Sunday's letters: Honor valor, service and sacrifice on Memorial Day

Remember sacrifices of our fallen heroes

On Memorial Day in America, we the people are so thankful for the brave men and women who have served in the armed forces and died during all our wars.

As we perpetuate the memory of the heroic dead, remember to honor them for their valor, service and sacrifice.

Remind their loved ones that they did not die in vain.

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I urge all people to fly our beautiful American flag and attend any ceremonies held for Memorial Day. As you wear the red poppy, remember that this paper flower represents sacrifice.

A grateful nation does remember! God bless America, one nation under God.

Jean Maxwell Catsakis, Sara De Soto Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, Sarasota

Writer flew B-24 bombers in World War II

A frequent contributor to the letters, Elliot L. Aronin, of Sarasota, departed this world last week, three months after reaching 100 years of age. As a member of “The Greatest Generation,” he piloted B-24 bombers over Europe in World War II to help defeat Nazi Germany and end the horrors inflicted on his fellow Jews.

Blessed with a keen intellect, Elliot was passionate in his beliefs, as espoused in his numerous letters published here over the years. A friend to all, Elliot did his part to defend our way of life – and to also shine a light on many issues plaguing our country.

May his memory be a blessing.Paul E. White, Sarasota

DeSantis’ Florida: Love it or leave it

My goodness! Gov. Ron DeSantis can sure annoy liberal Democrats!

Letter after letter to the editor consistently attacks the governor in the Herald-Tribune. If he is doing such a terrible job, why are people continuing to pour into Florida?

Oh, that’s right, they’re leaving high-tax and high crime-rate states up north run by liberal Democrats.

It must be tough to be a liberal in Florida. The state is run by your archenemies: the evil, conservative Republicans and their leader DeSantis – who, by the way, is popular with a large majority of Floridians.

I would think if the governor has created such a terrible place to live, the unhappy liberals would move to another state that aligns with their views. Please, go!

Mike Kantor, Bradenton

Default or no default? It's up to Biden

The 14th Amendment mandates that interest and any matured principal on the outstanding Treasury bonds and notes that make up $32 trillion of public debt be paid when due, and the government has always collected more than enough revenue to do so.

For example, April revenue was $639 billion and the debt service was $62 billion. So the president and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen have ample funds available to either pay the debt service due and avoid a default or not pay it and cause a default.  It’s that simple.

But the administration wants to keep the threat of a default and a resultant credit downgrade alive to leverage the Republicans into raising the debt limit so as to allow funding the trillions that Congress and the president have authorized to be spent.

So it has been muddling the issue by erroneously conflating not paying debt service when due, which would be a default, and not funding authorized spending (even if for federal salaries, benefits, programs, defense spending and the like), which would not be a default.

With funds clearly available to pay debt service and avoid a U.S. default, it is in President Joe Biden’s hands whether he prevents or causes one.

John A. Lanzetta, Sarasota

Our civilization may be in decline

Am I just projecting onto our culture the physical and mental decline I’m experiencing as I personally get older (93), or is the America our ancestors fought and died for actually in decline?

When I listen to the millions supporting the likes of former President Donald Trump, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, it seems “decline” is already happening.

History is full of cultures and ideologies that once led the world but then declined and died.

America, the moral leader of the world after World War II, is now deeply divided with a dysfunctional government and an angry “white supremacist” contingency that is willing to become an autocracy rather than a democracy.

Millions of Republicans now prioritize gun ownership over our children’s safety and well-being.

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Lying and violence are being normalized by zealots of the right and millions of so-called educated citizens actually believe their lies about fraudulent elections. Amazing!

Do they identify with these autocratic leaders to protect themselves from fear, like a teenage bully might identify with his abusive father to avoid his wrath? Whatever happened to reason and truth?

Unless we can correct this “decline,” the America we once knew and loved is our past – and not our future.

Stephen G. Prichard, Venice

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: On Memorial Day, show your gratitude for those who sacrificed all