She's WOKE, he's not; handicapped parking; DeSantis, Trump, integrity, COVID | March 30

She finds religious meaning in WOKE

After much consideration I realized I am a WOKE person.

Please allow me the liberty to explain my version of WOKE. To me, it means What Our King Expects. My king is not the 21st century ruler, but the King born over 2000 years ago. The King who taught the lessons of life. I was raised in the south during segregation. I know how society's rules hampered the ability for so many to achieve their personal goals and gain respect.

If you want to see the real WOKE in action, stop at any church and see how they are clothing the poor, feeding the hungry, giving comfort to those in pain and showing what the real meaning of WOKE is. Our church communities show no disdain for the gay person, straight person, rich or poor person, black , white or brown person.

We are taught to show love, charity, forgiveness and hope above all.

I am WOKE because I believe in reading the history of this country, both good and bad. I am WOKE because I chose to wear a mask and get vaccinated. I am WOKE because I can show respect for those I do not agree with and still show love to them.

So yes, I am WOKE and proud of it.

Jane Gilson, Jensen Beach

Major traffic concern: Brightline, U.S. 1, Aviation: Eye big Vero Beach neighborhood issue holistically

Helping folks survive? Micro-housing: Tackle Treasure Coast's big affordable housing problem by thinking small

Here's how to get more access to disabled person parking spaces

I would like to suggest a commonsense, practical solution to the problem that occurs when people abuse the use of disabled person parking stickers. The number of violations is staggering.

I realize one cannot always recognize a particular disability that necessitates the need for a sticker, but that is not the issue. If every sticker had a mandated photo laminated on it, that would easily prevent a huge percentage of misuse. If the driver or a passenger is not the person identified by the sticker, there should be an automatic, substantial fine.

I realize the police cannot wait around for a driver to return to a parked car, but the possibility of being caught and embarrassed might reduce the use of stickers being used by the friends and relatives of a spouse, parent, child, etc. Many of these stickers actually were issued to people who are deceased!

Simple solution: When applying for your permit, you must simply include a small photo of the person it has been issued to, which would be laminated on the sticker (similar to a passport or license photo). This might drastically reduce the number of illegal uses and substantially increase the number of available disabled person parking spaces.

Perhaps code enforcement could make this suggestion.

Maureen Steigerwald, Vero Beach

COVID: Bridge club wrong to ban unvaccinated players

For over a year the Vero Beach Bridge Club enforced a policy of discrimination against unvaccinated players.

As data about the effectiveness of these shots became available, we were still not allowed to play. As vaccinated players at the club continued to catch COVID-19, we were still banned. The club recently stopped the policy when notified by the state that it is against the law.

Discrimination is wrong. They should be ashamed of themselves.

Nancy Lineback, Vero Beach

Trump could be mean-spirited, but proof in pudding

The following is in reply to the recent correspondent who questioned why we would need a man like Donald Trump to be president. During his administration:

• Our inflation rate was 1.4%.

• The interest rate for a 30-year mortgage was 2.7%.

• Gasoline was $2.18 per gallon.

• Our IRAs and 401(k)s were flourishing.

• There was no concern about major bank failures.

• The United States was energy independent.

• Our southern border was well controlled and not dominated by criminal cartels who engage in fentanyl smuggling and human trafficking.

• There were no significant supply chain problems.

• The United States was respected by its allies and enemies.

• I realize Trump can be mean-spirited at times, and is easy to dislike.  However, are we all better off now than we were four years ago?

Herb Brennan, Fort Pierce

DeSantis, Trump lack necessary integrity

Seems nobody wants to use the words, but our governor seems like a race-baiter who will do anything to become president. God forbid he is able to achieve this end.

I consider myself to be a moderate and believe he is too far to the RIGHT to suit me. I consider his primary rival Donald Trump to be a liar and two-faced.

Neither man has the integrity to be the leader of the free world.

Elmer C. Meiser, Sebastian

Liberals' efforts to tame Trump power his supporters

I was a liberal until I came to my senses over 50 years ago.

It was after the big wars that involved most countries of the world, and, I realized the futility and stupidity of such wars, the unnecessary deaths of young people. It seemed the only reason for leaders who signed on for war was power.

Nothing has changed. Leaders of all parties give their OKs for war, but, it seems liberals actually love war or uprisings, domestic or international. It is a source of pride to liberals to back Black Lives Matter, Antifa, wild protest marches that result in loss of life and property. Notice how many Democrats sat back quietly while innocent citizens were unjustly accused and attacked, verbally or physically, if those citizens are not Democrats.

Notice the bloated egos of most of the liberal district attorneys in big cities. They are liberals who charge conservatives. Case in point, President Donald Trump: The best president we have ever had.

The  Democrats will never give up on their Trump witch hunt, but they will never win because their charges are false. The current chaos being caused by District Attorney Alvin Bragg in New York City is so phony and contrived many of the attorneys in that office reportedly are threatening to leave.

I warn the liberals that the support base for Trump will grow by the hundreds of thousands. We are tired of being treated like second-rate citizens by the liberals. We are intelligent and want only what is best for America, and that is not globalism and love for China, and, certainly, not liberalism, which in my opinion espouses violence, lack of respect and honor for America.

Nancy Celano, Sebastian

DeSantis fixes problems that don't exist; absent on real woes

Our would-be dictator has finally begun showing who he truly is. I can only hope Floridians and the rest of the country are paying attention and can put political differences aside to make sure he doesn't come close to the White House. We should, as well, vote out of the state Legislature all those who blindly do his bidding.

Where are the problems this supposed knight in shining armor can ride in and fix? Critical race theory is not being taught in our public grade schools. Gay indoctrination is not being taught in our public grade schools. There is nothing wrong with being "woke" and trying to learn about the past to help make sure injustices are not repeated. School boards being nonpartisan has worked extremely well. There is no need to change it.

Now that the COVID virus is winding down, we can be thankful to people like Dr. Anthony Fauci, who spoke the truth about how contagious it is. If the millions that died from the virus could speak, I'm sure they would agree. I'm sure they would also have a few words for this farce of a surgeon general our governor appointed.

Ron DeSantis does nothing more than make up problems that don't exist and claim he alone can fix them. Housing, insurance, health care and climate problems do exist. They only get lip service.

Russia invaded a sovereign country. This is a war crime, not some territorial dispute. To watch DeSantis turn 180 degrees from his previous support of Ukraine, just to try and garner votes, shows how untrustworthy he truly is.

Donald Doscher, Stuart

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: She's WOKE, he's not; integrity over parking, DeSantis, Trump, COVID