Friday's letters: From equality and inclusion to inequality and exclusion

Moving closer to inequality, exclusion

We know that DEI stands for diversity, equality and inclusion. On May 16, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation banning public funding for DEI programs at the state’s universities.

It seems to me that he has simply rearranged the letters to DIE: Discrimination, Inequality and Exclusion.

During his visit to New College, in Sarasota, the governor proudly displayed the DEI ban and other bills in photos and on TV.

More: New College students plan alternative commencement

More: How to send a letter to the editor

Because DeSantis is a likely candidate for president in 2024, keep in mind that dictatorships begin with book burning and turn citizens against one another.

Remember our Pledge of Allegiance to the flag ends with, “One nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

Be afraid, Americans, be very afraid.

Eleanor L. Barber, Bradenton

Parking meters exasperating, inconvenient

Are parking meters at St Armands Circle really necessary? They generate revenue, but they also promote a distaste in the mouths of visitors.Some visitors are not used to parking meters. Since there isn’t a meter in front of every parking space, they may be unaware that there is a parking fee.I forgot about the parking fee recently and went directly to Cafe Europe to meet friends for dinner. In the middle of eating, I remembered that I did not pay the meter and had to leave. The machine did not accept my credit card and I had to borrow quarters from a perfect stranger. So exasperating!A few days later, I went shopping and dining at St. Armands with friends. We thought that three hours would be plenty of time, but in the middle of eating I had to run out again to put more quarters in the machine. So inconvenient!The meters are not user friendly. The panel is difficult to read. There are many screens to process payment. The meter does not accept all credit cards. It is expensive: $1.50 per hour.

It does not appear that Sarasota needs parking meter income to survive. When balanced with the inconvenience, frustration and difficulty of use, are parking meters really necessary?Jean Cook, New Port Richey

Warning: Our society is falling apart

Our democracy is unraveling.

Despite constant shootings, many value their weapons more than the lives of their fellow citizens. Plus, a significant slice of the population believes that political violence may be necessary.

We have book banning, the whitewashing of history and new laws that restrict rather than enhance voting. And women are denied control over their own health care.

The U.S. Supreme Court has no code of ethics – but it does have several justices who have behaved in ways that would violate the code of ethics for any other judge in the country.

We have state legislators who silence their colleagues for petty political reasons, pass laws violating the separation of church and state, and approve other anti-democratic legislation.

A vocal minority believes the lie that the 2020 election was rigged; they idolize a man who was recently convicted by a jury of sexual abuse, is under multiple criminal investigations and has told thousands of lies.

One presidential candidate dines with antisemites and racists, flouts the law, disparages our military and intelligence agencies, and supports autocratic Russia instead of democratic Ukraine.

The MAGA plan: Weaken institutions, create false narratives, undermine the rule of law, encourage white nationalism, disparage our allies, praise our foes and unravel our democracy.

Michelle Golden, Sarasota

GOP could improve on Trump, DeSantis

What continues to puzzle me is witnessing how the Republican Party, with the majority of its members appearing to be reasonable and rational people, is unable to come up with another presidential hopeful, someone better than the two current candidates who show us their skills at flexing their muscles while saying and doing outrageous things.

And while the party lets them get away with this bad behavior, the moderates are mostly silent.Surely, there is a Republican man or woman who could be found who is a better choice than former President Donald Trump or Gov. Ron DeSantis.Whether Democrat, Republican or independent, in these critical times we all need to be paying attention to the bigger picture and honoring once again the foundational principles of our country like, “One nation, under God with liberty and justice for all.”It is about time we support leaders who are not driven by their greed for power, but by wanting to bring the nation back together and at least agree to disagree in a reasonable way.Some say it is really scary seeing what is going on in Florida. Yes, there is that fear, but only if we let the bullies win, through our own denial, delusion or disinterest.Angelena Craig, Sarasota

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: With DEI ban, DeSantis continues move in wrong direction