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Judge seems to have given away Gitmo, 2/24

By LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published February 24, 2007

Door slams on detainees, Feb. 21, story 

So Judge Raymond Randolph wrote a U.S. appeals court opinion that the detainees at Guantanamo Bay have no rights to plead their cases in U.S. courts since they are not in the United States.

Guantanamo, he says, is under the sovereignty of Cuba! I wonder if Fidel Castro knows that. Or if the prisoners do. If so, they could plead their cases in Cuba!

I know that Cuba would love to have back that territory where the base is.

When judges say such things, they make themselves look foolish. Our government cannot have it both ways: Detainees cannot claim rights because they are not on U.S. soil, but still insist that Cuba cannot have Guantanamo back.

The Guantanamo situation must be changed. I hope that the lawyers representing these prisoners will continue to press for justice.

Lucy Fuchs, Brandon

Fidel is ready

A U.S. appeals court has just ruled that the prisoners in Guantanamo Bay have no right to appear in U.S. courts. The reasoning: "Cuba - not the United States - has sovereignty over Guantanamo Bay."

Wonderful. I can hear the conversation now:

"Hey, George. Fidel here. I hear I own Guantanamo Bay. I did not know that."

"Hi, Fidel. That's right. Our court just said so."

"You have great courts, George. So it's all right if I turn the prison into a Laundromat for my people?"

"No problem, Fidel. It's yours to do with as you wish. Our court said so."

"You're a good man, George. And if I tear the prison down to give the laundry fresh air, that's okay too?"

"That's hard work, Fidel. You're a good man, but of course it's okay. It's your land."

"Thanks, George. I'll start today. Any shirts you want laundered, just send them down."

"Just might do that, Fidel. Iraq just hasn't been doing them justice."

Dee Toll, Palm Harbor

It's the hospital that needs healing, Feb. 21, story 

Our troops deserve better care

I cannot even express the anger that I experienced reading this article. For generations brave young men and women have fought not only to protect our country and way of life, but also to protect and defend so many others that needed help.

It does not matter if you do or don't agree about this war. This is about our military who are doing their jobs no matter what or where they are all over the world. We owe these people because they make it possible for us to enjoy our way of life that affords us the right to say whatever we want without fear - among other rights. They are there because they choose the military life. There is no longer a draft in this country, and we would do well to remember that.

I lost a brother-in-law in Vietnam when he was only 20. My husband is a retired colonel and one of my sons spent six years in the Navy and then two in the Air Force, some of that time in Qatar with C-17s. We have never needed the care, thankfully, that these military members do now.

How can we as a country treat the very ones who are paying the price for all this in such a disrespectful and shameful manner? Shame on us! There must be a better way, but it seems that the "responsible" people just don't gave a hoot.

Bonnie Norris, Pinellas Park

Something must be done

I am appalled at the conditions at Walter Reed hospital. I have never been a supporter of war, not Vietnam, Afghanistan and certainly not Iraq. However, our military personnel did not ask to be sent to those hell holes, but our nation sent them. To see what our troops are coming back to after serving our country admirably is beyond the pale.

The president is spending billions for a war, but our heros are coming back to ghastly conditions with minimal treatment at best.

What type of message is this sending to our military personnel? That it's okay to serve your country but don't expect your country to take care of you when you return home at less than 100 percent of the condition you left in?

I am sending letters to my congressman and senators in Washington demanding that something be done.

Sandra Rohrig, St. Petersburg

Do they care?

I saw on the front page Wednesday a picture of a GI in Walter Reed Army Medical Center pointing to a wall covered with mold.

Why is it that our government can spend billions on a war that some people think was a sham from the start, that in my opinion can't be won, as was the war in Vietnam, spend millions on illegals but can't come up with the money for a decent place for the GIs who come back with a disability to recuperate.

Does our government know just how long it takes for a disabled veteran to get into the VA health care system, how long it takes to get declared disabled and draw a pension? Do they even care?

Charles R. Prevatte, Dade City

Here's how to do ethical stem cell research Feb. 20, commentary

A refreshing show of facts on stem cell research

This commentary on ethical stem cell research by Susan Cutaia gets it mostly right - namely she articulately describes the differences, and advantages, of various types of stem cell research.

As an avid reader of the St. Petersburg Times, the oddest part of this item, for this reader anyway, is that all of these facts have been commonly available in the public sphere for several years and to my recollection, it's the first time I've seen any of it acknowledged so prominently in the pages of this newspaper with the possible exception of content provided by an occasional letter to the editor.

This becomes more interesting in light of the fact that the president's critics, and Democratic candidates in particular, have abetted and exploited the public's misunderstanding of the topic endlessly, with very little correction from either the Times editors or the news media in general.

In fact, so confident were the organizers of the 2004 Democratic National Convention of this phenomenon, that they staged a major convention night event to trot out Michael J. Fox and President Ronald Reagan's son to accuse the administration of intentionally hurting the hopes of people with incurable diseases such as Alzheimer's, spinal cord diseases, et cetera.

Their shameless disregard of the scientific facts went almost without notice in these pages. Instead candidate John Kerry was rewarded with the sort of coverage that not even money can buy. When candidates from the political and social right wing come close to this sort of exploitation, the Times editors descend on them ad infinitum.

Thank you for publishing Susan Cutaia's commentary and let's hope that the Times continues setting the record straight on this matter.

Jim Parker, Tampa

Here's how to do ethical stem cell research Feb. 20, commentary

Don't distort science

With all due respect to her viewpoint on the morality of stem cell research, Susan Cutaia loses personal credibility when she misrepresents scientific aspects of the issue. Cutaia attempts to marginalize embryonic stem cell research by means of this contrast:

Adult stem cells "are more stable and more like the cells our bodies need as compared to the volatile and rapidly changing youngest embryonic cells ..."

With that statement, Cutaia is ironically making a point for the other side of the argument. It is that very malleable versatility inherent in undifferentiated, unassigned embryonic stem cells that offers far greater hope for researchers and medical practitioners than any promise that adult stem cells may hold.

If Cutaia is not going to portray science correctly, she may ultimately seem less believable to those whom she seeks to influence on the moral aspects of this issue.

Art Pollock, Dunedin

Push for stem cell research

On Jan. 11, the U.S. House of Representatives passed HR 3, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act. It will soon go to the Senate, where it successfully passed last year. If history repeats itself, though, President Bush will again veto this potentially life-saving legislation. In order for scientists to pursue possible cures, we must ensure that Congress will vote to override the veto.

The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act is very specific about the rules of embryonic research. The cells at fertility clinics are being thrown in the garbage. If you believe that these cells are life, which is the better choice for them, becoming trash or perhaps becoming the link to a cure for 100-million Americans who have deadly and disabling diseases and conditions? These include cancer, heart disease, diabetes, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury and many others.

We all owe it to ourselves and those we care about to become educated about the true potential of embryonic stem cell research, the realities of the law and to contact our congressmen to ask for their support, should Congress need to override another veto by President Bush.

Susan Blomquist, Brandon

Largo official plans sex change Feb. 22, story

Courage and competence

Largo City Manager Steve Stanton sounds as though he is a more-than-competent manager and leader of his community. I don't think that I speak only for myself when I congratulate him on his courage and conviction in fulfilling a dream while making it clear that he is able to truly lead his community in other than conventional ways.

Philip Penrose, Gulfport

Largo official plans sex change Feb. 22, story

A questionable news story

Who cares? Why is this front-page material? Was the St. Petersburg Times bought out by the National Enquirer? I would hope your reporting is a little more newsworthy.

Mary Vaughan, St. Petersburg

Largo official plans sex change Feb. 22, story

Looking for negativity

In the article about the Largo city manager undergoing the sex change operation, you included a quote from a Baptist minister with a negative view. The article does not explain what connection this minister or the church has to the story, if any. It almost seems as though the reporter simply called around to various churches hoping to get a reaction from one of them.

This is irresponsible journalism, in my opinion, because you are predetermining the story by looking for a negative quote until you find one. If the city manager attends that church, I could see why you'd call him. But by seeking out one negative view out of the blue you paint churches and Christians as intolerant, and I find that offensive, because that man does not represent my views.

Why not include a quote from a church leader who doesn't have an issue with it? Maybe because that's not the story you want to tell?

Christopher Platz, Valrico

Largo official plans sex change Feb. 22, story

Why rush to reveal this?

I am appalled that you would elect to publish this article about Largo City Manager Steve Stanton instead of waiting until June when Stanton's son would be out of town! Are you excited that you got the jump on the Tampa Tribune? Have you no respect at all for people? Would waiting four months to print this story have compromised your journalistic integrity? Now, you'll have every loony coming out of the woodwork talking about how God will punish Stanton and how we are all hell-bound!

I am so ashamed of the Times for publishing this story.

Jane Gibson, Dunedin

Largo official plans sex change Feb. 22, story

A lesson in human rights

Largo City Manager Steve Stanton's decision to have a sex-change operations is interesting. He is brave to let this private decision become public. At the same time I find the situation ironic. Stanton will surely encounter a certain level of hostility, prejudice, discrimination and obstacles that minority employees and residents of the city have endured for years.

I am sure Stanton will now understand that race and ethnicity as well as a person's sex or sexual orientation, have nothing to do with an individual's capabilities.

Perhaps now would be a good time for the city of Largo to consider passing the human rights ordinance that was voted down in 2003.

Paul Lee, Tierra Verde

Words can hurt Feb. 20, Floridian story by Eric Deggans

Resisting the bad rap

Props to Byron Hurt, Orlando Davis and the other music industry panelists who have the courage to take an honest look at the harm that gangsta rap (and the broader entertainment industry) is inflicting upon young people, especially in the black community.

How many young black boys emulate the thuggery of 50 Cent or The Game, only to wind up in jail or worse? How many young black girls view themselves only as "somethin' to poke on" as Snoop and Dr. Dre say, only to wind up as young mothers, without a father to support their child?

Modern gangsta rap, and much of the lowest-common-denominator, race-to-the-bottom offerings of the entertainment industry are a cancer on our society - debasing the values and self-respect of young people, all for the sake of a dollar. Hopefully, young leaders like Hurt and Davis can join the ranks of the women of Spelman College, Bill Cosby and others who demand respect and accountability from the entertainment industry, and self-respect for ourselves.

Ken Welch, Pinellas County commissioner, St. Petersburg

Bag the cat? Uh, maybe not Feb. 20, story

Bad bag idea

If the Checkers big shots came up with a food bag that can be used to "dress" a "Rap Cat" to get some free publicity, then it looks as if they got what they wanted. If they came up with the idea because they thought it was cute, they need to think again. Either way, they should be ashamed.

What happens when a kid who doesn't have one of those little "rap bags" decides to stuff the neighborhood kitten into a plastic one and then seal it shut? What happens when a household pet, put out by being shoved into a food bag, scratches its owner and is then smacked, kicked or tossed into the street?

In the bay area, animal abuse is rampant. Puppies are tortured and shot; ducklings are stomped to death; cats are strangled and shot with arrows. The headlines are sickening, and now we have this.

There is, however, one thing the Checkers folks apparently did get right: Some cats will not be "down" with wearing these bags. I'll bet the Checkers executives who dreamed up this scheme won't be down with defending themselves in court if they are charged with animal cruelty, either.

Deborah Van Pelt, Tampa

It's the hospital that needs healing Feb. 21, story

[Last modified February 24, 2007, 01:06:43]