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The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 28, 2008

There Are Other Events

Regarding "Flugtag Launched Fun In Downtown" (Our Opinion, July 22):

Over 30 years ago a small group met and decided to plan an art festival. They were Don Clark, WDEA, Bob Dean and Dick Redman, Dean & Reciman Interiors and myself. A luncheon was scheduled, and we invited local merchants, bankers and professional individuals from the downtown area to explain the project in order to get their support. A date for the festival was set, a national juror was invited to judge and the first festival was a success.

Today, almost a thousand entries are received, but only 300 are accepted for the festival. More than 100,000 people attend the two-day event annually. The officers and directors of the Gasparilla Sidewalk Art Festival are proud of the support they receive from the sponsors, donors and volunteers. The support form the media has been excellent.

Since the Gasparilla Sidewalk Art Festival is an important event in downtown Tampa each year, please mention us when you compose an article in the future on downtown Tampa.

JAMES R. TURNER

Tampa

Thanks Good Samaritans
My husband and I attended the Flugtag while in Tampa visiting our grandchildren. It was a tremendously hot and humid day, and it took its toll on me and I became quite uncomfortable.

I was seated at a table at the Publix store, appearing very distressed. A couple of ladies with a small child were at the same table and noticed my distress. They asked if they could be of any assistance and the child offered me her juice drink. There were two couples at the next table who were taking care of a lady who was also in great distress. Noticing my situation, they gave my grandson a bag of ice to help cool me off also.

After the paramedics took that lady away, the other couple came over to aid my grandson. They stayed with us until my granddaughter arrived, keeping cold cloths on my neck and hands, and then assisted me into the car.

If those folks read your paper, I want to thank them for their aid and to say that there are still many good people in this world.

B.J. PIPHER

Viera

End Our Hyphenation

Regarding "Brandishing Pride On A Plate" (Our Opinion, July 21):

I see nothing wrong with pride in one's heritage; however, a license plate stating that Hispanics discovered Florida or that they settled Florida is a bit much - and actually disputes history!

It is about time that people of all backgrounds who are legal citizens of not only Florida but the United States decide whether they are Americans or not. They should either drop the hyphen before the word American in describing themselves or move to whatever country or continent they claim to have originated from. This continual emphasis on the differences between us does nothing to bring us together as a nation.

The hyphenated American word should go the way of the n-word.

SHARON LAM

Hudson

Too Easy To Offend

Regarding "No Racism Shines From Black Hole" (Our Opinion, July 18):

Thank you for your insightful editorial. Unfortunately, many of the people who need to read it, and heed it, do not even bother with the editorial page.

It is sad that one must be constantly on guard in America to avoid offending people who have come so far and could go even further if they did not spend so much time living in the past and trying to ignore their history.

It would be wonderful if we could all just call ourselves Americans and not keep reminding others of color. It is not the color that is important in life, but what we are accomplishing for others with our life.

ZANITA T. CHASTAIN

Temple Terrace

Watch Out For Mold

Regarding "Down To Earth" (front page, July 21):

Denise and Michael Pfalzer have some good ideas about building their earthship house out of recycled materials. We will all be watching to see how they solve their various construction problems.

However, I see a future problem when they move in: mold and mildew. That earthen berm beside the house will not only moderate the temperature. It will also make the place damp and smelly.

The Clearwater East Library had the same idea of using banked dirt for insulation. Their mildew problem was famous.

So kudos to the Pfalzers for building a green house. But since they're already building on a wetland, they should give some thought to how they will ventilate their home to dry it out.

SANDY HUFF

Safety Harbor

It's A Cyclical Thing

Global warming is real - sort of. More real is cyclic continental warming which will continue until the next cycle of continental cooling kicks in. Then a mile-thick sheet of ice will cover Chicago and Canada.

As we are being iced over, opposed frozen regions will thaw. But they don't have megacities - we do. It's not too early for activists to raise an alarm about the coming catastrophic cyclic continental cooling.

Nor is it too early for activists to press for solutions. A slow - very slow - wobble in Earth's rotation causes cyclic continental warming and cooling. Since a cycle occurs in a greater than 10,000 year period, only the truly dedicated will be able to keep a spotlight on the wobble problem.

Meanwhile, plant a tree. It helps.

LOUIS SCHNEIDER

Holiday

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