Readers comment on bills involving abortion, classroom lessons and commission districts
Individual freedom
The Florida House passed House Bill 7, “Individual Freedom.” The title of the bill contradicts the content of the bill. The bill takes away the right from all students to learn about systematic discrimination. People who are impacted by systematic discrimination know about it from their lived experiences.
The Senate companion bill states this about instruction and instructional material for public education, K-20: “Any individual should not be made to feel discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress on account of his or her race.” Schools in Germany teach their students about Nazi Germany. German society wants to make sure its citizens never forget about Nazi Germany so that the atrocities never happen again. Freedom of speech is not allowed in China or North Korea. Why is the Republican majority preventing freedom of speech?
The “Individual Freedom” bill is accompanied by another bill in the 2022 session. The bill will ban abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. I understand religious reasons against abortion. I do not intend to diminish the importance of religious objections to abortion. I respect other religious beliefs; however, your beliefs should not be imposed on other people.
The individual freedom as purported in HB 7 should be allowed for a woman to have the individual freedom to proceed with an abortion.
Elaine Golman, Gainesville
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Admit problems exist
When I read The Sun and look at issues some Republicans support, I wonder if these Florida Republicans have ever picked up a book or studied history. “Freedom” in Florida has a whole different meaning. Freedom to be racist and a bully?
I learned in humanities in 1993 of Plato’s cave, the Edmund Pettus Bridge and Adolf Hitler’s “Mein Kampf” (total garbage). I could tell my son with confidence what a bunch of trash Hitler’s “Mein Kampf” was. Plato’s cave story refers to the truth coming into focus, into the light.
In July 2010 I drove over the Edmund Pettus Bridge, got out of my car in 104-degree heat and reflected on the history of the bridge, which opened May 25, 1940, named after a Ku Klux Klan state leader. Gov. George Wallace sent state troopers to brutally batter peaceful protesters for Black voter suppression on “Bloody Sunday,” March 7, 1965.
If we study history we see racism in all other parts of the world, as well as our own country. We need to teach our children the truth about voter suppression and racism. LGBTQ children are painfully bullied in other countries. Why on earth would we want that for our children in Florida — to be bullied for who they are in their hearts, minds and bodies?
What better way to fix problems such as racism and bullying than to admit the problems exists? That’s when true healing begins.
Melanie Richard, Gainesville
Not gerrymandering
The recent guest column by Mary Alford, "Local bill is a political assault on the Alachua County Charter and voters,” had so much spin that I got dizzy.
Commissioner Alford is a smart person and knows very well this is not “gerrymandering.” It merely guarantees that the citizens she dislikes (in Newberry/Archer/Alachua/Hawthorne, etc.) might actually get representation on the County Commission. The county draws the actual districts, so simply allowing all citizens in a district to determine their representation is not “gerrymandering.”
I’m sure they’ll find a way to shut it down to keep our county under single-party rule. But I personally would rather see everyone actually represented — crazy idea!
Dan Richman, Gainesville
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This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Letters to the editor for Feb. 23, 2022
