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The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 24, 2009

Family Of Man

First David Caton said it was a "sad day" because an AARP publication had an advertisement about a product that would help seniors enjoy better sex (Local News, Jan. 21). The next day I saw his photograph in a Tribune article about domestic partner benefits for the county.

First of all, with erectile dysfunction drugs helping the cause, I would bet few seniors think that being able to enjoy sex later in life is "sad." Supply and demand usually drive advertising, and I suspect demand is high among seniors, and good for them.

Secondly, concerning domestic partnership benefits, studies have shown that this is a good thing, and most enlightened corporations offer it to stay competitive in today's market.

The concept that "family" is only defined as a married man and woman with children conceived morally is not only outdated, but also excludes a large percentage of today's blended families.

Maybe it's time to put the most important family first - the family of man!

JOHN MCGOURTY

Seffner

Airport Safety
Sen. Bill Nelson and Congresswoman Kathy Castor recently tried to hold the Federal Aviation Administration accountable for making an unsafe change at Orlando International Airport.

In restructuring the tower and radar portions of Orlando's air traffic facility, the FAA has created two new facilities and lowered the training standards in order to supply more air traffic controllers to work the facilities. Now the tower is predominantly made up of newly, and creatively, certified controllers with less than five years of experience. The FAA is willing to risk the flying public's safety to give the appearance that it has fixed things.

Even before this restructuring took place, Nelson and Castor saw the effects this change would have on the flying public and the controllers working at OIA and voiced their issues to the FAA.

I thank these representatives for being champions for the safety of the flying public.

ROBERT LUCHT

Rockledge

Cell Phone Towers
I have read with considerable bemusement about parents rejecting cell phone towers on school property. Not that they consciously exercised their rights as parents, but that it appears their choice was based on fear and ignorance.

Parents seem to dismiss epidemiological studies on the subject out of hand. Since I was not at the meetings, I don't know if any good scientific explanation was given to the parents about what exposure to non-ionizing radiation means, how much their children would be exposed to and how that exposure compares with typical life situations. I certainly have seen nothing in the media about it. They're all too busy winnowing their staffs of investigative reporters.

Also, many parents, in discounting any factual data presented, have asked, "Can you be 100 percent sure that there is no risk to my child?"

On the face of it, it's a compelling question. Parents have every right to ensure their child's safety. But I would pose this question to them: "Can you be 100 percent sure that your own actions and choices don't pose some risk to your child?"

How about the convenience store food you feed them several times per week or the cell phone you let them use? How about the Ipod you bought for them blaring music in their ears or the big, wide-screen TV they sit in front of? How about the Wi-Fi computer they sit in front of for hours on end or even some of the sports you allow or encourage them to play? Or how about the fact that you drive your kids around while yakking on your cell phone? Are you going to try to tell me these are all conscious, risk-assessment decisions on your part? I don't think so.

The one incontrovertible fact is that cell phone towers can help your children's education just a little bit more.

BOB LAROSE

Tampa

Legislative Beating

The Florida Legislature has been taking a beating from Democrats and this newspaper lately for making cuts in education and health care but not "closing corporate tax loopholes" to increase revenue. But when those corporations start slashing jobs or moving to a more tax friendly state, where will the revenue come from to pay for education and health care?

Maybe the Legislature understands that with rising unemployment, the last thing we need to do is raise taxes on employers. The best way to increase revenue and create jobs is to lure more companies to the state by making it more profitable to do business here.

STEPHEN HOLMES

Tampa

Accepting Detainees

Re: Closing Guantanamo Bay:

All politicians who vote or otherwise agree with President Obama to close Guantanamo Bay must accept the detainees to be housed, fed, and prosecuted in their own states.

If any detainee is freed, the same politicians must accept responsibility for any eventual terrorist actions caused by the former detainee.

MARILYN J. WERREMEYER

Valrico

Obama's Free Pass

Regarding Obama's flubbed oath:

So President Obama flubbed his oath and had to redo it the next day. If that had been President Bush, it would have been the only story of the day and eclipsed all other coverage of the inauguration.

Everyone flubs lines and misspeaks. The point is they are not usually viciously attacked for it and called stupid.

Just another glaring example of the media's unlimited free passes for Obama.

MICHELLE KELLER

Tampa

A National Fundraiser

I have an idea to share with America. I propose that "we, the people," initiate a national fundraiser in order to pay down our national debt. This would greatly benefit all people of the United States. It would decrease our debt, deflect inflation and serve as a solution to conservatives concerned about our debt. It would give me a great sense of pride in my country and an opportunity to serve it.

My idea is that a large Web site could be created. People could log on day or night and make a donation. It should be transparent so people could check deposits and balances. It would need an appropriate depository, as well as known and trusted guardians. This should be a quality site created by the people, for the people.

It also could have a "yes" and "no" box for us to check if a dispute or another issue should arise.

I am only one person. I send this idea out to the world to see if it will fly. I am 66, retired and on a very limited budget. However, I will mostly proudly sacrifice and put my money where my mouth is, and I will start the donation with $100. Imagine if everyone gave only $5.

And remember, even industry, retail and all businesses would probably donate as a "we."

SONYA L. DETROY

Tampa

Disgrace To Tampa

I am responding to your article Jan. 17, "Lingerie Bowl To Be At Pasco Nudist Resort."

What a disgrace to the Tampa Bay area. What a Super Bowl this is going to be.

The Super Bowl should be an honor for the state of Florida, but instead it's being disgraced by allowing sexually oriented events, such as scantily clad women playing football, as a side attraction for football fans. Organizers of the Lingerie Bowl should be run out of town, as should those who would support it.

It takes a lot of work for a city to become great, but only a lack of common sense and judgment for it to demoralize into a pig sty.

JAMES DALEY

Sun City Center

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.

Please include your name, address and daytime phone number. Mail to: P.O. Box 191, Tampa, FL 33601-0191. Or e-mail without attachments: tribletters@tampatrib.com.

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

The writer is representative for the National Air Traffic Controllers Association at Orlando International Airport.

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