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The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 5, 2007

Journalistic Priorities

Where are the media's priorities? The most important article I have read all year is buried on page 13 of the Dec. 1 Tribune. A report released Nov. 30 finds "FDA Overwhelmed, Chaos Puts Public At Risk." This is front-page news!

The article stated: "FDA's ability to provide its basic food system inspection, enforcement and rule-making functions is severely eroded, as is its ability to respond to outbreaks in a timely manner." A pharmacologist said the report was raising an alarm because "this is a crisis."

This one article should be more important than football scores, the death of a daredevil or any of the other idiotic trash you have been putting on the front page lately. Where is your journalistic integrity? Are you really trying to win the National Enquirer of Crap Award?

CARMEN BLAKELY

Lutz

Foreign Drugs Are Fine

Regarding "Copycat Drugs Present Long Term Threat to U.S." (Other Views, Nov. 29):

Peter J. Pitts is not only president of the Center for Medicine in the Public Interest, but also publisher of the "Pharmaceutical Executive" paper and associate FDA commissioner for external relations.

Being associated with the pharmaceutical industry, why wouldn't he want to scare the pants off of the low income, most elderly people who are trying to obtain needed drugs at a price they can afford? I could name several drugs that in the United States cost from $80 to $130 a month and more and which can be bought for a fraction of that elsewhere. I know a number of people who buy drugs outside the United States and no one has died or even got sick.

Evidently Pitts has never been in a low-income situation.

DICK WINANS

Tampa

Cases Are Different

Regarding "Lafave, Porter Not In The Clear Yet" (front page, Dec. 1

It seems that The Tampa Tribune continues to indulge a rather morbid fascination with exploiting the "Scarlet Letter" status of these two former teachers. Never have I seen two court cases the object of such egregious sensationalism.

However, what particularly offends me is the comparison of the Jennifer Porter case with that of Debra Lafave. The use of the phrase "crimes against children" is a particularly pernicious bit of manipulation of the reader.

Lafave was perhaps a sexual predator, but Porter was merely involved in an accident that went tragically awry - what happened to her could have happened to any of us. I was present at her hearing and it seemed to me that a compelling case was made that Porter fled the accident because she fell victim to an acute stress-induced form of post-traumatic shock. Indeed it is not clear to me that a "crime" was actually committed in her case.

Putting these two side by side like this is journalism at its most nasty.

JOHN FEENEY

Tampa

Tebow Is Most Mature

Regarding "Not Very Humble" (Letters, Dec. 2):

I do believe David Heckman must have been living on another planet. The "signs of immaturity" of which he speaks came after hundreds of e-mail and text messages from LSU fans threatening Tim Tebow's life prior to the game, and threats from FSU players to "take him out." He answered their behavior with performance on the field with a challenge to bring it on. Who showed maturity?

As the son of a missionary, Tebow very clearly understands that whatever abilities he has comes from the Creator that gave it to him. That is humble enough for me.

RENE TAMARGO

Tampa

Ethanol No Panacea

When I got gas the other day, there was a note on the pump that said the fuel contained up to 10 percent ethanol. The question is, why?

First, ethanol does not use less energy; in fact, it uses more than the same amount of gasoline when you take production and delivery into account. Unlike gasoline, ethanol can't go through pipelines.

Second, ethanol is less efficient and costs more than the gasoline it replaces.

Third, because of supply and demand, foodstuffs that use corn - just about all foods - cost more.

Finally, it has no effect on global warming. It does produce slightly less greenhouse gas, but that doesn't make any difference.

Why are some people enthusiastic about ethanol? I really don't see any positives and a whole lot of negatives - unless you're a corn farmer.

ERNEST LANE

Trinity

What's In A Toy Name?

Regarding "Teacher Jailed Over Toy Name" (Nation World, Nov. 30):

If my son had wanted to name his teddy bear Jesus Christ, I would have discussed his reasons - to make sure that he didn't get his idea from a neighbor whose lawn mower wouldn't start - and Jesus Christ would have become teddy's name. I would not have worried about jail time or being beaten to death. If there is a moral here ,I leave it to your readers to find it.

THOMAS WILSON

Tampa

Atheists Not To Blame

Regarding "Papal Document Criticizes Atheism For Major Injustices" (Nation/World, Dec. 1):

Because it is called an "encyclical" and is signed in pomp and circumstances by a religious monarch robed in elegant white attire, atheists are blamed for causing the "greatest forms of cruelty and violations of justice" ever known.

I know of no atheist groups currently organizing or supporting wars, jihads, bombings or genocidal rampages. I know of no group of non-believers who ever tortured and killed in inquisitions, persecuted and killed scientists or condemned a teacher to death for letting children name a teddy bear.

Atheism is more about responsibility than about hope. I have a lot more "hope" when I know that truthful, courageous people are working on problems together than I do in "kingdoms" promised in the future.

RON MELANCON

Tampa

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