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The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 18, 2007

Pros Inspire Compassion

This month at the 26th annual meeting of the Gold Shield Foundation, we had two great professional athletes speak to our audience of over 450 which included law enforcement officers and firefighters along with business leaders from the seven counties covered by George M. Steinbrenner college scholarships. According to our by-laws those are Hillsborough, Pinellas, Citrus, Pasco, Polk, Hernando and Marion counties.

Hall of Fame baseball player Robin Roberts, who pitched three playoff games in the early '50s in a five-day span (without steroids) amongst his many achievements, enlightened the attendees with stories from the past.

Joe Girardi, the newly named manager of the New York Yankees, did not talk about baseball until the question-and-answer period after his speech. Girardi passionately requested that each of us take the time to spend educating and caring for those less fortunate who may not have the family network most enjoy. He also asked that we show respect for our first responders who put their lives on the line each and every day so that we can be safe.

The Tampa Bay area is fortunate to have these true professionals sharing their passion to make this a better world.

JOE VOSKERICHIAN

Tampa

Demands Accountability

Regarding "Some Veterans Charities Give Little Money To Veterans" (Nation/World, Dec. 13):

Based on that I conclude that a majority of veterans charities are not worthy of public support. Instead it appears a few of the CEOs should hang from the yard arm. High salaries, high overhead and the cost of solicitation uses the money contributed. Veterans get very little in most cases. I'm really disappointed in some organizations we have supported for years.

Maybe worst of all is The Military Order Of The Purple Heart Foundation. As a wounded soldier who is a Life Member of the MOPH, I am most depressed by this news. Hereby I change my rule of gifts.

I have given regularly to several such organizations under the assumption that the charity is honest, trustworthy and that the money will be used for the people it's raised for. No more. All my gift programs are canceled as of now. I shall send a copy of this statement instead of a check starting now with my end of the year giving. If they want back on my list, I must receive facts and figures to prove they do what they have been telling me they do. If not, goodbye.

WILLIS JACKSON

Sun City Center

Open Door To Homeless

Regarding "Feeling Guilty Over Bed" (Letters, Dec. 12):

I am a practicing Catholic very involved in my church activities.

Your article regarding the homeless being forbidden to seek shelter at the church door struck a nerve in me, and the letter from Frances Bekafigo lit a fire in my heart.

Instead of allowing the homeless to seek shelter at the door, the church should have opened the doors wide and receive with joy these "children of God" who are in need.

If they litter the place, do the Christian thing and clean after them.

Did Jesus gave the poor and sick a Band-Aid or a broom to clean? Did Mother Teresa give a broom to the sick in Calcutta? Did Martin de Porres turn away sick people?

What part of Jesus' teachings do we want to keep and how many do we throw away?

The church leaders should again read Matthew 25 and find the answer. The Christian church is not a place to hold service on Sunday for the clean and well-dressed, but in following Jesus' teaching to love and serve your brothers in need.

ANTONIO SUAREZ

Tampa

Words To Remember

The definitive words of Frances Bekafigo's letter printed Dec. 12 concerning the homeless sleeping on Sacred Heart Church steps are, "I come to work before 4 a.m."

DONALD DUNNUCK

Valrico

A Good Holiday Message

Kudos to Publix Supermarkets, in particular to their advertising department or whoever came up the cheerful admonition printed on their grocery bags: "Inspire joy in the world around you." What more appropriate suggestion could be made to their customers?

What a pleasant community we would have if every one of us customers seriously gave heed to that admonition. It has made an impression on me.

Thanks, Publix.

WINNIFRED KNIGHT

Tampa

System Benefits Area

Regarding "MacDill Offers Holiday Bargains" (Business, Dec. 8):

The article does not mention key points regarding the exchange system. These are that the exchanges operate at no cost to the taxpayer and all profits of the exchanges go for morale, welfare and recreation projects.

Federal laws do not permit the use of appropriated funds for recreational expenditures. Base gyms, swimming pools, baseball diamonds, movie theaters, etc. are built and maintained by the profits of the "PX."

Another point to be made is that without the military families in residence, the great amount of money that they contribute to the local economy would be lacking. The article implies that they are taking from, but not contributing to, this local economy. The benefit of these facilities is enjoyed by very few military families today, simply because so many bases have been closed. Tampa is lucky in this regard.

The article also lumps the commissary into the same category as the exchange. The commissary is an entirely different concept, unrelated to the exchange system and is, in fact, partially supported by the taxpayer.

JEROME O'CONNELL

Sun City Center

The writer is executive director of the Gold Shield Foundation.

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