Letters: DeSantis’ fear mongering in overdrive after attacks on Disney, gays and diversity
Opinions expressed in Letters to the Editor are those of our readers and not the Pensacola News Journal. In order for letters to be considered for publication, they must be 250 words or less and include name, a full address and phone number. Only your name and city of residence will be published. Email submissions to opinion@pnj.com.
DeSantis’ fear mongering in overdrive
Dear governor,
Someone once said, “We have nothing to fear but fear itself.”
I disagree. What we should fear most is a leader who has a disproportionate level of fears. We’ve seen what fear-based attacks can do to teachers, books, Black history, migrants, masks, Disney, gays, abortion rights, transexuals, unions, school boards, gun control, drag queens, diversity in universities, cruise lines, support for Ukraine, the Department of Justice, voter rights, and many more.
You’ve been busier than a woodpecker in a log jam. Your actions have actually exceeded the notorious segregation efforts of George Wallace. I have a special request regarding the icon, Madea. Don’t go messing with Madea!
The country needs her, and my family loves her. I might add that we’re just straight, white folks. Madea is bipartisan, sexy, and a mean businesswoman. She won’t tolerate anyone messing with her dress, bra size, bathroom choice, or speech. Her fan base is huge, diverse, and they vote.
If you try to diminish her widespread public acceptance through some type of fast-track discrimination bill, you’ll lose your base faster than a melting iceberg falling into the sea.
Charles Creel, Bagdad
Hear from our readers: Letters: LGBT Memorial Weekend should move to June in a show of respect to fallen military
Readers don't hold back: Letters: DeSantis’ book banning is only the start of his measures against free expression
Pensacola has changed for worse
I just want to say Pensacola is the worst town to live in. There’s a lot of rude southern people and unfortunately, I live here. This is the worst town in the United States.
I have been blessed to meet some kind people in my 34 years here. A lot of the others were not so kind. Maybe in the hospitality industry people are kind to their guests. I don’t know if it’s all of America, but people are just downright mean to one another. Especially on the highway. People are kind of prejudice if you are not like them.
This town has sadly changed since 1989.
Scott Russell, Pensacola
Elderly attackers are ‘tough guys’
Five men entered a home and pistol whipped an elderly man and shot a dog. They must have been tough men to do this. No, they were not. They were cowards. It took five men to do this.
A defenseless elderly man was pistol whipped because he said he had no money. Then these big bad people tried to break into a mobile home on the property. They shot into the mobile home and the bullet hit a dog that was inside. And, people ask me, “Why do you have a weapons permit”? This is why. Big, bad bullies.
Where did they get the gun? Certainly not legally. Beating up an elderly man. Makes me ill. I hope they are caught and locked up forever.
Monie Russo, Pensacola
Trump ready to govern from prison
Back when Trump was caught on videotape saying women loved it when you grab them by the you know what, his poll numbers went up. So, it is logical he would rise from 43 percent of Republicans to 53 percent in current polls after his indictment by the NYDA.
He will likely rise from 53 to 63 percent after his indictment in the classified docs case. If he is indicted in Georgia for election tampering and Jan. 6, he could rise to 83 percent of Republicans. This will guarantee his nomination and possibly lead to his election.
Convictions in the docs case and Georgia are highly possible. The video and audio evidence are compelling. He could be serving time by 2024 in the docs case, so he might be in prison when elected president. John Roberts would have to travel to the federal prison housing Trump to administer the oath of office.
Then, Trump’s first act as president will be to pardon himself. The difficulty for Trump is if he is convicted in Georgia on state charges. Unable to pardon himself, he would have to run the country from a Georgia prison. How cool is that? I am salivating about watching all this unfold.
James Bouzios, Pensacola
Hear from our readers: Letters: Gaetz, Rubio and Scott voting to tank our Social Security and Medicare shameful
Readers don't hold back: Letters: Educators must reject far right’s ‘omission’ agenda of book, movie banning
United Methodist changes puzzling
Regarding the June 14 article about the changes in the Florida United Methodist Church, I couldn’t help but offer the views of a 79-year-old lifelong Methodist. I joined this church because I believed in the principles established by John Wesley.
Now some members of U.M. Church have decided that they want to change these teachings to reflect what they believe to be correct. Some bishops in the United States have agreed with this change and have helped bring about the destruction of the church.
Even though this new group disagrees with many of the things John Wesley and even the Bible say, they want to keep the name of United Methodist. I guess they think this legitimizes their church.
Paul Reid, Cantonment
Portland Loo purchases a humane act
I am thrilled to read that Pensacola is looking to buy Portland Loos for toilets in city parks. What a humane act! It has always been an amazement to me that American cities have so very few public toilets when every single person has to use one multiple times during the day. We capitalists require folks to pay for the privilege of using a restroom if they are not at home or in a store which offers such facilities.
Toilets similar to the Portland Loo have been in use all over Paris for ages. In Paris there are 6.72 public toilets per square kilometer. They are free, self-cleaning, and accessible. New York, on the other hand has only .28 public toilets to offer; it ranks lowest on a list of available public toilets in major tourist cities. You’ll have better luck in Sydney, Zurich and Taipei. In some cities, one must pay, but those in Paris are free. I’ve been impressed with their cleanliness and their efficiency.
Why is it that we civilized humans ignore such a basic need? Please install more free self- cleaning public loos. If I am out and about, I can afford to go into a business and purchase something so that I can use the loo. Millions of others can’t.
Ignoring the number of homeless persons in our city who cannot afford to pay to use a loo, is less than humane. To provide them for the general population is a humane consideration.
Carolyn Joyce Tokson, Pensacola
ACA application more user friendly
I have had lots of experience dealing with government bureaucracy in my 80 years, but recently while trying to help a friend navigate the system to get a reduction in his internet cost, I was pleased to see positive change.
My friend born and raised in Ukraine and now as a U.S. citizen has a bit of difficulty filling out documents, so I’ve been doing his taxes for the last 10 years. Now retired, he lives on below the poverty line.
To achieve this last year, I applied for the Affordable Care Act to take care of this issue, but the process was daunting, and we fell through the cracks. I was unable to talk to anybody but some automated communication. Recently, I tried this system again.
In reapplying I immediately saw a change in the application process. They had added a line to add someone’s email address assisting you so that any correspondence from the applicant and the government would be sent to your assistant.
I filled out the simple form and sent them a file of his SSA1099 and his picture. In three business days he got approval.
Now the Affordable Connectivity Program…
Don Camacho, Pensacola
Never miss a story: Subscribe to the Pensacola News Journal using the link at the bottom of the page under Stay Connected.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Letters: DeSantis’ fear mongering in overdrive after attacks on Disney
