Opinion: Don't expect all handicaps to be obvious

I am one of those people who draw looks from others when I utilize handicapped parking. You see, I am 47 years old and do not use a wheelchair. I have, however, had four massive heart attacks, heart re-section, quadruple bypass, seven other heart procedures and a defibrillator implanted, not to mention two colostomy procedures.

Perhaps the letter writer would prefer us to prominently display our specific disabilities and battle scars while shopping to satisfy his doubts as to whether we are truly disabled.

Instead of limiting handicapped parking, I would suggest that we expand it to include spots for the "cerebrally challenged." I will personally pay the $15 for the letter writer's placard.
-- Dave Flowers, Tarpon Springs

Avoid making a quick judgment

Re: Limit those parking permits, Jan. 21.

The letter writer has a very limited knowledge of what a handicapped designation includes. My husband is visibly handicapped, and cannot walk distances, so he uses a cane or a Canadian crutch. I, on the other hand, am handicapped but not visibly so: I have multiple sclerosis, a disease that is severely affected by heat, so I also cannot walk far in the hot and humid Florida weather.

I try not to occupy these handicapped slots on the days that I am not in need of them, but I also use them if needed and/or there isn't a place close enough for me to comfortably get to where I need to go.

I work as a nurse, and until recently as a home care RN. In Florida, I could never have done this without my handicapped designation. So please, don't be too quick to judge what you cannot see.
-- Patricia A. Scuderi, St. Petersburg

Everything is relative

Re: Limit those parking permits.

In reply to the letter writer on the subject of handicapped parking, I am reminded of the story of the man who once felt sorry for himself because he had no shoes -- until he met a man who had no feet.

I do not at this time need a wheelchair, but each year my walking requires greater effort. The old heart does not circulate blood as well as it did in wartime. Of course, I no longer have that adrenaline rush one can get under kamikaze attack either. And I am grateful. The guys who have artificial legs, and artificial feet, and artificial hips -- I am sure they are also grateful that things are no worse than they are.

I, too, once was sad because I had no shoes, and then I met a man who had no feet. Really.
-- Frank D. Bower, St. Petersburg

It's all a team effort

Re: Glazers embarrass Tampa Bay, Jan. 22.

I would like to thank you for a very well written editorial on the condition of not only professional sports but life in general in these United States. I am a very strong supporter of the Tampa Bay Bucs. The point that I am trying to make is that these are team efforts. It starts at the top and works down to the bottom. To have a successful team, we need to have strong leadership and equally strong mid and lower team players. When the Glazers let Tony Dungy go, I was appalled. I still feel that the coach is used as a scapegoat far too often.

If the quarterbacks had to give back a part of their astronomical salaries when they throw bad passes, I think we would see far fewer interceptions. If the offensive linemen miss blocks, they should give back some of the megabucks they reap. They have proven over and over again that money is the name of the game.

The people of Tampa Bay have proven their support for the Bucs by putting their hard earned bucks on the line. It's too bad the team owners do not realize that without the fans they have nothing.

The Tampa Bay Bucs do not determine the worth of the area. No matter what Jay Leno or David Letterman have to say.

Many of us are guilty of believing that if we have a successful football team this will give us a better place to live. Sorry folks. It all starts at home. The game is just that, a game. Life is just that, life. We could win a dozen Super Bowls and it wouldn't mean a hill of beans as to the worth of the Tampa Bay area.
-- Jim McBurney, St. Petersburg

Media deserve the blame

Re: Glazers embarrass Tampa Bay, editorial.

All of the confusion has been driven by you and the rest of the media, and the Bucs' owners deserve an apology from the St. Petersburg Times.

Owners: To the best of my knowledge the owners of the Bucs in the press conference said they had not talked to Bill Parcells. One hour later they called him. (That does not cover agents/lawyers). At that moment, the press did not ask the owners if anyone on behalf of the owners had talked to Parcells. The delay in contact and signing of Parcells eliminates tampering if Parcells is looking for and talking to assistant coaches. This is business!

Dungy: Anyone who has an employment contract review realizes you have to meet your goals or you will be terminated. Why did Dungy continue to talk about next season when he knew he had not attained the goals of 2002? He could have come forward and explained the employment situation. Instead he stood by and let the press misrepresent the employment contract.

Parcells: What a flake. He wants more money than Steve Spurrier. Not what you and the press editorialize.

We are fortunate to have owners who are willing to pull out the checkbook to hold on to free agents. Do your part and think before you write something as stupid as that editorial.
-- Mike Riley, Largo

Glazers' actions are no big deal

Re: Glazers embarrass Tampa Bay, Jan. 22.

You really missed the mark in your editorial about the Glazers. Their deceit and lies reflect only upon themselves. On a scale of importance, who coaches the Bucs ranks right up there with gnat excrement. There are far more important issues to talk about, such as whether high school graduates can read, or whether our police, firefighters and teachers should earn a living wage or even if the drug companies might consider reducing their billions of dollars of profits slightly so that more senior citizens could afford life-saving drugs.

No, it's not such a big deal about such buffoonery from the Glazers. They fit right in with our other Tampa Bay pro sports teams and provide us with a never-ending supply of comic relief.
-- Larry Halstead, Seminole

It's time to move on

Re: Glazers embarrass Tampa Bay.

I take exception to your editorial regarding the firing of Tony Dungy.

I will be the first to admit that coach Dungy exudes class and has been a real credit to the Tampa Bay area. He has been the winningest coach in Tampa Bay Buccaneers' history and has gotten us to the playoffs four of the past six years. However, let's not forget that when the Glazers took control of the team from the Culverhouse estate, the team was in complete disarray, as money was never spent on talent.

The Glazers have opened their wallets to put a championship team in Tampa and, unfortunately, the Dungy era was unsuccessful in doing so. I believe if you check the payrolls prior to Dungy coming aboard and afterward, you will see there is no comparison.

The offense that the Bucs have displayed since Dungy's arrival has been a complete embarrassment not only to the Bucs, but to the Tampa Bay area. It's time to move on, hire another quality coach and get to the Super Bowl. We've got the talent.

I want to wish coach Dungy all the best in his new surroundings and thank him for being a class act while with the Bucs.
-- Gary L. Markel, Clearwater

Dungy's departure is a loss

Re: Goodbye to a winner, Jan. 16.

Your editorial captures the spirit of us loyal Buc fans. With Tony Dungy's departure the neighborhood not only lost something but but so did the franchise. Winning is always fun and losing hurts, but that is life.

It does not appear to me that Daddy Glazer has taught his boys that. While I will remain a Bucs fan, I will always be checking on how Tony is doing. I'd love to see one game where Tony comes back and beats us. Then Daddy can fire his boys.
-- Ken LaPorte, Crystal River

Flag deserves more respect

Re: In the spirit of King, front page photo, Jan. 22.

The flag as headdress worn, no doubt, with pride by the young man holding his daughter on his shoulders is disturbing to many of us. He is one among those plainly oblivious to flag etiquette. This trend of wearing our most precious national symbol as clothing is a form of desecration by degrees. Let's keep it for covering the caskets of our honored war dead, carrying in parades and flying with pride over our homes and buildings.

The roots of this flag abuse can perhaps be traced to the display of the flag over the bodies of our winning Olympic athletes. Also to the quaint old habit of our British friends using their Union Jack in all manner of display. Hopefully, that's not the American way for our Old Glory.

Here's a thought. In honor of our present and future dead in the war against terrorism, contact your senators to urge passage of the Flag Desecration Amendment. Flag burning is not speech. It's plainly a despicable act we don't need in a national heritage.
-- William F. Smith, St. Petersburg

Teach your children well

Our children can take race relations to the next level. The other day I picked up my children from school and my first-grader Emily was so proud of her hair. She told me that a few of her black girlfriends in class braided her hair in several very tight weaves. Emily went on to expound about what she learned in class about Martin Luther King Jr. and how he got shot for no "dang" reason when he walked through a door, because of the color of his skin.

I provided positive reinforcement to the new information that Emily had learned, but it also made me think.

What happens to the small, impressionable first-graders who go home to negative reinforcement? Children at Emily's age are like sponges; they retain so much information and are at such an impressionable age.

This note is to all the parents who have been less than inspiring to the "small people" regarding race relations. Please step up to the plate and teach your children well. This country depends on it.
-- Raymond Niski, Clearwater

Did Curtis cross the line?

It's too bad we're going to be losing the Curtis comic strip from the Times. I enjoyed the daily peek into the African-American culture. But, alas, last week (Jan. 17) Curtis referred to his little black brother as a monkey, so I guess, according to St. Petersburg standards, that means he has to go.

Doesn't it? Or don't the same standards apply to the Times?
-- J.R. Carrel, Safety Harbor

Share your opinions

We invite readers to write to us. Letters for publication should be addressed to Letters to the Editor, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731. They can be sent by e-mail to
-- letters@sptimes.com or by fax to (727) 893-8675.
They should be brief and must include the writer's name, address and phone number. Please include a handwritten signature when possible.
Letters may be edited for clarity, taste and length. We regret that not all letters can be published.

Back to Opinion

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright

From the Times
Opinion page