Editor: Twice in the past two weeks you have printed articles that were derogatory toward the Veterans of Foreign Wars. They serve to promote erroneous impressions of the purpose for and the activities of the VFW.
What is the Veterans of Foreign Wars? The VFW is an association of soldiers, sailors, Marines, airmen and Coast Guardsmen who have served this nation in wars, expeditions and campaigns on foreign soil or in hostile waters. Real American citizens need to realize and remember what the members of our organization gave and sacrificed for all of us. We need to realize that we still have men and women sacrificing for us, who are earning the right to be called Veterans of Foreign Wars. We need to keep our organization viable to fight for their rights when they return.
Contrary to the conception of the naive, the VFW posts are not just places for old men to sit around, drink beer and tell war stories. What a shame it is that there are those who are unaware of the benefits of having a VFW post in their community. It is a civic-minded, benevolent organization. In addition to working for improved benefits for all veterans and assisting those in need, VFW posts can be found nationwide working for the betterment of their communities by promoting and financially supporting many civic programs.
Our Voice of Democracy program, which begins at the post level, progressing through the district and state departments, culminates with a $25,000 scholarship award in the national contest. Nationwide, this program provides more than $450,000 in scholarship awards. We strongly encourage other civic-minded groups in their endeavors and are pleased to be able to assist them.
Yes, we do operate kitchens and canteens. They are very important to us because they provide the funds to keep our homes in good condition, so that we have a place to meet and plan for all the other good things we do. Our Hudson post is in need of a home from which to operate in order to efficiently perform all of these functions. I am sure that the community will be well rewarded if the county grants the use of the building to the VFW.
-- William Riggs, commander, District 21, Department of Florida, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States of America
Turnabout over MLK Avenue strips King supporters of dignity
Re: Homeowners carry street fight's burden, May 2 Chase Squires column
Editor: Chase Squires decided to use Chris Rock to promote his opinion. Bad analogy. Chris Rock is a comedian. I, too, enjoy his movies and humor. I am saddened by the column. The issue, Mr. Squires, which you fail to comprehend, is the changing of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue to Sixth Avenue. For approximately seven months, the citizens of the newly named MLK Avenue remained neighbors despite their differences in opinions. It's not the name change, it's the people who made the changes.
Let's examine council member Gina King. Has Gina King ever been involved in politics? How long has she cared about the citizens of Zephyrhills? What's her political background? If your answers fall within the negative, then one must ask, what's her real motive?
At her very first council meeting, King made a motion to restore Sixth Avenue. Does that not surprise you, Mr. Squires? It should. Why cause so much controversy at your first council meeting, when you're still wet behind the ears?
A more responsible city manager, Steve Spina, cautioned others not to restore Sixth Avenue. The majority members of the council did not listen. When the council restored Sixth Avenue, they restored and reminded me of the hatred and discrimination of the '60s and '70s.
At the completion of the Civil War, the freed slaves were given 40 acres and a mule. With the help of Gen. William Sherman and his men, the freed slaves received their 40 acres and their mules. The freed slaves lived off their crops and worked to survive. However, the same government that originally gave them the land then took it from them.
The Zephyrhills City Council has taken much more than land from the African-Americans and others who support Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his cause. They have once again stripped us of our dignity, pride and respect that MLK has given us.
As an African-American citizen, I'm not asking for 40 acres and a mule; I'm asking you to name a street after a beloved civil rights leader who paid the price for freedom. Or is that asking for too much?
Have you noticed street names in Brooksville, Dade City and the surrounding Tampa Bay area with the initials MLK? Wow, jump on board, Zephyrhills; the Civil War has ended.
-- Tommy F. Harris, Brooksville
Naming street after Dr. King wrongly forces heroes on others
Editor: What did the Zephyrhills City Council expect when it attempted to rename Sixth Avenue?
They gave residents little notice of their intentions to change the name, and then made the change too quickly, even though they knew many were opposed. They never asked for our opinions, thoughts or suggestions of alternatives that would gain bilateral acceptance so both sides would feel good about the way our community honored Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Those in favor of the name change immediately played the race card, calling those opposed racist and intolerant. Admittedly, there was racist talk, and I heard it from both sides, a fact that isn't pointed out by the media. (They only seem to discuss white racism.) However, many against the renaming had other reasons. I despise political correctness. One of the most outspoken opponents is a Vietnam veteran who didn't want the change to MLK because King was a Vietnam War protester, not because he was a black man.
As this man spoke to the council, an African-American woman standing next to me muttered "racist old man." There's intolerance for you. She didn't even bother to listen to why he opposed the name change.
They said we ought to be ashamed of ourselves. Why? Simply because we don't feel the same way about King as they do? Simply because we disagree? Simply for wanting to keep the name of our street and not bow to what many of us consider a politically correct agenda?
We all have heroes. Some we share, others we don't. Many African-Americans are very passionate about King. Many whites (myself included) aren't. It's not that we dislike King. Most agree that he did great things. We just don't hold him up as a hero in the same way African-Americans do, and we don't want to be forced to.
I have heroes, too. Ronald Reagan is one of my heroes. Would it be right for me to force others to honor him the way I do? If they disagree with me, should I call them intolerant or communist? Should I tell them they ought to be ashamed of themselves? In short, should I treat them the way those wanting to rename our street have treated us?
Don't force me to change my street name to honor your hero, and I won't try to change your street name to Ronald Reagan Way.
-- Bill Moorhouse, Zephyrhills
Jesse Jackson should start monitoring his personal conduct
The Rev. Jesse Jackson stated that he will be monitoring the groping case at Gulf Middle School. I would like to know just who is monitoring the Rev. Jesse Jackson?
If he is going to monitor situations like this, he should be setting an example on right and wrong. He should steer his attention to matters a little closer to home, like the child he fathered out of wedlock.
-- Joe Wolf, Holiday
It's getting too hot to lock pets in cars; keep them safe at home
Editor: I beg all of you out there to please stop and think before taking your pets out with you while you shop or go out to eat. If your pet can not go into the same place you are going to, then please leave them at home.
We are getting our hot weather. Take five minutes and sit in your car and put your window down just like you would for your pet, and you will see how that poor animal feels when you do it to them. If you truly love your pet, then be a good pet owner and leave them home.
Maybe if our police would give out tickets for this, it would stop. My dogs are home, cool and safe.
-- Judy Parisi, Port Richey
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