The demands of the few

Tampa Bay area schools grapple with book, movie challenges | March 27

I worry that democracy in Florida is on a slippery slope when the demands of the few — or the one — outweigh the needs of the many. Perhaps instead of using Gov. Ron DeSantis’ moniker that “Florida is the freest state,” it should be, “Florida, where ignorance is bliss.”

L.A. Weiner, St. Petersburg

Let parents take over

Tampa Bay area schools grapple with book, movie challenges | March 27

If all these parents think that they know better, why don’t they just take over the schools and let them do the teaching? Hiding the truth about history is only showing the truth about themselves.

Phil Saiz, Trinity

The discomfort of newspapers

The Bible is full of ‘woke ideology,’ sex and violence. Ban it, too? | Letter, March 28

The letter writer makes a compelling case to ban the Bible from all Florida public schools given its disturbing woke ideology, not to mention its depictions of incest, violence and other discomforting images. While we’re at it, we clearly must ban all newspapers from schools, too. The morning paper has a full-body nude image of David, a very uncomfortable article about a surge in antisemitism, six people killed by someone using military-grade weapons, and a Disney film about Ruby Bridges being removed from schools because it showed white people heckling a 6-year-old Black girl since she was attending a white school. All of this news may make some students uncomfortable, so we must ban any evidence of it and allow our children to live more happy lives without being aware of our past or present.

Mark Brown, Brandon

Was that the plan?

Voucher bill is signed into law | March 28

So, with about 2.8 million K-12 Florida students eligible for taxpayer-funded school vouchers, an awful lot of money will be flowing out of the public school system and into the hands of business owners. Wow. This will deplete public school funding and bust the teachers unions, and then the state can get rid of public education in Florida once and for all. Was that the plan?

David Burg, Tampa

I testified and cried

Florida’s 6-week abortion ban likely to pass. What other hurdles exist? | March 29

I believe that this six-week abortion ban bill (HB 7 and SB 300) is simply the state declaring control over marginalized bodies. This was never a fight to “promote life.” If this was truly a priority, state legislators would have fought gun violence. They would have fought for trans rights. They would have fought the continuing violence against Black folks. This was always about power and control.

I was in Tallahassee to attend legislative session to speak out against the ban. Hours of mental and physical stress were met with legislative aides delivering the same scripted remarks: “I, unfortunately, cannot speak for them,” before they ushered us out of their office. I knew they wouldn’t listen to us. But it would kill me if I didn’t testify. So I did, then left the committee hearing, and cried. To all the folks who are frustrated and heartbroken — this is not the end. In a society where the personal is political, taking care of our communities and supporting each other is key to resistance.

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Tripura Vosuri, Tampa

A bad bill

Florida’s 6-week abortion ban likely to pass. What other hurdles exist? | March 29

As a psychiatrist and former OB-GYN, I can assure you that most women do not realize they are pregnant before five or six weeks gestation. As a psychiatrist, I have seen many women and families struggle with the decision to have or not have a child they cannot emotionally or financially afford. There are around 3,500 children in foster care in Hillsborough county due to abuse and neglect. Fifty percent of children are emotionally and linguistically behind, not ready to learn by kindergarten due to adverse childhood experiences. Please, let’s take care of children before we force girls and women to bear more children they cannot care for. The Florida Legislature should not pass a bill limiting abortion to six weeks.

Bonnie R. Saks, Tampa

Don’t ask this

Helping an undocumented immigrant in Florida could soon be against the law | Perspective, March 26

I am a conservative Republican, MAGA, proud “deplorable” and supporter of Gov. Ron DeSantis and former President Donald Trump. But to pass a bill to criminalize Americans who “reasonably” should know a person’s immigration status before they help them is contrary to what all our religions teach us. Should we ask a person to show us their papers so we know we’re not helping an undocumented immigrant? I ask our legislators to vote against SB 1718.

Sheldon Wolf, Lutz