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Letters To The Editor

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 9, 2008

'Borderline Treason'

Regarding "A Capitol Crime" (Other Views, Dec. 4):

The column by Matthew Spalding of the Heritage Foundation about the Capitol Visitor Center is both enlightening and discouraging.

What a shame our Congress has ignored a clear and strong lesson that America was founded upon Christian values. Their failure to include our true national motto, "In God We Trust," is callous. And the omission of the introductory words to the Northwest Ordinance - "Religion, morality, and knowledge being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind ..." - is blatant, unforgivable and should be intolerant to all American citizens.

It is more than troubling that our elected officials fail to honor the deeds and words of our founders/framers when they spend tens of millions of taxpayer dollars for a monument that contravenes our origin and omits the basis of our heritage. It is our children and grandchildren who will ultimately be affected by this error and who may never know the true heritage and traditions of America.

It's not just a shame; it's borderline treason.

DAVID HECKMAN

Valrico

Zoo Has Lost Focus

Regarding "Zoo Loses Agency's Approval" (front page, Dec. 6):

I was not surprised to read of Lowry Park Zoo's loss of accreditation after my visit to the zoo just last week. It is obvious that the zoo has lost its focus on animals.

The boardwalk through the wolf, bear and eagle habitats used to have quiet music with signs requesting that patrons respect the animals with quiet as they pass through. Well, no more! Now a giant flume ride has been built overhead through the area, with the click-clack of the ride so loud and annoying I wanted to get away as quickly as possible. I felt sorry for the animals having to live with this noise!

I also noticed that the cage of the young panther, Lucy, is so close to the walkway that children stomping up and down on the boardwalk distressed her so that she became very anxious.

Zoos have an obligation not only to their patrons but most importantly to the animals to which they are entrusted. I think the city of Tampa needs to go back to basics and quit trying to compete with Busch Gardens.

SHARON HALLAX

Brandon

Celebration, Not Protest

Regarding "Leave First Couple Alone" (Our Opinion, Dec. 4):

I am surprised by your dismissal of the planned demonstration outside Gov. Crist's wedding as "rude." I gather from this judgment that you imagine the tactics will be confrontational. This is not true.

Impact Florida will not "protest" the wedding. We are explicitly and enthusiastically pro-marriage. Our goal is to celebrate the governor's and every Floridian's right to marry - a right many Floridians have been denied in the most categorical way that our political process offers by Amendment 2. I find it troubling that the Tribune believes calling attention to such injustice in a peaceful manner is on par with wedding-crashing.

Perhaps the Tribune thinks Rosa Parks was rude for not sitting politely in the back of the bus or that Dr. King should have known better than to so rudely disrupt the status quo in Birmingham.

LORNA BRACEWELL

St. Petersburg

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