Sunday's letters: Time to act, 'inappropriate' books, more local, state news

Sarasota Herald-Tribune
·4 min read
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In March, students in North Fort Myers protested the Parental Rights in Education ("Don't Say Gay") bill during their lunch break. The bill became law later that month.
In March, students in North Fort Myers protested the Parental Rights in Education ("Don't Say Gay") bill during their lunch break. The bill became law later that month.

Resist actions of governor, Legislature

The Herald-Tribune’s excellent articles on a Booker High teacher and the meaning of the word “woke” must prompt Floridians to “awoke” (rouse to action)!

The teacher being ordered to remove his “Coexist” flag, schoolbooks banned for ridiculous reasons, Disney targeted for opposition to the governor’s “Don’t Say Gay” law, teachers prohibited from discussing with students gender identity issues that may surface in the classroom and legislation designed to suppress voting and to gerrymander out minority representatives all are reasons to resist and act (‘“COEXIST’ flag deemed potentially political at Booker High School,” April 23).

More: How to send a letter to the editor

Here are some positive ways to resist and act:

• Engage people in civil dialogue that questions why a governor and state Legislature would use divisive devices for political gain.

• Support candidates for office who support the values of liberty, justice and equality.

• Support local and state incumbents in office who have the common sense and courage to stand up to the heat of divisive politics.

Paul Dain, Bradenton

Under law, popular book should be banned

Do you think it’s OK for your kids to read “Huckleberry Finn” in school? Or a book about two male penguins who cooperate to hatch an abandoned egg?

Well, Gov. Ron DeSantis finds books like these not only “inappropriate” but “incredibly disturbing.” Funny that he never mentions one popular book you can find in every school library in Florida.

In this book, your kids can read about slavery, incest, sexual abuse, the slaughter of infants, the flogging of young men and a king who burns hundreds of men, women and children alive.

It's called the Bible. And DeSantis’ new government standards make it clear that we should remove this book from schools immediately.

I urge you to write to the governor today! Given his concern for our children, he’s bound to agree.

Daniel Rein, Sarasota

School Board member master of McCarthyism

The Sarasota County School Board meetings have become a theater of the absurd.

Members of groups like Moms for Liberty and Moms for America attend. Their modus operandi is simple: attack, insult and disrupt.

Ironically, one of the founders of Moms for Liberty is School Board Member Bridget Ziegler, whose children attend private school, as do many of the other disrupters’ children.

Why is Ziegler serving on the School Board when she chooses not to send her school-age children to our public schools? Why should residents entrust their children to her? Is the School Board just a cynical step in her future political career?

Ziegler promoted the recent detestable legislation, HB 1467, that will hurt many public-school children and which has led to large-scale book banning.

Those whose oppose legislation promoted by Ziegler are called “pedophiles” and “groomers.” Keep in mind that Ziegler’s husband, Sarasota County Commissioner Christian Ziegler, recently called those who opposed his position “flag burners.”

Clearly, the Zieglers have mastered McCarthyism. Ironically, Florida children may never learn about the original form of McCarthyism, but unfortunately, they are living through McCarthyism 2.0.

Paul Sloan, Venice

No longer enjoy puzzles, crossword

For years my husband and I would hurry to get the paper to get first crack at the Jumble. Usually, I would let him win.

I would then do the Cryptogram, Sudoku, Crossword and KenKen.

Now your print is so tiny on my very favorite puzzle, the Cryptoquip, that my old eyes cannot read it, even with glasses!

And take a look at the puzzle called Find the Words. The print is again too small for easy reading.

Do people really enjoy the Bridge Instructions? Could that be scrapped?

I no longer enjoy your puzzle page and do not even bother to look at it most days. The paper has lost its fun for us. Just my opinion.

Susan Clark, Sarasota

Herald-Tribune headed in right direction

Kudos for more local, regional and state content and other points of view on the Opinion page (“A new focus for our Opinion page – but the same clear mission,” April 24).

Many of your readers read other papers and look to the Herald-Tribune for Sarasota and Florida issues.

Thank you.

Dale Horwitz, Sarasota

Sculpt a big dollar sign for roundabout

If the city commissioners think that a beautiful coral sculpture would be too distracting to drivers and doesn’t represent Sarasota, I propose this solution.

Have an artist sculpt a gigantic bronze dollar sign for the roundabout. It would clearly represent influence in Sarasota and wouldn’t distract drivers because they are already used to seeing big money all over town.

Toni Gartner, Sarasota

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Resist Florida GOP's divisive politics, Bible "inappropriate"