Letters: Educators must reject far right’s ‘omission’ agenda of book, movie banning

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Educators must reject ‘omission’ agenda

Our public school education is being wrecked by those far right-wing activists that insist children see, hear and speak no evil in public classrooms. The problem is, “evil” is anyone not precisely like them, any ideas that bewilder or terrify their small exclusionary minds. They speak against teachers “indoctrinating” students, but those banning books (and now a Disney movie for goodness sakes) are the ones desperately trying to indoctrinate – indoctrinate by omission.

Hide Black history! Pretend racism and sexual and gender identity issues don’t exist! Keep our children ignorant! Sadly, these anti-learning extremists do have the right to keep their unfortunate children ignorant.

They should not, however, be able to keep other people’s children ignorant. Such ignorance will not serve our children, our community, our state, or our nation well. In fact, it will lure away or keep away our best and brightest. That will have economic and other societal impact. We’ll all ultimately suffer.

School Board members, your job is to support education, not sabotage it. Please have the courage to say ‘no’ to destructive tactics and goals and ‘yes’ to optimizing student awareness and learning, even about topics that may horrify some parents. Let the objectors stifle their own children. Leave the rest alone. Let teachers do their job.

— Dolly Berthelot, Pensacola

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Why are we losing Social Security?

I just received my AARP Bulletin and in it they talked about Social Security running out of money in 2035. I would like to know why? When President Roosevelt started Social security that money was not to touched.

Somewhere along the way the politicians voted to take money from Social Security and use it for other things, but they never put it back. Why? You always hear that Social Security may run out of money one of these days, but you never hear of money running out for welfare or food stamps.

I would like to know why the politicians who voted to take money out of our Social Security funds can’t vote to put that money back?

— Herbert Kerrigan, Pensacola

Pensacola can solve homelessness

I attended the CivicCon meeting regarding the very difficult topic of homelessness and agreed with the speaker that the best approach to the “problem” was providing a collaborative, coordinated effort by the citizens.

We have to work together, or we will fail to solve the problem. We can be very proud of Pensacola, as we have the potential, as we have great organizations, seeking to solve the problem! We have a city government who is willing to work with the groups, and a state attorney who realizes the importance of civil citations over criminal citations. Once a criminal citation is issued, a person has a difficult time securing a job, or buying a home. Unfortunately, the citations are issued in matters that the person had no control.

Despite all our potential, we have roadblocks, impairing our ability to achieve success! The groups argue among themselves. They think their way is the only way, and do not seek ways to ‘weave’ all the components into a mutual, collaborative, coordinated effort. Also, a single person can stop us in our tracks. For instance, the foul mouth, dirty, soiled clothes lady yelling expletives at others outside of the Rex Theatre will defeat all good intentions, and NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) will win the ball game.

So, people, let’s work together to solve our problem. It can be done. Together, we can!

— William Rhette Anderson, Pensacola

Evangelical nationalists won’t define ‘woke’

“Woke”, according to evangelical nationalists, is a cancer spreading in American thought. The word “woke” didn’t exist before 2014. Before that, woke behavior was called open mindedness, social awareness, even empathy.

That is why the evangelical nationalists use woke constantly but never define it: it is a feature of every human emotion, but if they called it what it is, they would be denying their own humanity. That is, they are ill humored, mean spirited, elitist, and greedy. Greed, for want of a better word, is not good, unless your values are pegged to the dollar rather than the happiness, health and safety of all the people. That is: I got mine, screw you.

Empathy is acknowledging a person’s feelings. It transcends cultures, hence the Native American proverb “never judge a man before you have walked a mile in his moccasins.” The ability to understand, in your heart, the thoughts and feelings of our fellow humans. Somehow, the evangelical nationalists see this as a bad thing!

Woke is not sympathy. Evangelical nationalists are big on sympathy. In sympathy you regret that another has unpleasant feelings that assault his or her basic humanity. But it is all cognitive; in your head. Not in your heart. That is why evangelical nationalists can, with clear consciences, deplore citizens inability to access health care, but do everything possible to kill Obamacare and expand Medicare.

“It’s their problem, not mine. That’s just life.” No. It is who you are.

— Grover Diehl, Gulf Breeze

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Perdido Key beach deed discovery important

The recent discovery of the original deeds pertaining to perpetual public use of beaches located on Perdido Key is most significant. We look forward to a positive outcome for Escambia County citizens from Mr. Bergosh and fellow commissioners.

— Joan and Charles Shellito, Pensacola

Pensacola International Airport has been an embarrassment of late

What is it with the Pensacola International Airport? First the elevators and escalators were out of commission. Now, all arrivals after sunset are canceled because the runway lights don’t work.

What kind of podunk berg do we live in? I saw a movie once where all the citizens of this tiny outpost in Alaska lined their airstrip with all their vehicles, cars, snowmobiles, etc., whatever had a headlight to illuminate it so a critically ill child could be emergency evacuated back to civilization.

Maybe the mayor should put a call out to our citizenry?

— Ken Scheffler, Milton

Pensacola mayor can curb bike fatalities

I would like to issue a challenge to our newly elected Mayor D.C. Reeves. Let’s get off the top 10 in Florida’s bicycle pedestrian fatality list and get on the top bicycle pedestrian friendly cities in the country list.

I have a couple of ideas for you to ponder. Sidewalks! There is no sidewalk on Airport Boulevard between Carpenter Creek and Barns & Noble. Bicycle paths down the middle of a six lane, one direction road (Davis and Brent Lane for example), are you kidding?

Eliminate bus fares. They’re a hassle for the drivers, costly for low wage workers who ride every day, and delay timely service. I know ECAT is a county department, but I’m sure you have influence. Get Amtrack service restored, and the Escambia Bay shoreline trail built and we’re on to something!

I’m excited to have someone with your young energy and progressive thinking in the mayor’s office. Let’s go D.C.! We’re with you all the way!

— David Vear, Pensacola

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This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Letters: Educators must reject ‘omission’ agenda of book banning