Letters to the editor

Mind the disabled

While my husband went into the store I stayed out in the car. I could see the handicapped parking spaces quite well. A van pulled into a handicapped space and had a valid sticker hanging from the window. Out bounced two young kids and their mother. No one appeared handicapped. A moment later a pickup pulled into another handicapped spot and a woman talking on a cell phone with one hand and smoking with the other jumped out of the truck and almost ran into the store. She too had a valid sticker. Meanwhile, a car with a wheelchair ramp on the back was driving round and round looking for an available handicapped spot.

My holiday wish is that people would not abuse their handicapped stickers. Save these spots for those who need them.

CATHY BURCAR

Brooksville

History buff's retort

Andy Young pointed out in a letter on Dec. 22 ("Atheist's Christmas") that the Treaty of Tripoli states, "...the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion..." and he asserts that because of this statement our nation is not founded on Christian principles. But if I remember my history correctly, the treaty was between the United States and an Islamic confederation that was concerned our young country would engage in hostilities aiming to furthering Christianity.

The United States was founded on no specific religion or denomination and has not engaged in wars against any particular religion. This does not, however, discount the supposition that our country was organized on principles that are, though not uniquely, Christian.

WILLIAM R. DAVIS

Tampa

Boomers earned it

Debbie Moore of Plant City misses the point.("Selfish people," Letters, Dec. 22). For more than 40 years we "baby-boomers" have paid into the Social Security system. We supported our grandparents. We supported our parents. And now it is our turn. We only want what we bought and paid for.

CHARLES PALMER

Lutz

Animal lovers

Citizens of the Tampa area deserve kudos for their treatment and love of animals, and so does The Tampa Tribune for its frequent reporting of anything animal-related.

Scott Lope, director of operations at Big Cat Rescue, just won Animal Planet's "Hero of the Year" award out of 4,500 nominations for the title. Earlier in the year, Tampa topped the list of the 10 most cat-friendly cities in the United States. This month, the Humane Society of Tampa Bay, working closely with Hillsborough County Animal Services and other rescue groups, adopted out their 5,000th animal for the year - a record number, even in these times of hardship - and completed over 10,000 surgeries at their spay/neuter clinic. And when puppy mills are busted, people line up to give the rescued animals the love and attention they need.

The people of Tampa obviously have huge hearts.

JACQUELINE SEAL

Tampa