Hamas, remade
Photos of Israeli forces poised at the Gaza border are impressive, but this strategy worries me.
Though Hamas is referred to as a terrorist organization, it has morphed, as we have learned, into a guerrilla force.
The principal guerrilla strategy is “strike and disperse.”
I worry that Hamas will retreat south with the civilians as cover and let Israel do what it wants in empty territory.
Yes, plant some snipers and booby traps, but leave this sophisticated armed force to expend its resources and get negative publicity until they give up and go home.
Then strike again.
I hope I am wrong.
Glenn Patron,
Coconut Grove
True value of Redland farmland
The article in the Oct. 17 issue of the Miami Herald by Ilena Peng titled, “Florida’s Battered Orange Growers are Cashing in on the Housing Boom,” talks about the land appraisal concept of HBU or Highest and Best Use.
According to the doctrine of “highest and best use,” in any case where the market value of real property is sought, that value must be based on that use that would produce the highest monetary value for a property, regardless of its actual current use.
I have heard this theory used many times by real estate developers and landowners when arguing how they must sell land to achieve the most profitable valuation.
Highest and best use is a concept in real estate appraisal that originated with early economists such as Irving Fisher, who conceptualized the idea of maximum productivity. What this doctrine says is how much money can be made off the land. But who is to say what is “maximally productive” and who determines that more money made by landowners and developers is the highest and best use?
The rush to capitalize on the housing boom by selling off farmland and wildlands to developers often fails to capture important benefits to the public such as clean water, protection of wild and natural spaces, pleasing scenery, erosion control, quality of life, locally sourced food, and recreation. The HBU concept is more about greed than best use of the land.
Dewey Steele,
Redland
Republican support
The conflict in Israel has unified the Republican party like nothing else. They stand united in the support of Israel.
The problem is they don’t say a word about the anti-semites and neo-Nazis who joined forces on Jan. 6 to aid Trump‘s effort to overturn the election.
The hypocrisy is palpable.
David or Carlson,
Miami Beach
Sputnik changed us
When Sputnik was launched in 1957, Americans were worried. Education came under scrutiny because the Russians were producing better scientists.
A campaign was launched to reform schooling. The old curriculum was revised, adding an emphasis on critical thinking and methods of inquiry to traditional lecturing, reading and research.
Parents were concerned about evolution, but now that the Russians had a satellite, they feared Russian war capabilities more than Darwin’s theory.
The experiment, sparked by Sputnik, worked.
New methods and technologies inspired better instruction. Increased funding improved schools.
The government provided soldiers with educational opportunities and created jobs by building the nation’s interstate highway system, resulting in the best educated and the most productive citizenry in the world.
The U.S. exploded with new technologies, reshaping the world while leading humanity into space exploration.
What can we do to continue an experiment that propelled us to excellence in science and the humanities, creating the world’s most admired culture while enjoying the world’s most productive economy?
Philip Beasley,
Plantation
Mayor Shirley Gibson
There will never be another like Mayor Shirley Gibson, one of the founding members of the city of Miami Gardens, the most prominent Black district in Florida.
Her leadership and contributions will continue to inspire for years to come.
Rest in Power, Madam Mayor, and may your legacy forever shine bright.
Paul Bacon,
Hallandale Beach
DeSantis gets praised?
Very refreshing reading favorable comments in the Miami Herald about Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s comments on the Israel - Hamas conflict.
Hector Aragon,
Miami
Go Dolphins
The Dolphins are off to a flying start and if they stay healthy and the defense improves, they could reach the Superbowl.
That noted, many South Florida sportswriters seemed to have overlooked a few basic facts, understandably caught up in the huge offensive numbers.
Namely that, their five wins have come against teams with an aggregate record of 5-24. In their one loss against a winning team (Buffalo) they were soundly beaten. One long-time sports writer and columnist states that this team is much better than the Dan Marino-led Fins with Larry Csonka and Jim Kiick.
Being from Kansas City, I saw that team up close on Christmas Day in 1971. The fins won a thriller.
The game has evolved quite a bit since then. Few teams now even carry a fullback and running the football was much more integral to the game. Perhaps a bit of an apples and oranges comparison when you go back in the ages.
Michael Jaros,
Pompano Beach
