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Approval of CAFTA would be bad news for U.S. economy

Re: Central American Free Trade Agreement,.

The May 11 articles in your Business section painted a rosy picture if the CAFTA legislation is approved by Congress and signed into law by the president.

Even though I'm a lifelong Republican, I tend to differ. I strongly oppose the Central American Free Trade Agreement for the following three reasons:

1. CAFTA's precursor, NAFTA, has proven disastrous for America, undermining our basic resources and industries, spurring a massive exodus of U.S. manufacturing plants and jobs, and vastly increasing the influx of foreign illegal aliens.

2. International tribunals set up under NAFTA have been ruling on U.S. court decisions. Claiming the authority to supersede U.S. court decisions.

3. The argument that the CAFTA countries can provide valuable markets for American goods is phony. The CAFTA countries are among the world's poorest, and their economies are among the world's smallest. The only things we will be exporting to these countries are U.S. jobs, industry and capital. Even some of the U.S. firms that moved to Mexico would likely move farther south to cheaper labor markets.

Finally, with the brave men and women of our U.S. military fighting overseas, let's not dishonor them by doing away with their future private-sector jobs by adopting this foolhardy agreement. Call congressman Bill Young and Sen. Mel Martinez and tell them enough is enough: Vote against CAFTA now!

U.S. is concerned about Haitian

Re: Former U.S. ally on hunger strike in Haitian jail, May 7.

Contrary to suggestions in your article, the United States has repeatedly expressed its concerns about the health and well-being of former Haitian Prime Minister Yvon Neptune.

We have also repeatedly expressed our concerns to Haiti's Interim Government that Mr. Neptune's case has not been processed expeditiously in accord with the Haitian constitution.

Unfortunately, the former prime minister has frustrated efforts to resolve the matter by refusing to cooperate with Haiti's legal authorities, refusing to eat and refusing medical attention abroad unless the government summarily drops all charges against him.

We acknowledge that during his final days in office, Mr. Neptune played an important role in preventing further violence in Haiti after the resignation of the previous president. We hope Mr. Neptune will agree to end his hunger strike, obtain the medical treatment he needs to preserve his health and cooperate with efforts to investigate his case.

Call it a coup

Re: Former U.S. ally on hunger strike in Haitian jail.

I was glad to see David Adams' article on Yvon Neptune in paper. A couple things, however, were very bothersome.

The article characterizes the ousting of Jean-Bertrand Aristide as a "resignation." The accuracy of that statement is questionable, at best. Aristide was run out of office in what he and at least 10 members of the U.S. Congress described as a coup. It's difficult to trust the content of the article when this aspect of the story is not at least discussed.

The story said that "Washington has stayed silent over the government's treatment of Neptune, not wanting to be seen interfering in a domestic legal matter." This is insulting at best, jingoistic at worst. So, we are to believe that the same U.S. government that led the coup of Aristide is staying silent over the treatment of Neptune because it's concerned about its image?

Chris Ernesto, St. Petersburg

Holocaust testimonies

Re: Survivor stories, May 5.

Thank you for presenting the poignant testimony of five Holocaust survivors. As long as we remember those who perished in the death camps - also the survivors who inspire us with their courage and will to live - we ensure that it will not happen again.

Speaking of testimony, I wonder how many people know that American GIs were also Holocaust victims. The story is told in two recent books: Given Up for Dead by Flint Whitlock (Westview Press) and Soldiers and Slaves by Roger Cohen (Alfred A. Knopf). In 1944, 350 American prisoners of war, captured in World War II's Battle of the Bulge, were sent to the slave-labor camp at Berga, Germany, where 73 died of starvation and disease. Many of the 350 were selected for Berga because they bore Jewish-sounding names or "looked Jewish."

A New York Times book reviewer said, "... the fact that the Germans first looked for Jews when they collected American POWs to send to Berga is a chilling reminder of what they probably would have done had the war gone differently for them."

The Holocaust came closer to home than most Americans realize.

Germans deserve some self-interest

Re: Remembering victory in Europe: Germany asserts itself, unsettling some allies, May 8.

I quote, in part, from this article: "Lately Germany has unsettled some allies with a new pushiness about putting its own interests first." Don't you think every country puts itself first?

Are Germans - and Germany - supposed to wear "sack cloth and ashes" forever? They worked hard to rebuild their country after it was bombed almost into oblivion. If they are prosperous, it is because of their diligence and labors.

I'm sure every country and its people want the best for themselves. And if they've earned it, they deserve it.

Keep at it, Darius

Re: Third grade, as many times as it takes, May 8.

I wish I could give Darius a big hug and tell him to "hang in there." It must be tough to have his peers teasing him, but he needs to ignore them and concentrate on what is best for him.

Not too many years ago, those having trouble reading were just passed along whether or not they could read. I discovered that my cousin, who was in the fifth grade, couldn't do his homework because he couldn't read. There was no option for him; he was just passed along. As an adult he had problems due to never being able to catch up.

My philosophy is that anyone can do anything they want and be anything they want as long as they want to badly enough and have enough time.

Darius, you are being given the time. Use it to get past this. When you learn to read and comprehend, doors will open for you. Good luck.

Not fun, just tacky sexism

Please avoid editorializing in your headlines. A story Friday carried the headline: Hooters Air makes flying fun again.

Says who? It sounds like my idea of hell. The article describes Hooters' "good-time, slightly naughty ambience." I'd consider it tacky sexism.

[Last modified May 16, 2005, 15:54:49]