Letters to the editor for Wednesday, January 11, 2023

Weaponizing the term 'woke'

Michael Sales raised some important points in his letter (Jan. 7) regarding DeSantis using meaningless shibboleths like "woke" "to gin up hatred against those opposing injustice and ignorance, rather than learning with them."

It's peculiar that while DeSantis uses this term as a battle cry, do you ever hear it in everyday conversation? I am lucky to have friends and associates with a variety of political views and affiliations, and I have yet to hear "woke" in everyday conversation.

Who is "woke"? I don't think I am. How about you? As Sales writes, it's a meaningless term used just to gin up hatred.

Peter Johnson, Fort Myers

DeSantis not good for Floridians

When Ron DeSantis was sworn in as governor on Jan. 2, he made his usual stump speech for the 2024 presidential race. He crowed about his 20 percent margin of victory in the November election, about “woke” (whatever that means) dying in Florida, and about individual freedom in Florida. Let’s take a closer look at these boasts and what they mean for our state.First, his huge victory in November. When the state Legislature submitted a redistricting plan in the spring, Mr. DeSantis rejected it and substituted his own highly gerrymandered congressional map, which would likely give Republicans a potential 20-8 advantage in a state where the GOP has only a slight voter registration advantage. When voting and civil rights groups asked the state Supreme Court to block this blatantly unfair map in May, the court finally announced its decision not to wade into the ongoing dispute over the map – only two weeks before candidates must qualify for the 2022 elections. As a result, the primary and general elections proceeded with the governor’s redistricting map. Now this is a real example of a rigged election!Second, personal freedom. The governor emphasized Florida residents’ right not to wear masks or get vaccines during the height of the COVID pandemic. He threatened to cut off federal funds to school districts that imposed mask mandates with no actual authority to do so, and he also threatened to fire school superintendents who imposed masking. What were the results of his opposition to medical experts’ recommended precautions to minimize the spread of the pandemic? How many school children who caught the virus but showed no symptoms infected their parents or grandparents, resulting in how many severe cases or even deaths? Woke might not be the only thing that dies in Florida.Third, what about “woke”? Teaching American history and informing students about the mistakes and tragedies of our past, in addition to our positive policies and practices, is not a form of liberal indoctrination. It’s an accurate representation of our collective past, from which students can learn ways to improve our nation. They are, after all, the future of our country. But Mr. DeSantis has actively supported extreme right-leaning candidates for school boards in elections that are supposed to be nonpartisan. He has also failed to speak out against parents’ insistence to ban books and sanitize the content of what is taught in schools.Is Ron DeSantis’ boasting really justified? Is he good for Floridians. Not in my view.James G. Goodale, Fort Myers

Return to McCarthyism

How could anyone over 60 vote for DeSantis? Remember when McCarthyism went after educators and librarians? 600 educators lost their jobs. When a leader attacks our educators, it’s as if we are living under a dictatorship. America is not Iran. We don’t need “A Morality Police” as defined by DeSantis. Next we will be jailed if we say anything negative about him. Wake up America. Diversity of thinking is not our enemy, it is being asleep at the switch. Vote with brain and knowledge!

George Joeckel, Naples

Uplifting relief from negativity!

I am 90 years old. What a week this has been. Who would ever believe a football game could bring a country together. The prayers, the news coverage, the well wishes for this young man have been amazing. Coming from a football city, the home of Notre Dame, having brothers, sons, nephews and grandsons playing this game, it has been amazing. Damar's amazing road to recovery unbelievable; it could have gone so differently. Prayers from everywhere being said for him shows the power of prayer. If politicians took note of what a great country we could have, instead of the negativity in politics.

Joanne Kelley, Cape Coral

Legislature not helping homeowners

The Florida Legislature has demonstrated a willingness to help insurance companies more than consumers. The reason there is above average insurance litigation in Florida is because there is little incentive by insurance companies to provide fair settlements. The Legislature is making it even less likely to get a fair settlement. For example, our wind insurance settlement offer for Hurricane Ian was 10 percent of what was submitted; slightly more than what we paid in premiums over the last 23 years. Obvious leaks in our roof were missed by the engineering company hired by the insurance company. We are dealing with our fourth claims agent. The only way to get a fair settlement is expensive litigation that further delays payment by the insurance company for needed repairs. The Legislature has taken away the opportunity to recoup legal fees after fighting for a fair settlement, further punishing a homeowner who has been hit financially and psychologically. Legislative changes support minimal roof repair rather than encouraging repairs that could reduce future damage. Our insurance policy promised “replacement value.” Unfair insurance settlements are forcing many stressed hurricane survivors to sell AS IS homes at an additional financial loss. Florida insurance companies should be focused on providing fair settlements for disasters like Hurricane Ian rather than supporting high paid lobbyists. Our Legislature should be bailing out homeowners, not the insurance companies. Please write your Florida representatives with your insurance settlement concerns.

Tom and Annie Babcock, Fort Myers Beach

Republican fringe harming party

The debate vote for Speaker of the House might be good if you are looking for media ratings. It is certainly drawing a lot of attention. At the same time though, it is confirming many people's belief that Republicans have lost the ability to govern. It's one thing to fight for what you perceive as an injustice. It is quite another to put together a viable plan to overcome that injustice. The opponents of McCarthy have no plan.

They went into this with no support. They sound like a bunch of whining politicians like the progressives they despise. Seems the 10 percent fringe group of Republicans better represent the party than the 90 percent of Republican members elected by their voters. Most of the Republicans not voting for McCarthy are focused on keeping themselves mentioned/featured on TV and social media, largely for the purpose of fundraising from their supporters and are doing it for their own personal gain and ego, not the American people.

McCarthy will be the best speaker for now. He has spent a long time putting together legislation and an agenda. He has agreed to the motion to vacate if one member doesn’t believe he’s doing the job and many other concessions.

There isn't a viable alternative. Seems too many Republicans are more comfortable being the minority, this way they don’t have to make any hard decisions and you can make noise without having to do anything. GOP has so completely become the party of "no" they are now incapable of governing. Republicans will win over voters and the presidency when they get back to being the party of fiscal responsibility, show some loyalty and unity, until then they will keep losing to Democrats and keep losing independent voters.

Lou Walker, Cape Coral

Biden's sad farce at border

What a joke the border visit photo op was, made by our cowardly and lying president!

Some newscaster mentioned that it was his first trip to the border in 40 years. Did he go to a major point of crossing -- NO! He went to El Paso, where all you saw, but didn’t hear, was Biden talking to officials. If you are a Fox News viewer, you know that every night they show the hundreds and thousands of illegal immigrants wading across the river. In this photo op, not a single trespasser was seen. In the meantime, he, his press secretary, and the security head stand in front of the public, telling us that “the border is secure,” and that whatever is happening “is the fault of the Republicans!” What a sad farce, by the leader of our country.

Marilyn Doherty Naples

More hypocrisy from the Left

Probably not widely spread by the mainstream news, but it has just been discovered that President Biden had classified documents locked in a closet in Washington D.C. Following the revelation that Trump had classified documents, Biden said he could not understand how someone could be so careless and encouraged a criminal investigation. Of course the Left wing media called for Trump's head and the DOJ raided Mar-a-Lago, started an investigation and even appointed a special counsel to investigate. Of course the National Archives blistered Trump. So watch what we now hear from all these people and the actions they take as they find out that one of their own committed the same acts. Want to bet it is pushed under the rug? This may be the biggest example of hypocrisy of the Left yet.

Ron Wobbeking, Naples

Photo caption misleading

As part of The News-Press’s celebration of the anniversary of the January 6 riot, today’s (Jan. 7) issue has a caption beneath a photograph of the ex-wife of Capitol Police Officer Bill Evans which says he “died during the attack on the Capitol.“ Fact is, Officer Evans died nearly three months later when a follower of the Nation of Islam rammed his car into a Capitol barricade.

Do you think your readers know the facts of this death or did you distort the issue so as to cause your readers to believe it occurred on January 6? Another fact is that the only person to die by violence on January 6 was an unarmed woman named Ashli Babbitt who was shot and killed by another Capitol Police officer.

I think we all know the truth now about Officer Evans’ tragic death and what the facts say about your newspaper. If you do not publish a retraction, then you should this letter.

Gary Marsh, Estero

Separate attack killed officer

You post a picture of the "ex-wife of Officer Bill Evans who died during the attack on the Capitol." This is in an article on January 6.The only problem is that officer Bill Evans was murdered by a "devout Nation of Islam follower" (NY Post) on April 2.And you want me to rely on you as a reliable source of news.

Richard Patner, Bonita Springs

Governor's war on education

Gov. DeSantis has declared war on quality education in Florida. He has made ideologically motivated appointments to leadership positions in our universities and is conducting surveys regarding their "diversity, equity and inclusion, and critical race theory" teachings. The message from DeSantis is clear. He wants to inhibit instructors from teaching students to be inquiring and independent thinkers. Will his action stunt the growth and narrow the vision of students?

In rallying against "trendy ideology," DeSantis primarily wheels out slogans designed to appeal to Trump supporters. Martin Luther advocated church reforms. Thomas Jefferson urged the overthrow of a monarch. Abraham Lincoln pushed to end slavery. They each subscribed to the trendy ideology of their day and faced vehement opposition by contemporaries, those happy to keep the status quo.

DeSantis doubtless hopes his actions will appeal to a national base which is attracted to his authoritarian, chest-thumping ways. Thinking people, students especially, should welcome exposure to ideas contrary to their own. It helps open their eyes to the wider world and prepares them to be more tolerant of those who are different.

Bruce Beardsley, Naples

What's the problem, governor?

As a retired university professor at the nation's oldest degree-granting Historically Black College/University (HBCU), I read with great interest "DeSantis targets Fla. universities' 'trendy ideology'" (Jan. 9). The gubernatorial request begets some clarification, e.g.:

(1) What exactly is the problem being explored?

(2) To what extent has the alleged problem been verified to even exist?

(3) Has the governor's office perused the annual reports of Florida's 40 universities and colleges?

(4) Has the governor's office perused the 5-year and 10-year reports filed by these 40 institutions with their regional accrediting agency, i.e., Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)?

(5) Could not "a full understanding of the operational expenses of state institutions" be gained by reading each university/college's budget submission shared with the Florida state Legislature? Is this request impugning the integrity of the Republican-dominant state Legislature that passed the budget of these 40 institutions?

As Mr. DeSantis' office pores through the plethora of aforementioned reports, Florida taxpayers can rest assured that AY 2022-23 reports are being compiled. I would also remind the governor that "inclusion" and "diversity" are part-and-parcel of every quality educational experience.

While exclusion and homogeneity may be end goals for certain political factions, they are diametrically opposed to higher education's penultimate aims of tolerance and critical thinking.

James L. DeBoy, Fort Myers

Attempt to destroy democracy

David Brooks, esteemed political and cultural writer for The New York Times and highly respected commentator for NPR, recently referred to the Far Right faction of the GOP House of Representatives as strongly nihilistic. Nihilism is the rejection of moral values and religious beliefs. It is radical skepticism with no loyalties and an impulse to destroy. You can easily include the vastly egomaniac Trump in that group. When will rational people realize that those in this group are attempting to destroy our democracy?

Tom Beck, Naples

Payback, gloating, revenge politics

A politician who displays sincere humility is admirable. One who gloats over the failure of others is not admirable, but foolishly shortsighted as soon the tables are turned. The struggle of the House of Representatives to select a leader is a tragic consequence of revenge politics and benefits no one. Call your elected representatives and remind them that they serve all voters in their district or state —Republicans, Democrats and independents. Personal ambition, payback, and gloating are the enemies of responsible leadership.

Peter Fagan, Naples

Beware this truly dangerous man

Gov. DeSantis is now attempting to take over what is taught in higher education (see New College of Florida changes) just as he has elementary and secondary education. His goal is to turn Florida and he hopes the USA into an extreme right-wing state and country. Shades of ”Nineteen Eighty-Four.” He is using his battle with Disney corporation to cow private business.

This what happens in a state where most people are either transients or sun and fun worshipers and totally disconnected from politics. Beware of this truly dangerous man.

Albert King, Naples

Saved, for a while, by 'bad sand'

From the Automobile Blue Book, 1924, Volume 2. "Route 525 Fort Myers to Naples, 37.3 miles. Via Estero and Bonita Springs. Shell road all the way. Through Pine Woods with a few groves adjacent to the towns. Eventually the road will be finished across the Everglades to Miami. It is now completed about 35 miles west of Miami and it is possible to go from Naples to the end of this route to Marco, but the road South of Naples is unimproved and bad sand will be encountered."

That is 99 years ago. Too bad we ran out of "bad sand," maybe we would not be in this convoluted crazy development orgy we are on in Naples.

Charlie Berry, Naples

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Letters to the editor for Wednesday, January 11, 2023