Letters to the editor for Saturday, January 1, 2022

Tiger's tragic death should inspire conservation

The events that unfolded at the Naples Zoo on the night of Dec. 29 are tragic on so many levels. The death of Eko, a result of a reckless and selfish act, will be forever etched in the memories of many individuals. Eko was a Malayan Tiger (Panthera tigris jacksoni), a critically endangered subspecies listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. There are only an estimated 200 wild Malayan Tigers left on Earth.

The Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973 prohibits any action that causes the "taking" of a listed species of endangered animal. The term "take" includes killing. River Rosenquist’s recklessness was directly responsible for Eko’s killing. I am hopeful that the protections afforded under the ESA, which subject violators to hefty fines and imprisonment, apply to Mr. Rosenquist’s actions.

We must remember Eko’s zookeeper and the Naples Zoo staff who had to witness this horror in person. I cannot imagine losing an animal that was so deeply cared for under such tragic circumstances. And we should not forget the law enforcement officers that had to make the extremely difficult decision to ultimately save Mr. Rosenquist’s life.

May Eko’s death not be in vain, but used to inspire the conservation of the magnificent Malayan Tiger. Please support the Naples Zoo and their wildlife initiatives and keep those affected in your thoughts and prayers.

Brian J. Peters, DVM, Naples

Grateful for state and local public officials

I am so grateful that I am living in the state of Florida. Despite 2021 being a horrible year, I am thankful to our Governor Ron DeSantis, our outstanding Hispanic Lt. Governor Jeanette Nunez, our Senators Rubio and Scott, and our Representatives Byron Donalds and Bob Rommel, and our Sheriff Kevin Rambosk. They have all kept in touch and helped keep our businesses and schools open and our county and state safe! Happy New Year.

Mary DePrisco, Naples

Betty White brought joy for a lifetime

Dear Betty White, I'm not sure where to address this fan letter to, but I know that you're in a place surrounded by all the critters you've saved sitting next to Alan with his arm around you.

Thank you for the joy that you brought us. From your first years on TV in the '40s, your sitcoms and unforgettable talk show appearances.

You've been a household name for me since I was a child. You'll be sorely missed.

Goodbye sweet lady.

Patricia Austin, Bonita Springs

Make 2022 a year to be kind

I pray that 2022 is a year that people choose to get along and be kind to each other. May the politics be taken out of decisions made concerning the health and well-being of us all. Peace to all.

Ronald Martin, Fort Myers

Let immigrants drive trucks, operate equipment

My recent study of Southwest Florida housing brought up a number of points to ponder. The most troubling: A vast number of the folks who fill the RV parks here in winter are retired or soon to retire truck drivers, heavy machinery operators, etc. People who are used to spending most of their time on the road and who feel comfortable with that lifestyle.

We are currently in a crisis mode, soon to get worse. (Just ask Bezos.)

All of those cargo containers sitting on U.S. docks or on ships waiting for port space will not be moving by themselves. The truck drivers and heavy machinery operators (loading) that form a vast segment of the middle class population are retiring.

Meanwhile, thousands of refugees are dying to immigrate here. Let them and three of their family members in once they prove they can earn a commercial driver's license. China now has gone from one to three babies, Italy gives single mothers great tax breaks because of the looming demographics of their aging population.

From 1994-1996 I was a Naples/Collier County Affordable Housing commissioner providing housing for enough workers to service our growing elderly population. This situation is growing to be a national problem.

Let Uncle Sam offer an immediate green card upon obtaining a commercial driver's license!

Alan Codi, Bonita Springs

Military readiness must be prioritized

America has lost too many lives and spent trillions of dollars fighting against totalitarian governments. We are now seeing totalitarian behaviors in the USA. There is an awakening that Marxism has infiltrated universities, government and corporations.

Most concerning is that it’s now infecting the minds of young children and the military. This should be a major concern to all Americans.

Veterans are concerned about the erosion of our national defense. The left views the military as the perfect petri dish for social justice and radical change. Many military leaders have gone “woke” to advance their careers. If this continues, how will the military be used in a constitutional crisis?

Veterans took a lifetime oath to uphold and protect the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.

The stakes are high. Military readiness must be prioritized. Recent mistakes (collisions at sea, loss of a new capital ship through arson, disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan) point to a loss of focus.

Alumni of service academies are concerned about the transition of our youth to future military, government and industry leadership. Academies experience social experimentation from left-leaning administration policies. We support our service academies, but feel an obligation to say that maintaining a warrior culture is critical to the defense of our country.

Colonel Michael Pefley, USAF (Ret.), North Fort Myers

Seeking empathy for Jan. 6 insurrectionists

As the anniversary of the Jan. 6 insurrection by supporters of Donald Trump approaches, I have been seeking ways to have empathy for those “aggrieved citizens” and their supporters.

The only basis upon which I could build this empathy was to convince myself that they were indeed people who continue to fight against a legacy in which they were legally considered human property in their own country to be used only for the enrichment of their owners. Who were declared three-fifths of a person by the U.S. Constitution. Whose government passed laws forbidding them from being educated and mandated their return to enslavement should they escape. Who were terrorized by organized vigilantes from their own communities for over a century after being declared legally free. Who were indiscriminately hung or shot by mobs with the tacit support of local law enforcement for something as mundane as “looking at a white woman.” Who were run down by horses, attacked by dogs and fire-hosed for peacefully marching for the right to vote. Who were threatened with eviction from the land on which they lived if they dare attempted to vote. Who for years had their children miss school and forced to work in the agricultural fields of the South while their contemporary offspring of the landowners merrily furthered their education and employment prospects. Who when allowed, attended substandard, underfunded schools and continue to have that impact reverberate in their communities today. Who were not legally allowed to ride in the front of public conveyance vehicles. Who could not enter the front door or patronize establishments that employed them in menial labor "in the back." Who in 2021 are three times as likely as their white counterparts to be killed by law enforcement while unarmed. And finally who in 2020 had their then-president say, “those people should not decide the election.” Surely the people who stormed the Capitol had similar or equal grievances.

Thomas Minor, Bonita Springs

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Letters to the editor for Saturday, January 1, 2022