Wednesday's letters: Remember sacrifice of POWs and MIAs
US will never give up on POWs/MIAs
Sept. 15, the third Friday in September, is designated as POW/MIA Recognition Day.
The sacrifice of these prisoners of war and troops missing in action is not forgotten by their loved ones: 72,185 men and women are still unaccounted for from World War II, 7,492 from the Korean War and 1,578 from the Vietnam War.
The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency continues to search and identify. Families and loved ones will tell in heart-wrenching detail why it is so important for them to keep searching until every last one is accounted for.
People ask, “Why do you keep doing this? It must be hard to keep going.” But families answer, “No, it isn’t, because he is my grandfather (or father or brother).”
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As veterans we call them brothers. The black and white POW/MIA flag is flown directly below the U.S. flag and is an enduring symbol of our nation’s concern and commitment.
So, on Sept. 15 let us remember and never forget.
Ted Smith, A Few Good Men Breakfast Group, Sarasota
Our Iron Curtain prevents progress
The Iron Curtain that fell across Europe after World War II divided Europe between communism and democracy, cultures and military might.
Unfortunately, the U.S. now has its own curtain. We have a philosophical curtain that separates the liberals and conservatives.
Just as the Iron Curtain kept populations apart, our philosophical curtain keeps ideas and compromise from coming to fruition. You are either right or left with no space to dissent. If you try to meet the other side in the middle, you are labeled a “flip-flopper” and ostracized and canceled.
The extreme factions in our parties have done immeasurable harm to our fragile democracy. Our seasoned leaders are being led by the extremes just as surely as a cow is led with a ring through its nose.
It certainly doesn’t help when 75% of Democrats don’t want Joe Biden to run again and a majority of Republicans reject Donald Trump as their nominee, according to a new CNN poll. Can’t the leaders of the political parties notice and take action?
The Iron Curtain affecting Europe lasted for nearly 50 years; how long will ours last? If we cannot see eye to eye, have meaningful conversations and learn to compromise, our curtain will consume us and our country will cease to exist as we now know it.
Marvin Glusman, Sarasota
All must join in fighting for planet
It is much easier to find scapegoats than to solve problems. In a letter Sept. 10, a writer claims that “there is nothing (Gov. Ron) DeSantis can say or do” to address climate change since China continues to burn coal.
The writer fails to understand or acknowledge that Americans put far more carbon into the atmosphere per person than do the Chinese, and that the methane leak from our gas pipelines and fracking sites is 85 times more powerful as a greenhouse gas than the carbon from their coal.
While it is true that the effect of the methane only lasts decades and the effect of the coal lasts centuries, it is also true that the next few decades may decide the fate of our planet as we near tipping points of the potential collapse of the Greenland ice sheets and the thawing of the still-frozen tundra.
We all have to do our part − even Gov. DeSantis − if we expect others to do their part.
Richard Tolin, MD, Lakewood Ranch
Legacy Trail a waste of money
Why do we waste money on this albatross, the Legacy Trail?
Tell me what percentage of the Sarasota County population uses it. Less than 1%?
It’s a feel-good project – much like our dopey roundabout sculptures – that wastes money that could be used for more critical issues.
Homelessness and drug abuse seem like more important issues to me.
Joseph Klarberg, Sarasota
Pass on Twin Peaks and Hooters
Re “Highly anticipated Sarasota restaurant now hiring ahead of planned September opening,” in Ticket on Aug. 31:As if Hooters is not enough, now we have Twin Peaks Sarasota, another chain restaurant with a thinly veiled name referring to female anatomy.
Hiring “Twin Peaks Girls” says it all. I have never patronized Hooters and I won’t be going to Twin Peaks.Marie Baumann, Sarasota
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Remember sacrifice of POWs, MIAs on Sept. 15
