Letters to the Editor

Thursday, July 5, 2001

Daily News

Letter Of The Day: Aim high — and higher

Editor, Naples Daily News:

I read your article on your Web site concerning the lowering of the statewide grading system in the Collier and Lee county high schools.

We should be ashamed to lower our standards for those students who cannot make the grade. If you lower the bar you will also lower the effort that is put out by each student.

This grading system will only produce more students who do not know how to read and write.

Let's not lower the bar for our students and send more failing students into the workforce.

Support Proposition 36

Editor, Naples Daily News:

Proposition 36 is a proposal that would give first- and second-time drug offenders, without violent crimes, the choice to attend a treatment facility or go to jail. This proposition in my opinion would work better than the system we have now.

Politicians state that "this proposition is to confuse and falsely lead people about drug reform." They say "it's just another way to legalize drugs" (Naples Daily News, June 18). How on Earth does this proposal "legalize" drugs? It's meant to help our chemically dependent citizens to get the help they need, be free from dependency and give them another chance at a clean life.

Think about it: One with a dependency problem getting help rather than being thrown in jail and not getting help.

Is throwing one in jail and ignoring the problem really a solution to our drug problems in Florida? I think not. When most offenders get out of jail they usually go right back to using because they didn't get the help they needed. This really isn't a fair thing to do to our citizens, turn loose persons with a dependency problem back into our communities. It's not really safe! It's actually a really scary thought, especially if you have children.

I believe we should adopt this Proposition 36 in continuing efforts in our fight against drugs and users. This would be a positive step into reforming one of many policies that are from the past. Times are changing and we are a bigger and better world than in the old days, so let's get those people the help needed and set positive roles for the future.

Motor voter debacle

Editor, Naples Daily News:

I read with interest the June 26 article on the "motor voter law" being blamed for registration problems. To my surprise, there was no mention of whose brainstorm this law was. Let's give credit where it is due! We can thank the Clinton administration for having thought this one through! So, the newspaper left that information out, but for sure this would make it on the CNN Headline News.

Well, I went "around the world in fifteen minutes" four times, watched four times the same story of deranged parents mutilating their kids, but the motor voter law story never made it. Pennsylvania must have been the only state where registered voters outnumbered voting-age adults. It just was not deemed to be of national interest.

Prayer for an angry motorist

Editor, Naples Daily News:

To the gentleman — or man, I should say — turning left into the Brooks on Thursday afternoon at 5 p.m.: I hope you arrived safely at your destination, as it certainly appeared you were anxious. Apparently you could not see past my van as I was turning left onto Coconut Road, both of us waiting for traffic to ease.

I am unclear though as to why you had to speed up, stop, roll down your window and scream "why the ****** can't you move up? I cannot **** see, and almost **** hit someone," shaking your fist all they way.

As you sped past the traffic, the questions began. My 6-year-old twin boys asked, "Mama, why is that man yelling? Why is he so mad? Why is he so unhappy? What was the word he said. What does it mean?"

All really good questions, all deserving answers that I did not have. My children and I included you in our prayers tonight. That is the answer I did have.

Setting the record straight

Editor, Naples Daily News:

On the front page (NDN, June 28), you claim that the current speed limit on U.S. 41 East is 70 miles per hour. This is wrong.

The speed limit is 60 mph from State Road 951 to the Dade County limit, 55 mph in Dade. You correctly mentioned the exception in some Indian reservations — 45 mph. There are some other sections with 60 (day) and 45 (night) limit, but no 70 mph.

In the same issue (Page D1), you say that Livingston Road will be the third road to connect Naples and Lee County, with Interstate 75 and U.S. 41 being the other two. You forgot Vanderbilt Drive, which connects the Naples area to Bonita Springs.

Some weeks ago you often mentioned American Eagle as a subsidiary of American Airlines. By repeating this several times you didn't make this less wrong. Both American Airlines and American Eagle are subsidiaries of AMR Inc.

Believe this

Editor, Naples Daily News:

Why is there so much debate about whether evolution or creationism is correct? Does it really matter? Nothing can be proven definitively. Scientists are learning new things all the time, and as time passes, today's truths become tomorrow's heresy. I'm all for learning new things, but we must be careful not to become dogmatic.

The older I get, the less I know and am now at the point of not believing in anything for sure. I find it hard to understand how life could spontaneously appear from lifeless matter, such as what evolutionists generally believe. I also find it hard to understand how a supreme being could create life and inanimate matter in this vast universe from nothing. I think the human mind is too infinitesimal to comprehend the beginning of all things.

It's hard enough trying to understand nature and the world's problems. I believe in living for the present, and trying to make this a better world to live in. The past is dead and the future will take care of itself if we live a responsible life by becoming Earth's caretakers.

The most important thing we can learn is how to live in harmony with nature and how to save the planet. People argue over things like the soul, abortion, creationism, evolution, etc. while the Earth is being destroyed by both religious and non-religious people.

Being a true agnostic, I find it hard to believe in any dogma.

Map or a mirror?

Editor, Naples Daily News:

As I was separating the sections of Sunday's paper, I glanced at the large photo above the fold of the Perspective section and thought, "Another photo of Miami Beach."

I was shocked when I later read the caption and discovered it was Naples.

I don't think we have to worry about becoming another Miami Beach. It looks as if we are already there.

Words of wisdom

Editor, Naples Daily News:

In the name of all that is good in our world, I ask all who read my response to the news (NDN, June 29) of Maggie Loyd "losing her home of some 33 years" to please respond with kindness, support and love for one woman, who is in a troubled time at 79 years of life.

There are predators who take advantage of those who are not quite aware of what is being done to them. Now that her home has been sold at foreclosure, we must ask ourselves: What can we do to help?

The one thought that comes to my mind is to please support attorney Marc Shapiro, in his heart of hearts, to find a way to keep Ms. Loyd in her home. This is a time for a mitzvah, a good deed. There are so many dear people who face challenges in their everyday life. I feel that on my best day I could not meet the dedication, which I have witnessed of many who work so hard, to ensure a quality of life, to which all who are so dedicated are fully entitled.

The scholar Hillel reminds us all, each and everyone who reads my message:

"If I am not for myself, then who is for me,

"Yet, if I am for myself alone, then who am I for?"

A fine playhouse

Editor, Naples Daily News:

This morning as I settled down with my cup of tea and opened the NDN, I could not believe my eyes. I had to pinch myself to make sure I was on planet Earth!

Golden Gate family faces fines for playhouse!

First, I have to compliment the NDN on the lovely picture of the Mastro family and the terrific looking playhouse.

Secondly, I respectfully urge all the Golden Gaters to get up their dander and support this lovely family, their neighbors!

This nit-picking over a few inches of land located in the Mastro back yard is ludicrous and utterly preposterous.

The land development code officials should concentrate on what they should be concentrating on — where they allow and approve those high-rises to pop up!

To the Collier County officials who seem to have their heads buried in the sand, I suggest this whole matter be dumped in the nearest sewer and all fines returned to the Mastro family. Even Hitler had more compassion for the family structure.

To the neighbor who filed a complaint, I suggest you get a life! Learn to "accentuate the positive ... eliminate the negative."

Measure of prevention

Editor, Naples Daily News:

I would like to respond to the June 20 letter by Jenny Vila.

She was irritated by the reward offered for information about the individual who mutilated a pig. She felt it was a poor priority to be concerned about a "soulless" animal. But, God gave the animals senses and abilities beyond humans.

"Soulless" dogs have been used to sniff out dope, work as crimefighting partners or search through rubble to find someone alive in the Oklahoma City bombing. They will warn of fire or an intruder.

Devoted animals make life easier for blind or paraplegic owners. They have saved children from drowning and toddlers from getting into life threatening situations. No one knows how select dogs have been able to sniff out cancer spots or warn their owner or an impending heart attack.

Ms. Vila will probably not be impressed, because animals don't have a soul, but the mutilation of an animal has an ominous undertone to consider.

It is a short step from torturing animals to doing the same thing to a human. The fact that humans have souls would have no impact on these sick people. Future wife and child abusers, even serial killers receive their early training from animal abuse.

When the Humane Society offered a reward to bring these lowlifes to justice, it was taking a step toward prevention of future crimes against the souled society.

Lift tax break to cover health care

Editor, Naples Daily News:

Your June 24 report on the agricultural tax exemption in Lee County was very interesting and can be directly applied to the Collier County indigent health-care funding issue.

The Lee County property appraiser says "abuse and illogical application of the agricultural exemption is costing local government in Lee County around $6 million in uncollected taxes this year." He is "after the speculators and developers taking advantage of the situation" and is out to close the agriculture exemption loopholes.

That's a great idea for Collier County too. But we should go one step further: Totally eliminate exemptions that dramatically reduce the amount of taxes that agricultural businesses pay.

Everyone realizes that local big agricultural businesses do not provide health-care benefits for their farm workers. They create a large part of the problem that the new indigent health-care program seeks to solve by placing the burden for these costs on all taxpayers rather than on the very profitable agribusiness where it belongs.

In Collier County, the agriculture market value of $970 million was reduced to $225 million through the agriculture exemption — which equates to $3.5 million in county taxes that were not collected. The school tax share would be even larger.

Collier County should immediately eliminate questionable exemptions, then work to change the law so that agricultural property pays taxes on the full assessed value. If they insist on pushing their health-care costs onto the general taxpayer, we should insist that they don't get any additional free rides.

Follow the money

Editor, Naples Daily News:

People who think that the recent ruling by Leon County Judge Nikki Clark to refuse to halt distribution of "Choose Life" license plates is upsetting to pro-aborts because it is a slogan of the pro-life effort, are missing the "forest for the trees." As is the case in all abortions, it is a case of "show me the money."

Abortion to Planned Parenthood is a sacred cow. More than 200,000 surgical abortions every year and counting, at prices from $500 to $7,000 and up. At the same time, many more lives are ended in chemical abortions. Add it up. It's big business.

What is really bothering them is the fact that the money raised by the sale of these plates goes to organizations that provide services to pregnant women who plan to offer their child for adoption. For each child that goes to a loving couple unable to conceive a child of their own, this cash bonanza is gone. What gall! They continue to receive Title X funding, close to $70 million of our tax dollars, to end the lives of our children, while complaining when we raise the funds to save these children while providing anxious parents with the child they so desperately want. Never has the difference in the face of pro-life and pro-abortion been so clear.

Choose life and buy Choose Life license plates. You will be glad you did both here and in the hereafter.

Walking the walk

Editor, Naples Daily News:

"Right On" Pastor Mallory of First Assembly!

It is pleasing to see and hear the love of God for all.

It's easy to "talk," but it is the "walk" that makes the difference. Intentions are only good if fulfilled by actions. The following are examples of love in action I saw at your church last Sunday:

Public prayers were offered in English, Spanish and Creole.

Church buses picked up those from all races without cars.

A live-in drug and alcohol rehab is being offered to all people.

Facilities being built to house and minister to the needy without discrimination.

Food being distributed to anyone who asked.

We had the privilege of teaching and living with the Zulu tribe in South Africa, a Jewish group on a kibbutz in the Negev desert of Israel and the Chinese in an ancient area of China. People are basically alike. The answer for living together here and in heaven is love!

Best to start exercising it now to all.

Paying for improvement

Editor, Naples Daily News:

In the past five years I've noticed many great things happening in Collier County. Police protection, fire protection, parks and road networks have all improved.

What I just mentioned is only a small part of what I see as great improvement. Now, in the last five years our property taxes have not really been raised, have they?

If you wish to continue such great progress it of course will come at a cost. In the past five years wages have increased and the cost of everything else has increased. Why would a rational person think taxation for increasing services would not? I ask those whom "we the people" elected to continue to provide us these needed services.

I also promise I will pay my fair share (not a penny more) to do as is needed. This includes school nurses and creating a health-care pool that low-income persons can "buy" into.

Taking the challenge

Editor, Naples Daily News:

I am one of those "ill-equipped" Florida Gulf Coast education majors who Leslie McKenzie was referring to in her June 17 letter and she's in luck. I'm up for a challenge.

I agree with the statement that some of what we're taught is based purely on theory and philosophy and seems to lack practicality. I also realize that the best teacher preparation will not come from books, but rather from hands-on experience.

However, the professors at FGCU are doing much more than hiding behind educational theories and jargon. They recognize the importance of offering us a rich educational experience. We're continually engaged in hands-on, constructive learning involving actual classrooms, students and families. Furthermore, the professors model the most current methods of teaching, hoping to instill in us a better way.

Now to you, Ms. McKenzie, I pose a challenge: Come to class with me so that you will see the way FGCU is preparing its teachers. I think you will be pleasantly surprised. You may contact Professor Hyun to arrange your visit.

In conclusion, the statements you made regarding teacher preparation imply that the teacher preparation program at FGCU is the same as it is at other universities. That broad generalization is not only false, but unfounded. The most valuable lesson I've learned at FGCU thus far is the importance of not making generalizations regarding individuals or groups of individuals, and this is clearly what you have done. Perhaps you missed that lesson at your highly touted USF.

Fuzzy editorial

Editor, Naples Daily News:

I would like to comment on the editorial that appeared in Wednesday, June 27, edition.

Mr. Abt's probation officer's comment and the subsequent editorial about that comment leave me very puzzled.

I believe this officer's quote was, "If this was a person, we would not even be here."

Your editorial went on to question the validity of our justice system that, judging by this case, would place more emphasis and mete out stronger punishment for an animal cruelty case than it would if the victim were human.

Let's think about this for a moment. If Mr. Abt had picked up a human baby and thrown it against a window inflicting critical and lasting injuries, would he have received a suspended one-year jail sentence and two years probation? I think not.

But Mr. Abt's probation officer happens to be right after all. If that were indeed the case, they would not "be here now" because Mr. Abt would rightly be serving years of jail time and no one would be considering reducing his sentence.

Since it is well-documented that crimes against animals lead to crimes against humans, we may, with Mr. Abt, one day have the opportunity to compare the values our system places on animal crimes with those against humans. I already know the outcome.

Newspaper needs to get busy

Editor, Naples Daily News:

For many years, I have been concerned about public education and, as a result, I have accumulated much factual information from such sources as the national press, magazine articles, government publications, the NDN and the Collier School Board.

Of one fact I am certain and that is that there has been a tremendous increase in the Collier school budget over the past few years due to the "skyrocketing" property values without any change in millage. I feel that this newfound wealth is probably responsible for the Taj Mahal.

Now comes a disturbing fact. Bob Wilson, retired associate superintendent of operations of the Collier County school system, states that approximately 80 of the so-called administrators are actually principals and assistant principals, who will not be located in the new building but rather in the schools.

According to information published in the NDN, that would leave less than 50 "administrators" to occupy the Taj Mahal. Less than 10 per floor. Will they fill it up with secretaries?

C'mon, NDN, let's have the facts. How many and what are the jobs of the "administrators" going into the new building.

'Illiteracy' was wrong term

Editor, Naples Daily News:

After reading the letter (NDN, June 29) from Ms. Burr concerning Kmart including Spanish subtitles under their banners, I am confused about her comment on the term illiterate.

In the dictionary, the term refers to being unable to read or write. If the Spanish can read in Spanish, they are therefore not illiterate.

On a vacation to Italy a few years ago, we were impressed by the fact the tour guides on the bus trips we took spoke in English, Italian, French and Japanese to accommodate all of the tourists aboard. If these guides went to Germany and didn't speak German, would that make them illiterate?

Watching recent news programs I have noticed the people in Yugoslavia and Kosovo speak English as well as their own language. Isn't it time we realized the world has become a smaller place and other countries are way ahead of us in being bilingual?

Our children would be better prepared for the future if they were to learn another language in their early years. It serves no purpose to be so smug as to think English should be our only language. As for the Spanish-speaking population, they most generally are learning our language, but it is more difficult when you are older. It takes time. Our language is a difficult one to learn due to pronunciation and spelling differences not found in other Latin-based languages.

Cap makes sense

Editor, Naples Daily News:

I find the people on Marco very interesting, in fact, unique. I've never seen a place where a bunch of people spend a bunch of money to buy a bunch of "vote yes" signs to get a bunch of people to vote yes so that another bunch of people can spend a bunch of my money.

However amusing it sounds, that's exactly what a yes vote is all about. I've talked with a couple of people who have these signs on their front lawns about the current referendum and what it's all about. They have no idea. Then why the sign? Well, a neighbor came by and told me the cap was bad so I figured if it was bad, let's get rid of it. So much for our famous educational program.

How anyone can support a program they don't understand is scary to someone like me who has spent the last 15 years studying our county and city budgets and have seen firsthand how politicians throw money around. Without a cap, that's exactly what you'll have to do. Unless you're one of those who doesn't care what it costs, you just want it!

Without a cap, the sky will be the limit on Marco. A "no" vote will demand that current and future councils and the city staff become fiscally conservative. So, for the third time, vote "no" to keep spending under control.

Also in today's Perspective section:
Bonnie Erbe: Blooper time
Corrections
Dan K. Thomasson: State-sponsored terrorism in Texas
Editorial: Norman Herren
Editorial: Tourism Development Council
Guest commentary: It takes Iraqis to rebuild Iraq
Guest editorial: Crime still going down
Guest editorial: Europe's summer of insults
Guest editorial: Family's bizarre experiences indicate ghost in action
Guest editorial: The wrong way on Guantanamo
Letters to the editor
Molly Ivins: Learn the political ropes before jumping in head first
Thomas Sowell: Old rhetoric in new times

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