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Pasco Letters to Editor

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 19, 2007

Talk Is Cheap

The Zephyrhills Jaycees had a booth on Veterans Day with an assortment of Christmas cards for citizens to sign for the troops. The booth was on the main thoroughfare, with the cards displayed on the tables alongside numerous pens and chairs in the shade so people could be comfortable while signing the cards.

Jaycees members spoke with all the passers-by to let them know there was no cost involved. Members of the Jaycees donated the cards, pens and their time for the project.

By the end of the evening, there were only 602 signed cards. Many of those people signed several cards, so the number of signers was closer to 300.

To those who graciously gave their time to sign the cards, we say thank you. They include 5-year-old Anastasia, who laboriously and carefully signed her card. One little boy wrote: "Good luck to the troops. I want to be you."

We timed how long it takes to sign "Merry Christmas," followed by a name, and it is five seconds. What a sad commentary on our society! Even more disturbing was the half-dozen men who stated, "Nobody ever did anything for me, so I'm not doing anything for anybody else!"

As an Air Force veteran and mother of an Iraqi Freedom Marine, as well as the daughter of a World War II veteran, I find their statements absolutely insulting. I'm sorry they were not treated well, but misdeeds in the past do not condone spite in the present. The American public is quick to brag about supporting the troops, but talk is cheap.

I challenge everyone who reads this letter to invest more than an empty comment by actually contacting one of the many organizations that really do make the effort to support the young men and women who stand ready to guarantee our freedoms. Bob Williams of Wesley Chapel sends more than 250 care packages every week ( www.OurTroopsOnline.com).

America Supports You is a national forum for anyone to use to send messages to the troops and find other ways to show they care ( www.AmericaSupportsYou.mil). And all the local veterans organizations can provide information to those people who really mean it when they say they want to support the troops.

Stand up, America, and prove you mean it when you say, "Support Our Troops!"

VICKI BUCHANAN

Zephyrhills

Long-Term Commitment

Recently, Pasco County Administrator John Gallagher sent a contract to the cities of Pasco County asking that they extend an interlocal solid waste disposal agreement for 25 years. My reaction is: What is the hurry?

There are numerous questions I hope county and city commissioners of Pasco ask before committing to such a long-term proposition. Not the least of which are: How much debt are we agreeing to pay and has the debt from the old agreement been paid? What are the other options for solid waste disposal besides the county incinerator?

We have no say in expenditures, debt service methods, disposal methods or costs. Should we be hamstrung by such a long-term contract?

Presently, the county is charged $39 per ton by Waste Services, while the disposal fee at the county facility is $56.70 per ton. Is someone is getting the short end of the stick?

Gov. Charlie Crist and the Legislature are asking hard questions to reduce local taxes. We also must ask tough questions before entering into long-term agreements that I understand may come before some city commissions as soon as Tuesday.

DANNY HERRERO

Land O' Lakes

Casualties of War

She stands in the aisle of the grocery store and adds the items in her head. Sometimes she puts a few things back. Sometimes she dares to buy them all. She longs to have the gray in her hair covered, but milk has gone up and then there are the medicine co-pays. And no one notices anyway.

Her parents are ill now. She has moved them in with her. Her husband is a good man and strong father, but the Agent Orange got him, and she bathes him after she feeds her parents. Then she sits by his bedside and turns on the television. He never seems to notice. But she finds him a good sports station anyway.

While the clothes are washing and the dishes stand in the drainer, she grabs a bowl of cereal. Then she sits and picks up the phone and calls the Veterans Administration hospital. Her son is doing much better now. She tells him how much she loves him and how proud she is. She reminds him that he learned how to walk once, and he can learn to walk again on the "new legs."

Maybe she can find someone to come to her home for a day or two and look after her parents and husband, then she could visit.

There are many casualties of war. They remain invisible only if we let them.

PENO HARDESTY

New Port Richey

Letters Bad Reflection

After reading Tom Jackson's column Nov. 15 ("Tongue-Piercing Touches Nerve With Readers"), I do agree that there are probably more important issues to deal with at Stewart Middle School than the tongue-piercing issue.

Those letters written by eighth-graders are a disgrace to the teaching issue. Are spelling and grammar no longer taught?

Christian issues aside, the priorities that should be kept straight are the ones that teach our children. If these letters are an example of what our children are being taught, then there is more of a problem at Stewart Middle than body piercing.

ROXANNE COHEN

Zephyrhills

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