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Letters To The Editor

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 27, 2008

Worthy Of Support

Regarding "A Place For Kids To Be Safe, Together" (Our Opinion, June 23):

Imagine you are that abused or neglected child whisked into foster care. When you arrive, you are received with love and compassion and then you have that safe, secure atmosphere ripped away because of a lack of funding. That is the scenario facing Everyday Blessings, an established non-profit foster child and adoption agency in Thonotosassa.

Licensed as a foster care agency in July 1998, Everyday Blessings' mission is to provide services to any abused or neglected child with the ultimate goal of placing them in safe, stable permanent homes. They have facilitated 300 adoptions and currently serve approximately 250 children in foster care; they welcome sibling groups and have an established residential program.
Everyday Blessings is in dire need of funding. A Kid's Place is a duplication of effort and dilutes available funding. As an established, proven resource, Everyday Blessings deserves our community's total commitment.

CHARLENE S. JONES

Seffner

Drug War Is A Waste

Regarding "New Drug Dogs Earn Their Collars" (Metro, June 23):

Bragging about throwing more people into prison for nonviolent "drug crimes" is especially disgusting considering the fact that the United States has become the world leader in incarceration because of our drug crusade.

Using police dogs reminds me of how Nazi SS troopers used German shepherds to hunt down Jews and many others.

Tampa drug warriors should be ashamed. First, for trying to punish a crime where there is no injury. Second, for pretending they are doing the world a service when America's drug war is an utterly counterproductive policy that causes more crime, disease and death than any criminal conspiracy by itself could ever accomplish.

RAYMOND GIVENS

St. Petersburg

Don't Label Candidate

There is enough mud-slinging among political candidates already. Must The Tampa Tribune add to it?
Joe Redner is running for county commissioner this fall. He has run for public office several times in the past, but hasn't succeeded in any of the races yet.

It's well known that Redner makes a substantial part of his living in the "adult entertainment" business. My question is why does the Tribune feel it necessary to point this out whenever his name is mentioned?

I personally don't approve of the business Redner is in, but it is legal. Why single him out for doing something that - according to local statutes - he has every right to do?

If Redner were running against a family planning clinic doctor and a sporting goods salesperson, would you refer to the others as an abortionist and an arms dealer? I don't think so.

Let Redner run his campaign without bias and let voters decide the best candidate on Election Day.

STEVE QUIGGLE

Lithia

Media Plays A Role

Regarding "Mayor Rejects Report Of Pregnancy Pact" (Nation/World, June 24):

Why is teenage pregnancy so cool? I place much of the blame on the media - newspapers, magazines and television.

When Brittany Spears' teenage sister got pregnant, it was covered like she actually has done something significant. When unmarried television and movie stars are pregnant, "Entertainment Tonight" makes these stories into real newsworthy events.

It's all garbage journalism. And, just like with computers, it's garbage in, garbage out.

CARL L. ZIELONKA

Tampa

Go With The Majority

Earlier this month as Sen. Bill Nelson championed his proposal to amend the Constitution and abolish the Electoral College, he was quoted in this paper as saying, "We live in a country where the majority rules."

When it comes to offshore drilling, however, Nelson stands firmly opposed to it, even though more than 60 percent of the population now supports it.

The question for Nelson is does he truly believe that we live in a country where the majority rules or do we live in a country where the majority rules provided they agree with his position on a given issue. He can't have it both ways.

PETE CLARK

Tampa

Comic Had Lasting Impact

Regarding "Comic Infamous For '7 Words' Act" (Nation/World, June 24):

For the sake of determining what constitutes a historical personality, let's have a poll of 1,000 people. Two questions: Who was Tim Russert? Who was George Carlin? That will truly show the historical value between the two.

After a full week of hearing and seeing eulogies to someone who hardly anyone ever heard of, I was truly saddened to hear of the passing of Carlin. One the one hand, you had a news personality being lauded for all his accomplishments that had little impact on anyone, anywhere and on the other, you had someone who made us think, changed media language and caused a Supreme Court decision that has affected all of us, for better or worse.

DON MILLIGAN

Lakeland

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