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The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 1, 2008

We're All Americans

I can appreciate David Fernandez' heartfelt letter concerning his perceived plight, yet perception is the key here.

While you and your partner want simply the same equitable treatment we all do just for being Americans, it is always the fringe of any group that makes things difficult, demanding their "rights" because they identify themselves as something more deserving than the next guy. This unfortunate reality has introduced the "hyphen" into our social lexicon, as in: (fill in the blank)-hyphen-American.

Indeed, the Constitution does not define marriage in any way, and until greedy lawyers found profit in divorce proceedings, marriage was strictly within the venue of ecumenical, not civil, law and not subject to the amendment process.

No one has any rights because they are gay, black, Hispanic, Muslim. We have rights because we are Americans and nothing more.

To the left (pun intended) of the hyphen will always be what divides us, to the right of the hyphen is the only thing that can unite us as the Founders intended: American!

If the Tribune would give this Southern transplant an entire quarter page to present his unreconstructed, strict construction constitutionalist, sovereign American views, I would not feel undervalued, and neither should Mr. Fernandez.

As long as your community is perceived by the antics of the "in your face" gay-pride fanatics and the plague of Aids, as long as mine is perceived by the actions of the Klan and neo-Nazi screwballs, so long will the social conscience of today regard us with suspicion and disdain.

You see? As Americans, we're really not that far apart after all. We brass it out, go on with our lives, and play the cards almighty God has dealt us. Or, as my late step-father would say, "Such is life; welcome to the party!"

JOHN REINER

Tampa

Mumbai Massacre

It is a complete joke that you chose to place your story of the Mumbai massacre on page nine of the Views section instead of on the front page. Yes, it was Thanksgiving, but that is not an excuse to bury a horror story like what happened in India.

NICHOLAS HIGLEY

Tampa

Delay Franchise Vote

The League of Women Voters of Hillsborough County is concerned that the Tampa Electric Co. franchise agreement scheduled for second reading/final approval Thursday at 1:30 p.m. will adversely affect the health and quality of life of the citizens of Tampa and the energy independence and sustainability of the city and surrounding regions.

The league is especially concerned that the Tampa and its future administrations will be bound by the terms of this agreement for 25 years with no provision for a city buy-out, full or partial, if needed or desired during the term of the agreement.

The agreement does not adequately address energy independence, energy conservation, renewable energy, new energy/transmission opportunities and evolving technologies, performance and compliance, or accountability.

The league strongly urges the city council to postpone approval of the TECO franchise agreement for six months to provide the opportunity for a task force composed of TECO, the city administration, city council and community representatives to work together to improve the proposed agreement and procedures manual and to develop a supporting addendum or codicil addressing energy conservation; alternative, renewable energy sources; and community concerns.

A delay to provide for a collaborative review and agreed upon modifications will result in a much improved agreement, one that will assure a better future for our citizens and businesses, the city and TECO.

LINDA G. D'AQUILA

Tampa

Too Many SUVs

Re: "Unions Hurt Businesses" (Letter Nov.27) In his letter Mr. Engelman states that because of the UAW the prices of American cars keep on rising. Every time the union contracts are negotiated the price of cars increase. The Japanese cars that are made in the U.S. are made by nonunion workers, but their prices are as high or higher than the American cars. I think Detroit's problem has more to do with producing too many SUVs and not enough nice medium-size cars like Toyota has done.

RAY MARTINEZ JR.

Lutz

The writer is president of League of Women Voters of Hillsborough County.

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