its expectations and responsibilities. Our heritage has been molded by Western civilization over millennia.

The posterity of the society we are confronting in Iraq also has been molded over millennia, but in a different cast.

Our government's warning that this conflict may go on for years is the grossest understatement of expectations we have ever experienced!

Joe Cubells, Naples