Re: In museum face-off, sculptor tops sports, March 6.
We are lucky to have the Chihuly glass exhibit in St. Petersburg at the Museum of Fine Arts. We are also fortunate to have an amazing exhibit of Russian art at the Florida International Museum. I think we should celebrate and promote all our outstanding opportunities rather than to see them as competing against each other.
In a recent meeting of Russian Heritage (a local organization that promotes Russian culture in the Tampa Bay area), we bemoaned the fact that so many people in the area were unaware of the "Russian Odyssey" exhibit at the Florida International Museum. The artifacts from St. Petersburg, Russia, represent the best Russian artists, and they are examples of the most characteristic art trends in the past 800 years of Russian culture.
"Russian Odyssey" is open through April 4. The large collection of religious art, including Russian icons, is especially meaningful in this period of Lent. Church groups, schools and other organizations can get discounted tickets by calling (727) 822-3693 and asking for group sales. This is a great opportunity to observe many aspects of Russian life and culture. A visit to the Cuban Missile Crisis Exhibit in the same museum would be an added bonus.
-- Bill Parsons, professor, Eckerd College, and president, Russian Heritage, St. Petersburg
Stop, look, and pray before walking
Re: Pedestrians can only walk so fast, letter, March 7.
I agree 100 percent with the letter writer and would like to add one more thing.
When the walk light is on, the cars that are making a right turn on red do not always stop for the pedestrian crossing the street. With the walk signal being so short, one is literally stuck in the middle of the street.
I always thought walking was good for your health, and still do. I would not like my obituary to read: "Claire was a daily walker until yesterday when she was hit by a car while attempting to cross West Bay, where the walk signal was too short for her to safely cross the street."
-- Claire Kinkade, Largo
The people took charge in Treasure Island
The residents have finally been heard on Treasure Island. The last two remaining rogue commissioners have been replaced by two people committed to saving our community from uncontrolled development and shady backroom deals designed to line the pockets of a select few of Treasure Island's elite at the expense of its residents.
It may be useful to the departing commissioners to recall that during the infamous land development debate, that led to their illegal vote taken just days before the residents voted at the polls giving the people of Treasure Island the final say on height and density issues, that protesting residents were told that their representatives were not obligated to vote the will of the majority, but were free to vote whichever way they wanted.
It was stated by former Commissioners Butch Ellsworth and Barbara Blush, that if residents did not like the job that they were doing they should make their voices heard at the polls, not at commission meetings. Their wish was granted on March 9. During the debates one incumbent claimed that "the '60s are over."
As a peace-loving citizen, who believes that our political system still works for the people, I am proud to say that the spirit of the '60s and nonviolent protesting is very much alive in Treasure Island.
-- Leonard R. Kaul Jr., Treasure Island
Bible at meeting part of nation's heritage
Re: Council faulted for prayers, Bible, March 7.
I am truly sorry that Randy Heine is troubled by the presence of the Bible "looking" at him when he stands at the podium of the Pinellas Park City Council chamber.
Obviously, the Bible is not some kind of omen or charm to be regarded or displayed with superstitious feelings. Its presence should be a reminder of the fact that ours is a nation that acknowledges the God of the Bible as the moral foundation of our law and that every one of us is accountable to him. This is our history from our beginning as a nation, revisionist history to the contrary notwithstanding.
If the mere presence of the Bible at Pinellas Park's City Council chambers so disturbs Heine and his minority rights pleaders that they would seek to remove it from public view, I tremble to think how disturbed they will be on that coming day, standing before its author at the great white throne where lost mankind must be judged according to what they have done.
The Bill of Rights contains no right not to be offended. To imply that it does contain such a right would establish a de facto tyranny of the minority. I don't believe the St. Petersburg Times would favor such a minority right, lest it be forever silenced for offending someone with its biased news and editorials.
-- John V. Koontz, St. Petersburg
Gulfport rights law is one for all people
I'm not sure how the subject of passing a human rights ordinance in the city of Gulfport evolved to Gulfport to pursue gay law (March 14). A human rights ordinance, in my mind, presents the equal treatment and rights of all individuals, without the labeling of ethnicity, gender or sexual preference, religious preference, age, etc. This represents no favoritism and no discrimination.
Additionally, laws and ordinances do not change things for people who have no respect for them. The death penalty is a real consequence for certain crimes, yet people continue to do the crimes that put them on death row.
When we look at issues for certain groups, we continue to single out classifications of people. Why not put forth a true human rights ordinance to the voters as a referendum?
At what point do we operate on the foundation of "with liberty and justice for all?" Isn't that really the purpose of the human rights ordinance?
-- Jeri Reed, Gulfport
"Times' to blame for uninformed voters
CNN Headline News just ran a teaser: Do you know what your representative did in Congress last year?
The fact is, I don't. I don't even know what our County Commissions have done, let alone those responsible for administering our school system or members of any other government body. Therefore, I find it difficult to vote for elected officials intelligently.
Much of the blame, I would say, is because the Times, our daily newspaper, does not cover those stories.
As a journalism student, then a professor of journalism, I remember that we learned and taught that the responsibility of the media was to inform, educate and entertain. I implore the Times to begin informing us, the people whose vote is so important, about the activities of our elected officials so we can base our vote on something other than a beauty contest.
-- Larry Silver, Oldsmar
[Last modified March 21, 2004, 01:35:34]
