Why is commission turning its back on cultural arts? Letters to the Editor, Aug. 27, 2023

Commission vs. cultural joys

The Brevard County Commission never fails to disappoint. Their latest move was predictable as they decided to defund the Brevard Cultural Alliance, thereby leaving numerous cultural events and activities to fend for themselves.

The excuse was that the money would be better spent on lifeguards. With all due respect to those professionals, money would be available through other means. Just ask Sheriff Ivey.

It is clear that the reason for this was to avoid being accused of discrimination by refusing to support Pridefest. By refusing all cultural grants they can’t be accused of discrimination.

I am in no way suggesting that they support all the groups except Space Coast Pride as they are an integral part of our diverse community.

I am suggesting that the three commissioners who were more concerned with pandering to a certain part of our community open their minds and realize they represent all of Brevard.

The county provides support for a wide variety of entities that can’t generate enough funds on their own and need taxpayer support.

Most of us never need fire or rescue services. Most of us don’t go to the beach. Most of us never use any of the parks and their facilities. Most of us don’t play golf. Yet we pay for all of those. That is what local governments are supposed to do — provide a wide variety of services to their citizens. Cutting funding for cultural arts won’t put Brevard on any Top 10 lists of places to live.

Les Forster, Melbourne

Brevard Demos: No to vaccine ban

In July, when the Brevard Republican Executive Committee passed a resolution based on disproven theories to ban the sale of COVID vaccines in the state, at first I thought nothing of it. I thought it was just a dumb political play to their base

However, as we see, our state and local legislators are proving time after time their willingness to interfere with the freedom of Floridians in the name of (ironically) "liberty." From the state legislature preemption of local voters in Monroe County in 2011 to the most recent removal of two duly elected reformist state attorneys, Republicans, led by DeSantis, have proven there is no business with which they won't interfere, no book they won't ban, no one whose education they won't curtail, no medical professional whose hands they won't tie, no voter whose voice won't be overruled.  I grew up in a Republican household, and learned the value of home rule and a free market. I believed in the power of the vote of the dollar. If a vaccine is available and people choose not to take it, that's their voice at work. Banning a medical marvel, prohibiting Floridian's access to a proven lifesaving measure, would be an abomination beyond politics. I'm proud to lead the Brevard Democrats who unanimously voted to demand protections for mRNA technology and its continued availability for Floridians.

Pamela Castellana, Melbourne

Editor's note: On Aug. 23, by unanimous vote, the Brevard County Democratic Executive Committee (Brevard DEC) passed a resolutiaion demanding continued sale and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines and related mRNA vaccines in the state of Florida.

Kudos to a shooting star

In case you missed it, Malcolm Denemark's time lapse photo of the SpaceX launch late Aug. 16 on our FLORIDA TODAY's Aug. 18 front page is amazing. It was exposed for 30-plus seconds and all is beautiful. The detail of the rockets burn and all the surroundings of the riverside where it was taken are exceptional. Even the grounded boat's name, "Red Master," is clear and crisp.

As a tribute to the outstanding talent we have here on the Space Coast, he is now, if not before, nationally recognized. On Aug. 21, the Wall Street Journal reproduced the photo on its front page above the fold with his credits shown! I was very pleased to see that his work was displayed so prominently.

I have long been a fan of Malcolm's outstanding work and a student of his style and technical ability to capture so many beautiful Space Coast natural resources and events.

Thanks, Malcolm, from a 20-plus-year subscriber to FLORIDA TODAY and avid follower of your work.

H.L. Singer, Viera

For some, Biden era is bleak

Responding to Ms. Morgan’s statement she is “Better with Biden” (Letters to the Editor, Aug. 20), I am happy her IRA has increased “about 20%.” To many, IRAs are unaffordable. Food, housing, gasoline, utilities have priority.

Both of her homes have increased in value by $100,000.  Unfortunately, many can no longer afford to purchase a home since inflation and interest rates have precluded this luxury.

It’s charming that Ms. Morgan was able to contribute her message from Serbia, and she has traveled extensively each year since Biden’s election. I would not consider visiting several cities in our own country:  Washington, New York, Chicago, Portland, Seattle, Los Angeles and San Francisco are just a few. Strife with the homeless, the drug scene, the shoplifting crimes, and unprotected borders have brought fear and embarrassment to many of our citizens.

Regrettably, Ms. Morgan’s tour guides in Slovenia were not proud of Melania because of “whom she married.” Are Slovenians proud of the Ukraine war spurred by Biden’s order, thereby creating an embarrassing exodus from Afghanistan? This deplorable event gave Russia the confidence to invade Ukraine, leading to the death of hundreds of thousands. I agree that “American moms and wives are happy to have their military sons and husbands home.” Eastern European mothers and wives would be happy to have their military family home also.

Obviously, Ms. Morgan feels she is “Better with Biden.” I do hope she continues to enjoy her travels abroad. Millions are happy when they can afford a full tank of gas.

Carole Mikkelsen, Melbourne

Bidenomics revisited

My response to Ms. Morgan’s letter to the editor of Aug. 20, where she lauds her self-gratifying lifestyle under President Biden, is: Really?

Real estate values in Florida have rapidly increased due to the large influx of families fleeing Democratic-controlled states and seeking housing here causing a supply and demand situation. So many families would love to have a vacation (let alone three in a year as she has done) but sadly the average American has very little left after the sky rocketing cost of food, rent, gas and utilities.

The U.S. can once again have a robust economy with increased manufacturing, a secured border and energy independence, but certainly not under this failed administration. America’s image has changed but into one being led by a fragile, weak, confused and lost commander in chief.

As for vacationing in Europe, too bad she can’t seem to find beautiful places here in the U.S.

Anita Spinella, Melbourne

Trump's tiresome claims

The fact that Donald Trump gains support with each indictment is a clear indication of the ignorance of many Americans or a willingness to overlook overwhelming evidence of crimes perpetrated by a seriously delusional human being.

In the face of mounting irrefutable evidence, Trump continues to spew lies of a stolen election, accusing President Biden and the Democratic Party of trying to prevent his potential nomination.

Trump carries on with his tiresome claims of a witch hunt, hoaxes, and false news, purporting to be a man who loves America, who has done nothing inappropriate, as his supporters blindly believe his fabrications. It's incomprehensible how easily deceived Trump's supporters are, unable or unwilling to see through this boisterous bully, failing to recognize just how incorrigible a human being he is.

Should Trump receive the Republican Party nomination, be prepared for claims of a rigged election and fraudulent ballot counting in the event he loses again, more aggressively than his accusations prior to the 2020 election.

The Donald is long known for unscrupulous and underhanded business practices. It's a way he perpetuates, believing to be appropriate, always denying any wrongdoings.

Trump's braggadocio is a charade evidenced by his reluctance to participate in the debates.

Gregory W. Hewitt, Melbourne

America The Paper Tiger?

On Aug. 18, the Biden administration approved the Netherlands shipping F-16 jets to Ukraine. We sold these jets to the Netherlands. We pledged to replace them.

The week before our president requested “another” $24 billion for Ukraine.

It was revealed that the Navy has but 74% of its required number of submarines with no capacity to fill that void.  So, we agree to sell five submarines to Australia that we don’t have.

We are sending $345 million in aid to Taiwan including firearms and missiles. This after sending cluster bombs to Ukraine. Why cluster bombs? Because we are low on firearms and missiles we have been supplying Ukraine for the past year. So why not give more of what we don’t have to Taiwan?

They depleted our strategic oil reserves to their lowest level in four decades. These reserves are there in case of supply constraints due to geopolitical impacts. The oil was released in order to flood the market to cause gas prices to drop. This was a short-lived, stop-gap measure.

Our recruitment efforts for military branches will fall 25,000 short. Note that we let 40,000 military personnel go because they refused to get the vaccine. Woke policies implemented by this administration have driven many a soldier away. Do you think Putin and Xi’s generals ask for a weekly report on progress toward a diversified troop force?

Feel safe in this uncertain world? With these guys in charge? The once mighty United States military is now but a paper tiger.

Tom Lindstrand, Melbourne

MAGA, snowflakes and more

MAGA isn’t what you think it is. It actually stands for “Mad At Great America,” because we were already great. But I don’t blame Trump or DeSantis, even though both have done irreparable damage to my country and my home state.

I am astounded by the number of people I know and used to consider somewhat intelligent who are rabid election deniers and blindly ignore accepted, proven facts. Just like Trump’s court cases that were either dismissed, or ruled against, due to the lack of any credible evidence that there was any kind of widespread voter fraud or irregularities — except for the MAGA crowd in The Villages who voted more than once.

Additionally, the MAGA cult entirely dismisses the criminality of the twice-impeached, four-times-indicted, one-term president. And all of this comes from the so-called party of “law and order” unless it applies to them. In that case, they want to replace the very agencies they supposedly support.

Can you imagine the meltdown if Obama had done just one thing Trump has done? Talk about snowflakes.

And speaking of snowflakes, DeSantis’ Florida is banning books and/or any discussion or language, which might make a (conservative) student feel uncomfortable. What kind of snowflakes are we raising that we must alter history and the truth because someone might feel uncomfortable?

If DeSantis ever becomes president, he promises to “slit throats” on day one and start re-constitutionalizing. Re-constitutionalizing? What does that mean? Rewriting the Constitution? That doesn’t sound very democratic.

Ricardo Alvarez Jr., West Melbourne

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Who's buying Trum's tired claims? Letters to the Editor, Aug. 27, 2023