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The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 11, 2008

Rebels No Longer Rile

There has been an unexpected pleasant benefit for me in the victory of Barack Obama. I no longer feel the instant rage and anger that would over-sweep me as I passed the outrageous Confederate flag that lurks over I-75 motorists.

The flag used to arouse great anger in me, anger at the people who would display this symbol of racism. And it bothered me that some people might think that I, as a white woman, could be one of those who support the odious flag.

Oh, I know, I know, the flag supporters say it's just a symbol of their heritage. The bottom line is that it is offensive to many people of color and those who support it choose to be racially offensive.

With Obama's victory last week, I have a new attitude about the flag. I don't like it, but it doesn't rile me nearly so much because I know, along with the rest of the world, that we are not a nation of racists. The small group that supports the flag is just that, a small group of people who are out of sync with the changing world.

It's merely stands now as a sad symbol for people who have been left behind in contrast to the large majority of us who have moved on.

LIZ BLEAU

Temple Terrace

Thanks For Parade

Organizers of the 15th Annual Tampa Bay Veterans Day Parade would like to publicly thank the community for your enthusiastic turnout in Town N' Country on Saturday. You've clearly demonstrated that the citizens of Tampa truly appreciate the sacrifices made by our local military veteran population and those who currently stand in harms way.

We also express our sincere gratitude to the parade sponsors for their generous contributions, without which this parade would not be possible. Special recognition is due the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, District 3; Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation, and Conservation Department; and MacDill Air Force Base for their outstanding efforts in support of this important community event. Thanks for all you do.

BRIAN BOYLE

Tampa

Teachers Get Eight Days

Recently I had a parent state that teachers are overpaid and have too many holidays. I would like to clear the air.

First, we are 10-month contracted employees. We are not paid in the summer. We have to save up or extend our salary to survive. Second, Christmas and spring break are non-paid. We (teachers) have 17 non-paid holidays: Nov. 11, Dec. 22-Jan 2, Feb. 16 and April 6-10. We (teachers) do have eight paid holidays: Sept. 1, Nov. 26, 27, 28, Jan. 19, Feb. 6, May 1 and 25.

Thank you for our eight days!

YAMEL ARRONTE

Tampa

Cheer Library Workers

Remember early voting at the libraries? It is something worth forgetting - trying to drive through the parking area, searching for an empty spot, trying to get out afterwards. I visited this scene at the Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library twice to check books in and out. On both occasions, the performance of the library workers was exemplary. It is difficult to imagine going to work each day under those conditions. I believe a "well done" is in order for all these workers.

GRACE SEARLE-SPRATT

Tampa

Big Oil Sees Light

Oil and gasoline prices have fallen to considerably less than they were a year ago. Isn't it nice that all those greedy oil company executives and speculators have finally seen the error of their ways, have forsaken greed and become so civic minded?

JOHN COOLEY

Zephyrhills

Not Our Trucks

In response to Saturday's letter "Election Sideshow," Fern Horton correctly states that the parking situation at the Town 'N Country Recreation Center on Election Day was a disaster due to semi-trucks from the annual carnival at Webb Middle School. But she mistakenly referenced the Town 'N Country Association as being somehow responsible. Our local Civic Association is not associated in any way with either the carnival or parking arrangements for the polling site.

PAUL McSHEA

Town 'N Country

Correction

In a Nov. 6 editorial, it was incorrectly reported that Diebold Elections Systems Inc. electronic voting machines were involved in an election dispute in Sarasota County in 2006. The correct machines were the iVotronic, by the company ES&S.

The writer is chairman of the Veterans Day Parade Group, Inc. The writer is president of the Town 'N Country Park Homeowner's Civic Association.

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