Sarasota County commissioners must stand up for public libraries

County commissioners must protect libraries

There are growing rumors that the Sarasota County Commission will soon be asked to vote to defund public libraries. 

At the risk of mentioning my great-something Uncle Benjamin Franklin too much, I did want to point out that a plaque at his gravesite bears these words: "B. Franklin, Printer."

More: Opinion: Sarasota County's culture warriors should read the room and leave libraries alone

Although he achieved a remarkable amount for one human in one lifetime, the thing he was most proud of was contributing to sharing knowledge through books. In fact, he even founded the very first lending library in the United States.

The county commissioners must resist any entreaties to defund Benjamin Franklin's legacy and one of our national treasures – public libraries.

Kelly Franklin, Sarasota

Franklin is a former book publisher.

Plans for Gaza after fighting ends

The Biden administration's top advisers are in discussion with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the post-battle intentions of Israel in Gaza.

While Israel has stated its intentions of keeping military control of Gaza at least for the immediate future, Biden's advisers, including John Kirby, are expressing their disagreement with the philosophy.

Considering our post-battle actions in Iraq and Afghanistan, it is understandable that Israel may be a bit reluctant to follow any U.S. guidance on how to handle a lasting military resolution.

Write to us: How to send a letter to the editor

The method we seem to have developed is: Take it over, win the battle, initiate Jeffersonian-based democracy, win the hearts and minds of the people, give it back to your adversary.

Lee Hoffman, Lakewood Ranch

Book helps explain Middle East war

Some years ago, I read "Arab and Jew: Wounded Spirits in a Promised Land" by David K. Shipler.

It is a nonfiction book that has enlarged my knowledge about the problems confronting Israelis and Palestinians. I am rereading the book and have found that it was updated and expanded in 2015.

While Shipler is neither Arab nor Jew, his book is about the attitudes and stereotypes that Arabs and Jews have of one another. Every person in the book is real; there are no composite characters.

Everyone who cares about what is happening today should read Shipler's book.

Joan Mathews, Englewood

Facts and truth are best defense

A war is coming to and in America. It has yet to have a name. It may be the "Democracy War" or the "Autocratic War."

Germane to its purpose shall be a fight for a continuation of our liberal democracy or a vanguard for tyranny and autocracy.

It shall be brutal as so many Americans are so isolated, uninformed and steadfast in supporting a political belief that is tantamount to treason. It is a political belief that is based on lies and a cult of personality – but it is surely not one that is based on history, facts, truths and ethics.

Be prepared, as our culture, our heritage and future as a country shall be at stake.

The best defense is to objectively analyze facts and truths – and to act with sincere purpose.

Al Mahan, Venice

Blame Biden for prices, poor leadership

In response to the guest column Nov. 6 comparing President Joe Biden to FDR and JFK: What planet do these two authors live on?

Let’s start with prices. Every time I buy food or gas, I curse President Biden.

Just watch the news:

The border is wide open, which scares people wondering who is coming across. Most of the added jobs are just people going back to work after the pandemic. The climate crisis is hogwash, with China and other countries building coal-fired plants at alarming rates.

During President Donald Trump's four years in office, there were no wars. I guess Russia and Hamas were just waiting for an opportune time to start conflicts.

Biden has not restored American leadership in the world. It has diminished greatly.

I’m very scared for my grandkids and great-grandkids.

Jeff Jaxheimer, Venice

Reject flawed men: Consider Harris, Haley

Ron or Don?

Just say, "No" to both!

Both consistently display the dark side of humanity in their own need-for-power-driven way.

Gov. Ron DeSantis may have more of a conscience than former President Donald Trump, but his views are biased, bigoted and brutal in terms of diversity. Trump, meanwhile, remains his psychopathic self without remorse, guilt or shame as he cheats and lies for pure gain.

We need to vote for someone who will fight to keep democracy alive and have respect for diversity. If you are truly conservative, you should honor the notion of respect for all people.

Some have said, “If you want a job well done, appoint a woman.” Is it time? We just might see Vice President Kamala Harris vs. former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley!

Keep an open mind – and start really listening and reading.

Joan C. Peters, Osprey

Support, education for epileptics

November is National Epilepsy Awareness Month and we want to thank the Herald-Tribune for including “Epilepsy is the fourth most common neurological condition in the world,” by Dr. Mary Ulrich, in the Nov. 7 Health & Fitness supplement.

JoshProvides Epilepsy Assistance Foundation was founded in 2008 by Bruce and Sandi Chapnick as a legacy to their son, Josh, who passed away from a fatal head injury sustained from a seizure. He was only 28 years old.

Based in Sarasota, JoshProvides offers seizure alert devices, transportation to medical appointments for those prohibited from driving, financial assistance, seizure alert training of service dogs and an epilepsy support group.

Education and awareness are key to helping those living with epilepsy.

Visit https://joshprovides.org and learn how you can support our purple warriors and respond to someone experiencing a seizure.

Andria Bilan, CEO, JoshProvides Epilepsy Assistance Foundation, Sarasota

Israel will prevail

It has been just over a month since Hamas terrorists carried out the brutal and barbaric slaughter and kidnapping of Israelis. Lest we forget, more than 1,400 Israelis were slaughtered.

The terrorists killed many who were attending a peace concert, and it was done with the express purpose of killing Jews and killing the Jewish state.

Remember 9/11? America retaliated and destroyed and dismantled most of the terrorist resources. During the Holocaust, the Jews of Europe did not have guns to fight the Nazis.

But Israel, founded in the wake of the Holocaust, has guns and tanks and air power – and it lives by the credo of “never again.”

As the anthem "Am Yisrael Chai" declares, the people and the land of Israel will live on.

Judith A. Koziol, Sarasota

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Sarasota County must not defund public libraries