Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Disagreeing with the gay lifestyle doesn't equal intolerance

Re: Intolerance can't survive if we don't condone it, June 19.

It's amazing how Howard Troxler can twist the meaning of disagreeing with and not promoting the gay lifestyle into condoning intolerance.

Last week the Hillsborough County commissioners banned the county government from acknowledging gay pride and from promoting or participating in gay pride events. There are many taxpayers, myself included, who do not agree with, or condone, the gay lifestyle and believe our money should not be used to promote it. That does not mean I or the commissioners are intolerant.

People have a right to live the way they choose, but they do not have the right to force me to agree with it or condone it. It's amazing how gay activists want to label as intolerant those who don't want to promote their ideals, while, at the same time, try to force their ideals on others.

The Hillsborough County commissioners have every right to decide what they will and will not be associated with. The commission realized that when you promote a cause, you agree with it and condone it. They chose not to be associated with gay pride. This does not make them intolerant.

Perhaps the proponents of gay pride and Howard Troxler ought to be more tolerant of other people's viewpoints instead of trying to label those who disagree with them as intolerant.

Perpetuating bigotry and intolerance

Re: Intolerance can't survive if we don't condone it, by Howard Troxler.

I am still dumbfounded by the Hillsborough County Commission's move to ban recognition of gay pride events. If my local library (which happens to be West Gate Library) put together a display of books by writers of color during Black History Month and a white supremacist complained, would the county move to ban all recognition of minority pride events? What if the library decided to feature books by J.K. Rowling - is witchcraft and sorcery any less "offensive" than a novel written by someone who is a homosexual?

By voting to ban recognition of gay pride events, this county has done nothing more than perpetuate bigotry and intolerance. Shame on every single person on that commission who voted "yes" for this move. Election time for the County Commission can't come soon enough.

Keep sexual matters private

Re: Pride and prejudice, editorial, June 20.

The only thing wrong with the Hillsborough County commissioners' vote to "abstain from acknowledging, promoting or participating in gay pride recognition and events" is that the vote was 5-1 and not 6-0. My sexuality does not belong in our public libraries regardless or whether I am heterosexual, asexual, bisexual or homosexual.

What takes place in private between consenting adults is their private business. It does not belong in government-funded public institutions.

Decline to embrace this declaration

Re: Pride and prejudice, June 20.

I fail to see why anyone would be surprised with this action taken by the Hillsborough County Commission. The 5-1 vote is representative of the people living within the county. That's why these men and women were voted into office.

We can override the decision taken by the county "to abstain from acknowledging, promoting or participating in gay pride recognition and events" by embracing the fact that there are human differences among us. This silly declaration has meaning only when the people of this county assign meaning to it by embracing the declaration itself.

Don't promote gay ways

The Hillsborough commissioners last week voted for a policy that says the county government will "abstain from acknowledging, promoting and participating in gay pride recognition and events." The first words out of every gay pride supporter is that now the government is promoting discrimination and that this is another way for those of us who are not gay, lesbian, transsexual or some other form of sexual orientation to teach our children to hate these people.

I don't hate or want to discriminate against gay, lesbian or transsexual people, but on the other hand I don't want our government to "promote" the activities or lifestyle of this group of people either. It is one thing for you to say "Don't discriminate against me because I'm gay or lesbian," but it is another thing altogether to say, "You have to promote my deviant sexual orientation and the values that support it."

As a Christian I am taught to love my enemies and pray for the sinner. Homosexuality is called an abomination by the Bible. It is not something that the Bible promotes, participates in or acknowledges as an acceptable practice. Yet when we as Christians espouse these beliefs, we are the ones who get blasted and called discriminators.

The gay and lesbian community can still have their parades and rallies to support their cause. But don't tell me or my government that it is our fiscal responsibility to promote, participate or acknowledge something that the majority of our society does not believe in.

A vote against fairness and equality

As a retired military officer and a Persian Gulf War veteran, I am insulted by the Hillsborough County Commission's vote against fairness and equality. These are principles I served to defend. I have friends of all sexual orientations. Who made the commissioners the defenders of "whose" morality? Kudos to Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio and Commissioner Kathy Castor for speaking out for fairness.

I have four children, all serving on active duty in each branch of the armed forces. They solicit my opinion come election time. Be assured I will be sharing my thoughts with them and my wife about the commissioners' hateful policy.

Easy traveling in a united Europe

It is with concern that I read of problems that some European nations have with their currency and with their entry into the European Union.

My wife and I just returned from a six-week visit to seven countries in Europe. We were pleasantly amazed at the ease with which we could go from country to country without the hassle of stopping at borders, showing passports, answering many questions, etc. That only happened when we returned to the United States.

We were able to pass easily from country to country and had to watch the road signs to be able to tell which country we were in. Once, we had to slow down at a border, and once the border patrol asked to view the inside of our little RV. At all other times, it was just like going from one state to another - you just breezed through!

Our Euros were good in all countries, even in Switzerland, which still utilizes its own currency. It was easy travel without the old problems of stopping at borders, changing currencies and showing passports. We were thinking that Europe had finally got it together.

I sure hope that the European countries get their problems ironed out. A little common sense requires that they do. We had a most enjoyable visit and hope to repeat it some year.

Maddox took responsibility

Re: Underling blamed for tax lien, June 23.

Your article is a laughable distortion of fact. Scott Maddox has repeatedly accepted responsibility for the problems being experienced by the Florida Democratic Party. He has made it very clear that he does not "blame" anyone. Your article is reflective of oppositional attempts to undermine the progress brought to Florida's Democratic Party and its capital where Scott served as mayor.

This mistake may have occurred under Maddox's watch, but he has acknowledged, taken responsibility for and helped fix the oversight. His leadership has brought Democrats together and all of the money in question has been accounted for.

But that doesn't mean our problems are over. Republicans have enough help undermining our mission. Florida's Democrats have to get real and unite behind the only suitable candidate for governor. Maddox has a clear record of serving Florida's interests, and voters will remember that when it's time to choose our next governor.

Advice for skin cancer patients

I read of the allegations against Dr. Michael Rosin, a dermatologist in Sarasota, with sadness and alarm. I certainly hope the charges prove to be false.

When something like this happens, it affects not just the patients involved and their families. It can also affect the community at large and the trust between patients and their doctors and nurses.

Since the stories ran, I have had several patients ask me about what happened in Sarasota. Here are some suggestions for people recently diagnosed with skin cancer, or any cancer for that matter:.

1. Come to the office consultation with a family member to help you remember what was said and to ask questions.

2. Ask to see a copy of the pathology report. Make sure it was read by an independent board-certified pathologist.

3. Make sure you leave the consultation with an understanding of what you have and what treatment options are available. If it doesn't make sense, ask to have it explained again.

4. If something doesn't seem right, ask for a second opinion. It isn't being disrespectful to the doctor, and it can help put your mind at ease.

5. Ask that copies of the notes and the pathology report be sent to your primary care physician.

6. Finally, remember that the vast majority of doctors and nurses work to provide care in the best interest of their patients. We are all on the same team, seeking to get you better as soon as possible.

Health care system needs reform

Re: Man sues hospitals, says uninsured charged more, June 21.

The insanity of our current health care system reaches another high point. Patients are now suing hospitals because HMOs have forced such massive discounts for their patients that hospitals are being put in the unenviable position of overcharging the people who can least afford to pay "full fare," the uninsured. But in our current system, where large insurers wield the monetary sledgehammer for the sake of higher profits, where are our hospitals supposed to get their funds?

The fundamental problem with our system is that the majority of health care costs are tied up in the infrastructure of hospital systems, whether people like Jamie Sosa are there or not.

Patients like Mr. Sosa cannot be held individually responsible to pay for the system that all of us need. This infrastructure cost will, sooner or later, become a societal responsibility through an efficient single-payer, though privately administered, comprehensive health care system. Not-for-profit hospitals would receive adequate funding to cover the cost of providing care from a local, publicly accountable body.

Under such a system everybody would be "in," and no one would be left "out." No American would be forced into personal bankruptcy to pay for needed medical care, plan their career around obtaining employer-based health care benefits and continually worry about how to afford those benefits should they be lucky enough to get them. We need to dramatically reform our current health care system, not by suing hospitals to lower and equalize fees, but by demanding our legislators address these worsening inequities and to do it now.

Don't prejudge land owners

Re: Off road off limits, June 5.

I cannot believe that so many people are so one-sided in their thinking and that a newspaper can be this biased. My family has been a land owner in River Ranch for 18 years, brought three children and three grandchildren up to respect nature, life and each other. I have never had a problem getting to our property.

If people would investigate before buying the property, they would realize they need four-wheel-drive vehicles to get to their property. If you have never been, I mean really visited the area, then do not prejudge us. We are lawyers, doctors, bankers, roofers and, yes, we are Americans. We don't carry guns to terrorize people. We carry them to protect ourselves against snakes, fox and other animals.

Yes, we hunt, and we reach the designated area by riding ATVs. Because a few abuse, you want everyone to take blame. Vic Lovallo does not terrorize people. He loves America, River Ranch and his flag suspenders, so let the man alone.

If you don't like what is happening in River Ranch, you have two options, provided you are a property owner: Either help us clean it up, and educate those that would abuse the land or stay out! Don't judge us by seeing just one side of a situation or just one person's view.

We must deal with global warming

Re: Global warming.

My husband and I, along with my sister and several friends, recently returned from a two-week visit to Alaska. I am very pleased to see that although some of our leaders don't believe that global warming is a fact, many have come to see the truth of the matter.

When you visit and see the beauty of this great country, you have to wonder what is the matter with our leaders. How can they not realize that global warming has nothing to do with politics and everything to do with saving our world?

When you see the wonders of the wild - moose, bear, eagles, otters and whales - and hear what is happening to our wildlife because of this warming, you realize something must be done. There is a problem and we need to work with the rest of the world to solve it so that we might leave a world worth living in to future generations.

Administration disregards environment

The Bush administration has once again shown that it has no regard for the environment. A report by the New York Times showed that former oil and gas industry lobbyist, Philip Cooney, who worked as chief of staff to the president's Council on Environmental Quality, repeatedly revised federal reports in an effort to downplay the seriousness of global warming.

Cooney resigned from the administration, saying he wanted to spend more time with his family. But within a week of the resignation, he took a job with the ExxonMobil Corp. Exxon does not believe that global warming is a problem. As long as we ignore what the president allows to go on, we are complicit in the destruction of our environment.

No way to treat troubled citizens

When I left the sunny climes of Wisconsin some years ago I had been involved with the homeless in Milwaukee. Wisconsin has a state law that does not allow people to be dismissed or discharged to the street from jail, hospitals, or residential treatment programs. How can it be healthy medically or mentally for someone to go from a safe and comfortable environment to have to live at the mercy of the elements and the vagaries of available shelters? In Florida there is no such protection.

I work with the homeless mentally ill in the Tampa area and have been shocked to see how people are blithely discharged from hospitals, jails and crisis centers to the street! A very significant portion of the homeless population has mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or clinical depression. What is the point of treating people with medical or mental health needs if they are going to put out on the streets? What can be more countertherapeutic?

Florida needs a law that does not allow someone who is being discharged from a medical or mental health environment to be put out on the street. If we are our brother's (and sister's) keeper, we aren't doing a very good job of it in this regard.

Exploring life's edges

Re: Too private for print; and A lack of good taste, letters, June 20.

The writers criticizing the Times for the June 16 article The Ripper need to lighten up.

Yes, the Times is a family newspaper, but it is surely much more. If these letter writers are personally incensed or are parents uncomfortable discussing adult matters with their children, they should read only topics of which they approve and always in advance of that which their children read.

The Ripper was most tastefully written, and led to a series of interesting, amusing, and mature conversations around our home and office. And these included both our children and those of our work mates.

It's the edge of life around us that brings about our most fulfilling experiences and challenges. In my own experience, the Times is famous for keeping its readers informed of many of life's "edges."

It's not a newspaper's job to make sure our breakfast is easily digestible or that all its topics conform with everyone's standards of decency.

[Last modified June 25, 2005, 00:34:16]