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Hillsborough's stance against gay people hurts all of us

Re: County quashes gay issue, July 21.

The Hillsborough County commissioners had the chance to undo a wrong on Wednesday. They missed it.

Last month, the County Commission voted to prohibit the county from acknowledging, promoting, or even recognizing the contributions of our gay and lesbian citizens. Immediately, our libraries dismantled their displays of gay and lesbian literature in celebration of Gay Pride month. The Friends of the Library wrote the commission and asked it to reconsider this vote. Unfortunately, the commission again voted for intolerance as an official government policy.

The vote doesn't just hurt gay and lesbian citizens. It hurts all of us, gay, straight, married, religious or not. As a result of this policy, Hillsborough County's reputation has been tarnished in the press locally, nationally and even internationally. The impact on the economy may be serious as we see tourists, business groups, convention and event planners refuse to spend their dollars in a county whose discriminatory policy has created controversy.

Hillsborough County is immeasurably enriched by our gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender citizens. "Gay pride" is not a promotion of a strange lifestyle - it's a celebration of humanity in all its diverse forms. It's a chance to put aside harmful stereotypes and undo the damage caused by hatred and ignorance. Let's celebrate that diversity, not pretend it isn't there. Our commissioners need to know that the majority of Hillsborough County citizens do not agree with their decision.

-- Rebecca H. Steele, regional director, ACLU of Florida, Tampa

Let the library board handle it

Re: County quashes gay issue.

The Hillsborough County Commission was wrong both morally and legally in not reconsidering the ban on acknowledgment of gay pride, which led to the dismantling of book displays in public libraries featuring gay and lesbian authors. The ban has also led to generally poisoning of the atmosphere in the county.

Obviously, it is morally wrong to single out one segment of society for discrimination. We live in a very diverse community, and all segments of the population deserve tolerance and respect.

Legally, the commission should have referred the library question to the public library advisory board. These volunteer boards were established statewide to advise libraries on how best to serve their communities. They also were given authority to investigate complaints, act on them, and, if necessary, refer them to the elected body.

Public libraries are marketplaces of ideas which must include books and other materials on all topics, popular and unpopular, and need to be protected from political interference from elected officials, conservative or liberal.

The County Commission should rescind this policy, and if concerned about library practices, then refer the question to the library board.

Mother should thank Busch Gardens

Re: Busch Gardens keeps disabled girl off rides, July 20.

To the mother of the little girl who was refused access to the rides at Busch Garden's because of her disability, I say, you should be thanking Busch Gardens. The rides have rules and guidelines for the safety of their passengers. Your judgment must be clouded because of your child's disappointment and that is understandable. But why boycott Busch Garden's because your perception of the guidelines say your daughter can handle it?

Are you a ride mechanic? It breaks my heart to see parents "cheat" so their kids can go on a ride that their child isn't big enough or ready for. You are only putting the life of your child in danger.

Can police shoot out an engine?

We often read about police officers being threatened by someone who is driving a car toward them and obviously refusing to come to a halt. The result has been that the driver is usually killed on the spot or seriously wounded by an officer shooting through the windshield at the driver. In some cases a passenger may also be involved.

I can understand and appreciate that an officer must believe he is being threatened with bodily harm or perhaps death, when he shoots at the driver under these circumstances. However, I'm curious as to why law enforcement officers are not trained on how to "shoot out" the engine of a vehicle, at least as a first attempt to stop the driver.

It doesn't take rocket science to appreciate what can happen to an aluminum engine block when several bullets are fired into it. They could use impounded or abandoned vehicles for testing and training this alternative.

Having worked in research and development laboratories for many years and being very familiar with what a bullet can do to even a military vehicle's unprotected engine, I wonder why we don't give this method of stopping the driver a try. It might save a life as well.

Misplaced gun concerns

Re: Standing up to the NRA, editorial, July 25.

It's interesting that the Times feels supporters of the Second Amendment need "standing up to." As one of the 4-million members of the NRA, I wasn't aware I belonged to such a malevolent group. Does the Times take the same position with supporters of other parts of the Bill of Rights? Or does it view that document as an a la carte menu that we can narrowly or broadly construe based on our own definition of freedom?

There is absolutely no evidence that a law banning firearms based simply on cosmetic features and the number of rounds they hold does anything to reduce crime. And there's no evidence that the expiration of the federal ban has done anything to increase it. Shouldn't the criteria for limiting the rights of individuals include the requirement that it would actually work?

The Times should stop worrying about what law-abiding citizens might do with their constitutional rights and start thinking more about what criminals actually do to unarmed citizens.

Remember to buy American

Every day we read and hear about the terrible shape our automobile companies are in. Our country is flooded with cars and trucks from Japan and Korea, not to mention Europe. There is a public outcry about sending our jobs overseas, with blame going to Washington and industry officials.

But it is the "selfish" American consumer who sends most of the jobs overseas by buying all these foreign-made products. This also sends our dollars overseas and contributes greatly to our large trade deficit.

The cars made in America are as good as any foreign made. So before all you people who buy these imported cars blame anyone else about sending jobs overseas, look in your garage or driveway: There is your answer!

And start buying products made in America - before your job gets sent overseas.

[Last modified September 13, 2005, 16:14:39]