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I was dismayed and disheartened by the recent letter suggesting that honoring Dr. Martin Luther King dishonors our presidents. Choosing one holiday over another reveals a lack of both compassion and basic understanding of American history. It also ignores more important lessons.
As a history teacher, I have found that far too many of my fellow citizens know little about the life of Dr. King, much less the larger story of a nation with a long history of denying many of these basic rights to generations. And in a sad twist of irony, most of those who argue against honoring Dr. King are most likely to take for granted the basic rights he fought to guarantee.
When will we unite in the realization that all Americans benefit from the actions of Dr. King? Civil rights are, after all, "unalienable" and transcend ethnicity, gender and social class. Whatever we may find ourselves doing on Dr. King's birthday, can anyone honestly say they aren't more secure in their rights because of his actions?
There's nothing "politically correct" about trying to honor such lofty ideals as those recorded over 200 years ago in those radical documents, the Declaration of Independence and the Preamble of our Constitution. You shouldn't have to be a history teacher like me to know that.
Re: Are we honoring King while unhonoring our presidents? letter, Feb. 24.
How in the name of common sense can the author of this letter compare Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to the likes of Henry Lyons?
Enough is enough. There is such a thing as overkill. You don't have to rename every other street for "MLK." Before you know it, state names will be changed. There are plenty of Americans who did outstanding feats for us and you don't see street names being changed for them.
Give me a break. Leave well enough alone. It should be put to a vote in a city or county whether or not a street name should be changed. The people should be able to decide, not the city commissioners.
Re: Pupil deserves praise for standing against rebel flag, Suspending student sends wrong message, People are free to protest flag, letters, Feb. 19.
As a student at Tarpon Springs High School, I've been experiencing firsthand the repercussions of student Krista Abram's protest against the Confederate flag.
Many of the letters that have appeared in the recent papers have been letters from students who are angry about my school's display of the flag, and then there are those few letters that are actually educated about the subject. All of these letters I've seen have been from other schools in my area and none from those who are actually around this environment.
I think it's ironic how before this issue occurred, there was hardly any violence or dispute over the display of the Confederate flag. If there wasn't any problem between these groups, there is now.
Why not just leave it alone and let expression be expression? I understand the offended, but let's stop and think about the facts before we take extreme measures to restrict our freedom of expression.
The slave ships that were brought to America during the Civil War flew our own American flag, not the Confederate flag. The Ku Klux Klan flies the Christian flag, the American flag and the Confederate flag. Don't we pledge allegiance to one of those every morning? What do we ban next? This will just cause more violence, banning everything, and next for our school - uniforms.
Who's to say that the clique of people who are prone to wear the flag is racist? There are many people who are racist who don't wear the flag. How can we classify racism? I'm white, I'm a high school student and I have a strong Southern background. I don't hang out with the "rednecks" at our school, I don't wear the Confederate flag, yet I'm proud of my heritage. Does this mean I can't express it just because one person has a problem because she doesn't know her history?
I'm offended by the girls at my school wearing the short shorts and the midriff shirts because I think it's demeaning to women. Does that mean that they can't wear what they want to wear because I have a problem with it?
We hate and fear what we don't understand. Miss Abram and everyone else who wishes to ban this flag just misunderstand because they are misinformed. I admire her for standing up for something she believes in, and I admire her for having the courage to stand against the school. But can we all have a history lesson before we contradict our own Constitution?
Re: Pupil deserves praise for standing against rebel flag, letter by Kyle McLaughlin, Feb. 19.
This child is a prime example of why children should be seen and not heard. It is embarrassing for them to state they have an opinion that deserves to be heard (and respected yet!) just because they have mastered their ABCs.
Whether or not I agree with letter writer Paul Miller's assessment regarding the Confederate flag (Teen created Confederate flag flap where none existed, Feb. 15) would be influenced by a mature discourse, not by a overindulged child who has the audacity to say Paul Miller is "antiquated" and needs a "brief lesson in reality" from this kid!
I truly hope Kyle's parents give him a reality check and save this for him to read when he grows up.
And shame on you, St. Petersburg Times, for printing it as if it had any merit!
Re: Pupil deserves praise for standing against rebel flag, letter by Kyle McLaughlin, Feb. 19.
Kyle's last sentence - "Maybe I, too, should be ignored or suspended, for I am only 16" - just about says it all.
Regarding the banning of the culture and flag of a foreign country (the Confederate States of America), in our schools: Does this ban also apply to the Greek culture and flag?