Re: From Europe, a clearer view of home, by Richard Karl, June 14, and Corporate boardrooms still home to sleazy dealings, by Philip Gailey, June 15.
I enjoyed both of these columns immensely and see as closely aligned Dr. Karl's concern regarding the European view of America as a "bully" and Gailey's concern regarding the persistence of corporate scandals.
In confronting the persistence of corporate scandals, Gailey asks, "Has the public's sense of outrage been exhausted?"
Sadly, I believe the public's sense of outrage, with regard to both corporate and political scandals, has been "culturally desensitized." A company's and a country's culture are shaped by its leaders. The solution to America's lingering crisis in corporate governance is the same as the solution to its political isolation: enlightened leadership.
More than ever, America needs enlightened leaders, capable of facilitating a cultural transformation encouraging more humanistic inclusivity while discouraging the narcissistic exclusivity that drives many of our corporate and political leaders today.
Admittedly, there are considerable developmental and cultural challenges to overcome in achieving this transformation. We can begin by becoming more aware of the costs involved in our current, culturally prescribed "win at all costs" attitude. Less "rugged individualism" and more community building would be helpful in moving us beyond our currently dehumanizing obsession to "be number one" toward a more humanizing acceptance of the fact that we are all "one."
Ultimately, the enlightened leadership we need must begin within each of us. We must have the courage to first trust ourselves, then each other. The "new world order" we seek can only be achieved by building bridges, not bombing them. Humanity's greatest advances have resulted from cooperation, not competition. Maybe that's why they call it the "Golden" Rule.
-- Tom R. Saavedra, Ph.D., licensed mental health counselor, Temple Terrace
Wrongdoers need to be ostracized
It is very disturbing that every day more stories appear about people in responsible or high-profile positions abandoning moral principles. This problem is even more serious because of the overabundance of apologists for them.
We have corporate leaders, athletes, elected officials, religious leaders, performers, media persons and other high-profile leaders admitting wrongdoing, yet there always seems to be some excuse presented to relieve them of responsibility.
Along with this, many times when people commit a so-called common crime such as burglary, embezzlement, murder, theft, etc., they are excused as victims of some sort of environment problem.
Without a moral code that ostracizes those guilty of wrongdoing to the extent that they feel remorse and realize the need to repent, this condition will continue to get worse. When people do wrong they need to be made to realize that it harms everyone else.
Today could be the day when everyone decides to give thought to every anticipated deed and action and determine the overall value of it before doing it. Our high-profile leaders must take the lead in this in order to help the weaker ones.
-- Robert E. Hagaman, Homosassa
A different picture of Europe
Re: From Europe, a clearer view of home, by Richard Karl, June 14.
The only insightful statement in Richard Karl's column is that "Europe is a good place to come to catch your breath and reorder your senses." His very simplistic snapshots of Europe belie the reality of life there and the Europeans' view of America. I have spent four years living and working in Europe with my family. I personally know Germans, Englishmen, Turks, Albanians and Serbs who would support my observations and dispute Karl's observations.
First, European culture is older than American but that does not necessarily mean it is more enlightened and should be emulated. Racism, bigotry and nationalistic elitism are rampant and have permeated the culture so deeply that most Americans would be sickened at its sight. Ask a Turk, Albanian or Pole about living in Germany, France or Belgium; this vaunted utopian European society is not much to be admired.
Second, during his trip to Brussels, Karl failed to note that Brussels has the largest Islamic fundamentalist population of all European cities. The security measures he described are not to protect the U.S. Embassy from the majority of the Belgian population but from terrorist immigrants living in Belgium.
Third, most Americans are respected and admired by the average European who sees and talks to the average clear-thinking hard-working American trying to raise a family free of fear. A tourist cannot and will not receive an honest opinion from the average European about America and Americans. I was in Amsterdam on Liberation Day (marking the day the Netherlands were liberated from the Nazis) when the queen of the Netherlands led her citizenry in a silent prayer of thanks to America for their freedom.
Finally, by not actually living in Europe Karl has failed to see the tyranny of the oppressive socialist tax burden all Europeans live under. In Europe, the average gas price is $4.50 per gallon, and $3.50 of that is taxes. When crushed by a tax burden like this, most people have no choice but to buy small, fuel-efficient cars. Only the very, very rich enjoy the opportunity to choose the car they want, not because of their hard work but because of the tax burden put on every European driver. All Europeans pay between 75-85 percent of their gross income in taxes! The American ideal of enjoying the fruits of your hard work minus social engineering through government mandate is incomprehensible for an average European living in the 21st century.
I hope that eventually most Americans will travel to Europe to learn for themselves that America is the greatest country on earth, and that Europeans respect and have more in common with the average American than they are given credit for. And they are happy that America is protecting them from the terrorists in Iraq, Iran and North Korea.
-- Donovan A. Rickel, St. Petersburg
Candidates with human qualities
Re: Politicians are squeezed into the cult of the bland, by Howard Troxler, June 16.
Howard Troxler went right to the heart of the matter as he usually does. God forbid we should have a candidate with some human qualities. The media wouldn't know what to write about any candidate who does not provide them with self-serving press releases. The paucity of journalists who are willing or able to write anything of substance regarding political figures, especially ones who are even the tiniest bit out of step with the current drummer, is frightening.
-- Erika M. Doman, St. Petersburg
Weighing Graham's chances
Re: Politicians are squeezed into the cult of the bland, June 16.
Howard Troxler has written another excellent column regarding Sen. Bob Graham and the culture of politics.
First of all, though, I doubt Graham has a chance at winning any office higher than vice president because of all the competition, and I doubt he expects to achieve more. As VP candidate, however, his position on the Senate Intelligence Committee would allow him to criticize honestly the reasons for the attack on Iraq and other actions. Moreover, our election system is held in bondage by large contributors due to the need of enormous amounts of money to run campaigns, primarily because of huge advertising costs, particularly on television. Most incumbent politicians don't mind this, especially Republicans who agree with the large business contributors anyway.
Since public financing of elections is a long way off, the next best method is to allow third parties to compete more easily and allow crossover voting in the primaries at least. As these will never be legislated, the only way to get them is the use of ballot initiatives. Meanwhile, don't mess with term limits.
-- W.H. Riddell, Tampa
President should do his job
Re: Bush launches fundraising effort for re-election, June 18.
This is just plain wrong. President Bush is supposed to be presiding over the business of the United States for the next 18 months, not raising money for a political campaign. If he has done a good job this term, he will no doubt get a second. If he hasn't, money won't help. Gov. Jeb Bush, the president's brother, chastised state lawmakers (Bush decries GOP's fundraising during session) for similar misconduct!
I also object to the term re-election. It implies he was elected to this term, and many would argue about that.
-- Dave Smith, Inverness
Fundraising and bribery
Re: Bush signs tougher bribery bill into law and Bush decries GOP's fundraising during session, June 18.
In the first story, Sen. Jim Sebesta, R-St. Petersburg, is quoted as saying, "This bill sends a message to every government employee, city, county and state, that we will not tolerate anything that remotely resembles public corruption."
The second story reports: "With doctors and lawyers locked in a bitter fight over votes, 19 Republican House members are taking advantage of their time in the capital. Some of the fundraisers are being staged by lobbyists with an interest in health care legislation while others are being sponsored by the GOP and House Speaker Johnnie Byrd."
Please tell me that Lucy Morgan, who wrote both of these articles that were on the same page of the Times, didn't write them with a straight face. In today's society, this just shows one more time that we have organized crime in which you can go to jail. We also have unorganized (a term I have heard used with our state lawmakers) crime that keeps you from prosecution if you are the one who makes the laws. It doesn't matter that you are doing the same thing.
-- Joseph Bosch, St. Petersburg
Money will get their attention
Re: Abuse panel's head to quit, June 16.
Former Gov. Frank Keating's remark comparing some U.S. Catholic bishops to "La Cosa Nostra" is not far off the mark. If American Catholics want this deplorable "sex mess" cleaned up in short order, and if they want to have a firm voice in how it is done, there is one way to get the attention of the U.S. bishops - shut off the money. Do not contribute to the lifestyle of the "arrogant and indifferent." Money talks - make no mistake about it.
And lest readers conclude that I am a rabid anti-Catholic, let me state I was raised a Catholic, had a wonderful Catholic school education except for a state university degree. My uncles and cousins were priests and nuns and would agree that the current U.S. bishops are guilty of coverups, indifference and arrogance in this matter.
-- Mary Minard, St. Petersburg
Share your opinions
Letters for publication should be addressed to Letters to the Editor, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731. They also can be sent 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.
For e-mail users: Letters can be sent by e-mail to letters@sptimes.com E-mail messages must be text only and cannot include attachments. If you're using a word processing program to write the message, use the cut and paste functions to place it into your e-mail program. Please include your return e-mail address, as well as your name, mailing address and phone number, in the text of the message.
