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The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 25, 2008

Need A Miracle

Dear Santa:

My name isn't Virginia, but I would like to believe in you one more time in my life. I'm 61 years old and just lost my job at USF. I have four years to retirement. I have been working in research for 22 years, but I guess they thought a younger mind and body could do a better job.

All I'm asking Santa is for a miracle just one more time. I need a job. My boss told me I was an excellent organizer and getting-things-done person. I don't want to lose my house or not be able to pay my bills. At 55 my husband lost his job, and he has a master's degree. It took him five years to find another one, and it pays a fourth of what he was making and not even in his field.

After being married for 42 years I became the main breadwinner for us. I was bringing home $45,000. My last day is Feb. 26. So Santa, is there one more miracle left in your bag? If a child or animal doesn't need it would you please consider me?

BONNIE BELTON

Tampa

No-Hard-Feelings Holiday

I would like to propose during this Christmas season, despite these trying economic times, that we not forget those poor billionaire CEOs who have contributed to running our great nation into the ground.

I am heartbroken to see some of these industrial giants laid low by all the talk of recessions, depressions and the need for "bailouts." How could anyone keep a dry eye while watching these fabulously wealthy people have to contemplate selling off a mansion or a vintage collection of rare automobiles? I couldn't, and I, for one, plan to do something about it. I am asking all Americans to join me.

I am proposing the formation of a corporation to distribute "care packages" to America's executive elite. I'm talking about good, old-fashioned gifts, the kind many middle-class Americans might remember from their days in summer camp. Who didn't love getting brownies, candy, cards, a toy and maybe even a few bucks from their parents?

Think for a minute of the CEO out there who cannot even afford to sacrifice a few million dollars of their hundred-million dollar pay (maybe even several hundred millions, with their bonuses) for running corporations into the ground and destroying the hopes and retirement funds of fellow workers! Think of the desperate CEO who needs to grovel or who must lay off a few thousand employees to maintain their multimillion-dollar salary!

I must say that I was proud to see some of them stand up for themselves in these past weeks. For example, the leader of a major American banking giant (aka Citigroup) righteously declared that mass firings were "corporate shock therapy." It took a lot of nerve to do this while never suggesting for a minute that he might take a salary reduction or forego a bonus. Tears welled up in my eyes when I saw this entrepreneurial genius hard at work trying to rectify the situation for himself by throwing his employees under the bus.

Let's all dig deep into our hearts and wallets. Look around your home - while you still have it. Give generously and send a care package to every fabulously wealthy CEO you can think of. You may want to begin with the ones hurting the most this year due to getting caught in their own mismanagement and greedy schemes.

Whip up a batch of bailout brownies, depression doughnuts or financial crisis fried chicken and send it off with a card with plenty of hugs and kisses. Write to your congressional representative and insist they join in by voting for ever-increasing amounts of bailout money if you are unable to send anything.

I know I will spend my Christmas thinking about what other goodies to put in the stockings of our nations' heroes: the rich, the entitled, the completely unsympathetic - the incompetent American CEO.

JOSEPH MARKOWITZ

Tampa

No FCAT A Holiday Wish

Dear Santa:

This Christmas I would like to ask that you please intervene with the powers that be in order to suspend Florida Comprehensive Assessment testing and redirect those funds to our classrooms.

You see, hundreds of millions of dollars are spent on FCAT testing because a state law was passed to monitor the results in education. Our legislators had every child's best interest in mind when this law was created. They did not expect a golden measuring stick to contribute largely to desperate shortages for classrooms, teacher salaries, books and technology. Unfortunately, this is exactly what happened.

Schools have not been held harmless in the recent budget cuts. In fact, each year, devoted teachers and administrators have to do more with less. As the state keeps raising the bar for education standards in the Sunshine State, the only thing that seems to be happening is that the bar is getting further out of reach, especially for the lowest quarter percentile of students. As a result, schools are penalized.

Additionally, as Florida moves away from Sunshine State standards and toward global standards of education, FCAT becomes moot. Colleges do not look at FCAT scores. They look at ACT or SAT scores. So, a well-rounded Florida honor student applying to college with a 4.0 GPA, carrying three AP courses and acing the ACT and SAT who receives one low FCAT score is required to take an intensive reading course instead of an academic elective in junior or senior year. This student may well be passed over for a student outside our state who took the academic elective!

FCAT is hurting our students. Florida schools need to put the money being spent on this program where the rubber meets the road - in our classrooms.

Santa, won't you please urge our honorable legislators, education commissioner, chairperson and members of our state school board and any other powers that be to redirect budget monies? Please convince them we do not need a golden measuring stick. A standard measuring stick will do!

Isn't Christmas all about our children?

ARLENE ANDREWS

Wesley Chapel

UCH'S Many Santas

The employees at University Community Hospital are known for their health care, but few know of their generosity. On Dec. 4th I delivered toys to the Child Abuse Council for the annual Holiday Store. The store provides needy parents and caregivers with a place to "shop" for their children for free. During these difficult times, no child should wake up without something that can be unwrapped and enjoyed.

When I entered the room, it was empty - no toys. The deadline for donations was Dec. 5! I could not believe it.

Every year over 700 children are provided toys by the Holiday Store, and this year over 1,000 children were referred. What could be done? The staff and volunteers at the Child Abuse Council were worried. More donations were expected, but there certainly would not be enough for all the children.

I called the hospital to see if boxes could be placed for donations or to spread the word about the need. I was told that the hospital staff had already sponsored holiday gifts for two schools and other organizations, but they would do what they could to help.

True to form, the staff at UCH exceeded expectations. In less then a week, toys were arriving. In addition, employees made cash donations or gave vacation pay. How generous - what spirit! Enough was donated to not only meet the need for the Holiday Store but also to provide toys for Metropolitan Ministries and other organizations.

Words cannot express my gratitude and the gratitude of the board, staff and families served by the Child Abuse Council.

DONNA ANDERSON

Tampa

Sincere Generosity

I wish to express my gratitude to the shoppers I have met recently at Walmart. I am new to retail and new to cashiering, and I have been profoundly moved by the outpouring of generosity I have been witness to. I had always heard Americans were generous. I have seen it up close now.

I would like to thank again all those who showed such compassion to the cause I was collecting for. Many of you gave even though you had very little money. Thank you.

I also would like to thank those whose efforts for other causes I became aware of due to the scope of their purchases.

I saw so many people buying fantastic amounts of food, clothing and toys for people they did not know. I had a difficult time keeping my composure.

I'm sorry if my thanks seemed insincere or perfunctory; it was not. I am deeply moved.

BRUCE SHAW

Clearwater

Christmas Defended

I just want to thank all the conservative Christians out there for fighting so hard against the lefties' militant war on Christmas. Your boycotts and threats made sure that no store clerks ever utter the words "happy holidays," the most offensive phrase in human history.

How dare those clerks acknowledge that they don't know my religion upon seeing me for the first time in their lives. But you haven't fought hard enough!

This year, I only had to drive 50 miles away from home to find so much as a dreidel. Obviously the fact that I could find one anywhere is a vicious attack on Christianity.

Thank you all for making sure that everyone in this country realizes that Christians are the only ones who matter and that Jews, Buddhists, Wiccans, atheists, Muslims, and people of all other non-Christian cultures are inferior in our society. Good work.

EMILY HARPER

Zephyrhills

JOIN DISCUSSION

The Tribune welcomes letters and e-mails from readers. The text should be original and no longer than 150 words. By making a submission, you agree the Tribune may edit the letter for length and clarity, and publish it in any medium.

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Also, read and participate in the Tribune editorial board's blog, "Thinking Out Loud," at www.tboblogs.com/index.php/thinkoutloud/categories....

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