Letters and feedback: March 15, 2022
Don't make us spring forward and fall back
Last October I sent a letter to the editor regarding the problems with Daylight Saving Time. Well, it's that time of year again and even FLORIDA TODAY lists the harmful things it can cause with our health.
An article on page 9A of FLORIDA TODAY on March 13 listed the risks following the switch of taking an hour away from us. Why do we have to adjust to something that isn't good for us? Who can I call regarding this issue? I contacted Rep. Bill Posey and didn't even receive a response.
Florida and 18 other states have enacted legislation or passed resolutions to provide for year-round daylight saving time — if Congress were to allow such a change. That has yet to happen.
I do realize that there are many, many more problems in our state and country now. This is just a tiny thing that should be so, so simple to correct. Who else should I contact that would even be interested in fixing this awful thing? Like I said before, if someone wants to play golf an hour longer, let them deal with the sleep/work issues and leave the rest of us alone.
Sandra Patrick, Cocoa
DeSantis' anti-equality, anti-consumer actions
Our state's GOP-controlled legislature has passed controversial laws that would create DeSantis' own security office to investigate "election crimes," ban some discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity in the classroom, and ban public schools and private businesses from teachings that might make people feel guilty for historical events committed by people of their races.
They recently passed bills SB 1024 and HB 741, which will remove incentives to installing rooftop solar panels and curb net metering. Net metering allows homeowners to sell their excess power to the grid, and for FPL to deliver power when the sun isn’t generating any. This new law will allow FPL to lower the credits solar customers receive and charge additional costs such as minimum monthly payments, access fees, and facility charges. Basically, crippling private investment in solar power and enabling FPL to monopolize solar power generation and distribution.
This direct attack on the Florida consumer is no different than the direct attack on the LBGTQ community, on the teaching of Black history, and on anyone that makes white people feel uncomfortable. DeSantis wants to silence teachers and students alike. And reward corporations at the expense of the citizens.
DeSantis won by only 23,000 votes. But he believes he has the mandate to punish any part of the electorate that doesn’t kowtow to his conservative culture warrior views and corporate allegiances. His motto seems to be "Let no good people or ideal go unpunished." Let’s not forget when the time comes to vote him out.
Jeff Dorman, Satellite Beach
Verbal toxins flowing from governor's office
The juxtaposition in the March 13 paper could not be missed.
First, Gov. DeSantis agrees to meet with Disney executives over the “Parental Rights” bill to look for compromises and next he slams the company in front of his supporters with hateful commentary. Adjacent to that story is one depicting the lagoon’s failing grades.
It occurs to me we may be missing one of the primary causes of the lagoon’s pollution, which are the toxins being spewed when our governor talks out of both sides of his mouth.
Donald Thomas, Melbourne Beach
Teacher finds learning tools in classic works
Two examples from 25 years of teaching regarding book banning in (school) libraries:
As a new teacher of a sophomore honors English class at Eau Gallie High School in 2000, I assigned "The Scarlet Letter" by Nathaniel Hawthorne. One parent objected, so I asked my department head for help. He said, "Any student in an honors class is headed for college; this book is on college reading lists. If the student is not prepared for this type of challenging reading, they will not be ready for college." We read and discussed the book about an unmarried woman who had a child and would not name the father. As in all school texts, this offered students stories that our society has lived or is living.
In high school, we teach "Romeo and Juliet" by Shakespeare. It is a bawdy, rollicking tale of young teen love with disastrous consequences for their families. Our state-approved books provide the full text, but their notes are sanitized; students are frequently bored and don’t see the relevance to their lives. Our class learned the edgy language’s meaning so they could understand the pain and anger that words caused: “All are punished.”
I know of no person, ever, who would take these (or similar) texts as suggesting or encouraging sexual behavior. Students see societal norms and discuss the painful consequences of breaking them. Please, parents: Teachers are on your side, supporting your goals for mature, responsible student behavior.
Christopher R. “Kit” Adams, Melbourne
Leaders of world must 'hammer' Putin
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."
All of the world’s leaders, the countries’ political parties’ talking heads, and those with their heads in the sand should be ashamed. You are supposed to be leaders and protectors.
History has shown that the only thing the Putins of the world understand is to “hammer” them until they have no will to continue.
And yes, it is that simple.
Ken Leichtle, Cape Canaveral
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Letters and feedback: March 15, 2022
