Biden sinks to new low; Trump disregarded world peace: Letters, Aug. 21, 2022
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
Why not help the Lagoon, if you can?
The Indian River Lagoon is in trouble. Even those unwilling to spend tax money to restore the lagoon readily admit this. It may seem like there is nothing an individual can do to help, but there are ways. One involves your septic tank.
There is irrefutable evidence that conventional septic tanks are contributing to the demise of the lagoon, regardless of their age. They were never intended to remove nutrients from the waste. Evidence also shows that groundwater carrying effluent from barrier island septics contribute the most nutrient pollution to our lagoon.
It is instructive that Florida has moved septic tanks from the purview of the Department of Health to the Department of Environmental Protection.
Fortunately, we have a relatively inexpensive solution available thanks to the engineering prowess of our own city of Vero Beach Water and Sewer staff — it is called STEP (Septic Tank Effluent Program). It separates the liquid from the tank and pumps it to the sewage treatment plant instead of allowing the effluent to leach into the water table from the drainfield.
This leads us to the question: Why isn’t everyone on the barrier island connected to STEP already? Connections have slowed due to supply chain shortages, now resolved; but interest has also declined. You can find out who is and who is not connected by going to the city’s website at covb.org. At the bottom of the page is a tab for GIS maps. Click on it; then select STEP dashboard. There are three major barrier island basins which have the requisite buried lines to allow connection: Bethel Creek, Live Oak and Riomar.
If you live in those neighborhoods, why not call COVB Sewer at 772-978-5220 and join the ranks of concerned citizens doing something beneficial for our lagoon?
Mike Johannsen, Vero Beach, is the chairman of the Indian River Neighborhood Association.
Before you vote, know each candidate’s position on cane burning
The Aug. 15 paper contained an article on cane burning and Nikki Fried's inaction during her time as agriculture commissioner to address the impact of this practice on our health and environment.
Antigone Barton , Hanna Morse, Lulu Ramadan and Chris Persaud did an excellent job in the story, from the Palm Beach Post, pointing out the injustices and health concerns associated with the practice of pre-harvest burning of sugar cane fields.
The residents of Indiantown, which is surrounded by sugarcane fields, understand all to well what the people in the Glades are going through.
We have brought our concerns directly to Rep. Brian Mast and state Sen. Gayle Harrell, the people who should be representing us, and received the same response. No action.
Sen. Rick Scott, Gov. Ron DeSantis, Sen. Marco Rubio: No action.
Unless we elect men and women who put our lives, our health and the environment ahead of the almighty campaign dollar, nothing will change. Before you vote, make sure you understand where each candidate stands on this important issue.
June Downs, Indiantown
Biden administration sinks to a new low and liberals are terrified of Trump
The United States under Biden and the Democrats has become a banana republic. This administration has sunk to a low the country has never experienced. Liberal leaders have a list of evil deeds, checking off each one as it is perpetrated. They are terrified of Donald Trump.
The latest deed, the raid on Trump's Florida home, has no justification. It has demonstrated that the Biden administration is rotten to the core.
Americans are still waiting for Hillary Clinton and Hunter Biden to be indicted for their crimes. We all know the liberals practice a double standard. Clinton erased 30,000 emails and lied about the deaths of four Americans in Benghazi. Hunter Biden’s laptop allegedly reveals sleazy and potentially criminal conduct.
My heart aches for the Trump family, but it is totally broken for what America is suffering.
The Trump signs will remain on our lawn until he becomes president of the United States again. I dare anyone to try to steal them. We have called the police before and will do so again. Only Donald Trump can save America, and us.
Nancy Celano, Sebastian
For Democrats, ‘Nobody is above the law’ applies only to the opposition
Democratic politicians are wearing out the “Nobody is above the law” claim. For them, it only applies if you are Republican. The alleged stuff on Hunter Biden’s laptop alone could expose crimes that could become subject matter for years to come.
There are facts, guesses and lies, but I don’t recall anything like what we have going on currently. It’s safe to guess the Bidens won’t be prosecuted, or pursued for years to come, the way Trump has suffered. The masters have no limits when threatened and the return of Trump is a threat. (Again; no limits.)
The Democrats may pay dearly for what they are doing to get rid of Trump. I think we will all suffer as our image is being destroyed. Control of the country is important to the corrupt Biden managers. Biden was a great fit for them. And Trump may need to hire more security. The left has no limits.
Clement Woodhull, Vero Beach
What can each of us do to practice spreading peace in a troubled world?
When politicians use propaganda to create fearfulness in us, and we react to those fears, giving up rationality to indulge in verbal, physical, and psychic violence, we're lost. Vibing anger and vibing hatred are forms of psychic violence. Almost all violence tears down our hopes, our dreams, ourselves, and our planet.
So, what are we to do? I think it's essential that each of us chooses to practice peace. What can you and I do to practice peace?
Establishing peace and justice in our world necessitates the practice of kindness. Individuals need to practice loving themselves, their friends, their neighbors, and their enemies. To manage to do all four of those, most of us will require help.
Where can we find help to empower us to love? Let's think about that. Let's seek answers to that very question
Steve Gifford, Vero Beach
Trump’s supporters are up in arms against the FBI
In 2016 Donald Trump campaigned with the support of many law enforcement agencies.
He spoke of his support and respect for these agencies. Now that his supporters are up in arms against the FBI, and he has an opportunity to support the FBI by asking his supporters to stand down and not threaten the FBI, he remains silent.
Actions speak louder than words. In my opinion you can't believe anything Donald Trump says.
Sharon McGinnis, Stuart
Void left by U.S. withdrawals from agreements can invite bad actors
As a practical matter it is obvious that silence means no communication, no interaction, no oversight. Silence between nations creates a void. And that “empty space” gets filled quickly, usually with very bad actors.
Leaving the previous Iran agreement , as well as the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Paris Climate Accords, are perfect examples of American withdrawals that created voids filled by bad actors. While the agreement with Iran was far from perfect, it was crucial to stability in the Middle East. It had the support of more than a dozen allies. When America left the Iranians filled the void with tremendous increases in their production of uranium and allowed it to come dangerously close to being a nuclear power. No communication, no interaction, no oversight has threatened the stability of the Middle East, the safety of our allies as well as world peace.
"Putting America First" must mean putting peace first. The Biden administration faced multiple threats across the globe as a direct result of the previous administration's cavalier disregard for world peace, the well-being of our allies, the safety of all people at home and abroad. Withdrawal from the TPP has had dire, long-term economic results.
Unraveling or reversing such diplomatic setbacks takes time, patience, acute discernment and skill all of which the Biden administration has demonstrated despite juggling multiple crises at home at the same time as international challenges demand solutions. Threats to world peace, violence against democracy and global warming are all very real and interconnected . To their credit, the Biden administration seems to be taking a holistic approach to geopolitics that is methodical and comprehensive. Some may call it "sleepy" but as a retired educator, parent, grandparent and concerned citizen, I choose to see it as smart, even wise.
Felicia Bruce, Fort Pierce
Act in a way that allows you to look yourself in the eye with no shame
Dale Wimbrow wasn’t Moses. He was a nationally known singer turned writer-publisher of an award-winning weekly newspaper in Sebastian in the 1940s. During his life he wrote a look-yourself-in-the eye poem, copyright 1934, that displayed another part of him.
The final stanza of “The Guy in the Glass” is:
“You can fool the whole world down the pathway of years.
And get pats on the back as you pass;
But your final reward is just heartaches and tears
If you’ve cheated the guy in the glass.”
"The guy in the glass" is the one looking back at you from the mirror. Wimbrow’s call to conscience resonated in the nation. It became a must-clip item passed around among people across the country. It was read into the Congressional Record.
The theme was about balancing ambition, both personal and political, especially political fear-mongering. That didn’t mean he was free from his own everyday views of life. He played a ukulele while singing on radio stations from New England to Miami and Tampa. A publicity photo shows him barefoot on stage.
The singing was brought to an end by lingering damage from being gassed in France during WWI. Eventually the newspaper became his stage.
I suggest people go visit the Dale Wimbrow Park on the St. Sebastian River. Sit under one of the pine trees and think about things, as he did. Remember the person in the mirror.
Elliott Jones, Vero Beach
America lags in worldwide education statistics — what's being taught?
It amazes me that we are still discussing the so-called “Don't say gay" law. The majority of parents are in favor of the law, though only some "woke" educators are against it. People need to think back to when they were in school. Kindergarten was a time to get to know other kids and learn some basic behavior and fun things. Second and third grade was learning cursive writing, facts about our world, famous people, etc. Sex education was unheard of in those grades.
In middle school we started to learn things to prepare us for life — math, literature, science, sports, etc. Again there was no sex education, even through high school. Right or wrong, we learned about the birds and bees from our family and our friends. Now some people, both educators and parents, want to brainwash children with unnecessary input.
In worldwide education statistics, the United States currently ranks behind China, Canada, Japan, Israel, Korea, and the United Kingdom. I wonder how much sex education and Woke effort is taught in these countries. Our educators need to wake up.
Ray Mancari, Vero Beach
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Biden is at new low; Trump disregarded peace: Letters, Aug. 21, 2022
