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Letters To The Editor

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 31, 2007

Not Really Surprised

Regarding "Official: Few At FSU Cheated" (Metro, Dec. 20):

I don't see why anyone is surprised about the Florida State University cheating scandal, and it's not just an FSU or college problem. Evidently players are taught that if you can cheat without getting caught it's OK. If a lineman holds and gets away with it, it's a good play. Receivers one-hop a pass and jump up waving the ball at the ref and if it's called a reception it's a good play. If they are taught that it is OK to cheat on the field, why not cheat in class?

BILL WILSON

Tampa

Why Music History?

Come on guys, the real question you should be asking is, why in the world does FSU even offer a course in music history? Apparently a student does not need to play an instrument, read music, or attend class. All he has to do is play football. Shame on the school. I don't see how this course could be of any possible value.

BURNES THOMAS

Odessa

Health Care For All

As someone who works in the health care industry as a certified pharmacy technician, I believe our entire nation would benefit from a national health care system. I would gladly give my tax money towards something useful like that.

The problem with our health care system is that it supports only the rich and healthy. I see people every day in my profession where they have to make a choice between purchasing their medication or putting food on the table, because they can't afford both. That is a horrible, horrible decision to have to make and it shouldn't be one that any of us has to shoulder.

The people in this nation are too "me, me, me" to be able to see that there are people out there who need help but can't afford it. We should be taking care of our citizens, and the presidential candidates should address some of the real issues plaguing our nation, and not just the frivolous items that the debate heads pose to them.

JESSICA MALTZ

Seminole

Base Benefits Unearned

Regarding "Open It To All Veterans" (Letters, Dec. 26):

When Anne Perkins' grandson puts his 20 years in the military, he can get benefits. This is no different from firemen or policemen. If they do not serve until retirement, they do not get benefits either.

Many people are veterans, me included. Being a veteran does not entitle one to the type of benefits Ms. Perkins mentioned. My husband, on the other hand, gave 21 hard years to the military, including service in Vietnam. He earned his retirement benefits.

Today's military members are volunteers. They have a choice of whether they serve or not. Be thankful we do not have a draft, wherein the government can draft someone whether he wants to go or not, and in the case of wartime serve for the duration of the conflict. Those poor sods in World War II were drafted and had to stay to the end of the war. Unless they stayed on for 20 years they did not get base commissary benefits. Those who are wounded in the line of duty are serviced by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Those veterans rightfully get a percentage of disability payments and benefits.

BETTY TISDALE

Tampa

Must Be Retired

Regarding the letter writer complaining that her husband and other veterans could not use the services afforded military active duty and retirees:

That would be nice for my son and veterans of the first Gulf War. Because some medical records were lost, my son (who served eight years) cannot prove the severe head injury that has resulted in 14 surgeries to date. He can prove other injuries that add up to 60 percent disabilities. The VA will only "make a note" of his head problems.

Veterans like him would benefit greatly from base privileges. There are GI's from Vietnam, the Gulf War and present who have lost legs, arms, and more. Are they receiving any more than my son? No.

Everyone entering the service signs a contract, clearly stating that they have to "retire" to earn the privileges. If the laws could be changed, they should only affect those who have suffered injuries in the service to their country.

JOAN CURTIS

Tampa

Bad Comparison

Regarding "Torture Is Un-American" (Letters, Dec. 21):

I am proud of Bill Simmons for his service to our country. All Americans have an opinion regarding any alleged "torture" and valid arguments can be made for any position one may have, but to compare the acts the Japanese perpetrated against American and other Allied servicemen and civilians during World War II to what may be happening today in the current war demonstrates an appalling lack of knowledge of the historical record.

JEFF YORK

Tampa

'Green' Nothing New

Being a child of the Great Depression molded me more than I realized until the advent of the "green" movement - when people began advocating practices that had always been part of my life. I heard "waste not, want not"; "a penny saved is a penny earned"; "a stitch in time saves nine"; and other admonitions as I grew up among family members who knew what hard times really were.

For example, if you've never had to daily carry every drop of water you need a distance of about 500 feet, regardless of weather, then you probably don't think about a simple thing such as turning off the tap as you brush your teeth. And people in the Third World don't even have that privilege.

It's amazing how many things we take for granted and how much waste we create. As someone once said, "We don't own the Earth; we borrow it from our children."

NAOMI HERNDEN

Zephyrhills

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