Friday's letters: Disney donations, rethinking waste, religion and politics, more

Governor two-faced about Disney

Gov. Ron DeSantis had legislation passed within 48 hours to dismantle the Reedy Creek Improvement District, in essence Disney World and all its components.

The governance of 25,000 acres is at stake.

In his haste for retribution against Disney and its CEO, DeSantis failed to return $100,000 that the company contributed to his political action committee.

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How can he on the one hand attack Disney as the Biggest Villain of the State for speaking up, yet on the other hand, keep the financial gains from its political contributions?

So far, he hasn’t returned the money. Why keep money from an entity that you consider so evil and dangerous to the citizens of Florida?

This is a prime example of what politicians do. They attack the person or group but fail to return money the very same person or group contributed to them.

DeSantis sets a very poor example for our great state when he goes on national TV and acts as our savior. He fails to see that taking the money reflects badly on his character.

Rich Unger, Sarasota

Find creative ways to cut down on waste

Rethinking trash is … fun? That’s right, fighting against waste can be rewarding, creative, empowering and fun!

For example, local business Segunda Vida rescues furniture and other home pieces from the landfill by artfully refurbishing them.

Ringling College of Art and Design hosted its first annual fashion show that featured designs made from trash/unwanted materials, and Eckerd College became the first college in the nation to enact the Break Free from Plastic pledge in 2019, eliminating all nonessential single-use plastics from the school.

Other students, and adults, can achieve similar goals. I know I’m inspired to do such things at my school, New College of Florida.

For local groups, Rethinking Plastic Sarasota is a great resource on plastic issues, and Sunshine Community Compost is an organization that can help people achieve their composting goals.

Of course, there are also many individual things, like bringing your own to-go container, buying loose/bulk-style foods, or simply calling/emailing an elected official on your stance that can make a difference.

Yes, waste management is just one of many environmental issues that demand attention. But the point here is that we can use creativity and motivation to make improvements, and that unpleasant topics don’t necessarily have to be.

Michelle Read, New College of Florida

Steube snubs NATO, fails his constituents

U.S. Rep. Greg Steube has given us another reason to replace him this November.

Steube joined 62 other Republicans voting in opposition to a resolution supporting NATO. Citing the threat posed by “authoritarian regimes,” the resolution, which passed the House 362-63, calls on the Biden administration to uphold NATO’s “founding democratic principles.”

It also advocates the creation of a Center for Democratic Resilience within NATO’s headquarters in Brussels to provide member states assistance to strengthen their own democratic institutions.

Our member of Congress, Steube – the individual charged with representing the views of those of us who live in Southwest Florida – chose to join with the most radical Republicans rather than support democracy.

There is only one response to such appalling conduct. This fall we must elect a legislator who cares about fellow Floridians more than he or she cares about pandering to radical members of the GOP.

Laurie Ulrop, Punta Gorda

Religious right ignores teachings of Jesus

Jerry Springer’s column in response to former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee’s Christian agenda is right on target (“Weaponizing faith for political votes is un-American,” April 27).

The religious right’s attack on Democratic policies to empower the less fortunate ignores the teachings and example of Jesus. The Gospel stories portray Rabbi Jesus as a religious teacher who welcomed everyone to an open table.

He said that whatever we do to the least, we do to him.

The far right Christian political agenda, of passing restrictive voting laws and the “Don’t Say Gay” law in Florida schools, violates the inclusive teachings of Jesus to love everyone as God has loved us.

As Springer notes, the Christian right has weaponized its version of Christianity to promote the political power of the Republican Party.

It is time for the rest of us to oppose this divisive agenda by affirming justice for everyone as a spiritual value we share and promote.

Bridget Mary Meehan, Sarasota

Putin behaving like Nazi in Ukraine

One of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s justifications for his invasion of Ukraine is that he is simply ridding the country of Nazis. However, the brutal, sadistic way that Putin is conducting this invasion demonstrates that he is the Nazi.

Arnold Factor, Sarasota

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Governor two-faced on Disney, Steube snubs NATO