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‘Inconvenient truths’ is letter of the month | Letters
Here’s what readers are saying in Sunday’s letters to the editor.
 
On Sept. 12, 2016, San Francisco 49ers safety Eric Reid (35) and quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) kneel during the national anthem before a game against the Los Angeles Rams in Santa Clara, Calif. When Kaepernick took a knee during the national anthem to take a stand against police brutality, racial injustice and social inequality, he was vilified by people who considered it an offense against the country, the flag and the military.
On Sept. 12, 2016, San Francisco 49ers safety Eric Reid (35) and quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) kneel during the national anthem before a game against the Los Angeles Rams in Santa Clara, Calif. When Kaepernick took a knee during the national anthem to take a stand against police brutality, racial injustice and social inequality, he was vilified by people who considered it an offense against the country, the flag and the military. [ MARCIO JOSE SANCHEZ | AP ]
Published June 4, 2023

Editor’s note: The May letter of the month reacted to an editorial headlined “The civics lesson George Floyd’s death should teach in Florida.”

Inconvenient truths

Fact: The Black Lives Matter movement began in 2013 to protest killings of Black people by police.

Fact: Athletes have taken a knee during the national anthem in protest.

Fact: In 2020, George Floyd was killed by police officers in Minneapolis.

But our fragile Florida children must not learn these facts — at least not from their school textbooks. Our governor has “caught and fixed” such inconvenient truths, so that no one need feel discomfited by harsh reality. What’s coming next in Florida’s “Brave New World”?

Elizabeth Bird, Temple Terrace

Not with my tax dollars

Florida’s new private school voucher law allows private schools to boost revenue | May 30

Regarding Florida’s new school voucher law, I wholeheartedly object to my tax dollars being given to any private school, period. All of my life, parents who could afford to do so have been able to send their children to private schools, at their expense — not mine. Now, all of a sudden, it is the taxpayer’s burden to make sure these parents can send their children to private schools. The fact that this subversion of money, away from public schools, can be deemed legal deeply concerns me. Shame on the Legislature and the governor for spending our tax dollars to support private schools while public schools are underfunded, year in and year out.

Philip Amuso, Tampa

Stop this disease

The End Tuberculosis Now Act

Tuberculosis (TB), often considered a disease of the past, kills more people yearly than any other infectious disease. According to the May 9 Miami Herald article, TB cases rose 5% last year, more among young kids. TB rebounded in 2022, including a “26% increase in diagnoses in children 4 or younger.” It globally disproportionately affects impoverished communities. The World Health Organization reports that 1.6 million died of TB in 2021. Over the last few years, TB resources, equipment and expertise were drafted into the front lines of COVID-19 at the expense of the already underfunded TB response.

The End Tuberculosis Now Act (HR 1776/ S 288) would help us get back on track by ensuring current TB resources go to the right places. This accountability bill, with bipartisan support, ensures that our tax dollars are effectively used to establish bold goals to reach vulnerable populations and detect, cure and prevent all forms of TB. Thanks to Florida Republican Rep. María Elvira Salazar for her leadership on this bill, and co-sponsorship from Democratic Reps. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick and Lois Frankel. Let’s urge all of our Florida representatives in Congress to co-sponsor the End TB Now Act and pass it into law this year.

Karyne Bury, Hollywood

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A war on culture

Book banning isn’t a ‘culture war’ | Column, May 30

I hope our entire elected school board in Pinellas County and our superintendent read Diana Goetsch’s column. It was all powerful, but as a father, and also a kid long ago, I felt particularly touched by her statement about libraries: “Young people come there hoping to see their experiences reflected in a book, hoping to find heroes.” That is a fact. It was my experience as a young person. There is something tremendously encouraging in reading a book and realizing you aren’t the only person who feels a certain way about things, who finds some things comical and some sad. And to find, both in fiction and biography, examples of people who have overcome great odds to excel, that you might better put into proportion the challenges you face, and know that they too can be overcome. I can’t tell how many times my heart has been filled with pleasure and encouragement by reading some brilliant idea or experience in a book. These book banners, these close-minded enemies of broad experience and education, aren’t waging a culture war. They are waging a war on all culture, destroying the legitimacy of their own views and goals in the process.

Steve Douglas, St. Petersburg

Buzzwords and boycotts

Here’s how Gov. DeSantis hit a new low this month | Column, May 28

I find this column to be typical Democrat blather. It tosses out the usual buzzwords such as “truth,” “fairness,” “diversity,” “censorship,” etc. and then expects them to have the effect of holy water thrown on the vampire. Let the ongoing boycotts of Anheuser-Busch and Target speak for all of us who are sick to death of sanctimonious “woke” culture.

Eric Goodwin, Wesley Chapel

A night at Jack’s

Make yourself at home with Kerouac | May 28

Having pedaled the “Jack Kerouac Bike Tour” and peeked in the windows at the Kerouac House, I was delighted to see what the new owners have done with the place. Kudos to them and to Times staffer Gabrielle Calise for sharing the story of her overnight stay.

Claude Walker, St. Pete Beach