Today's Letters: You're welcome, apathetic parents

By LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published May 18, 2007

Why didn't you answer school survey? May 16 story

I haven't any children and that makes my answer quite easy. But I can tell you why the parents in Pasco County did not answer the survey. The reason has nothing to do with being busy or not having envelopes. The reason is simple: The parents just don't care.

Of course, if one were to ask them if they care, they would spout for an hour about how much they care about their little tax credits. Um, children.

Yes, I'm going to invoke the old "I pay taxes" card. I pay taxes for children to attend school although I have no children. My wife and I work very hard every week and yet when tax time comes, we don't get any credits for using less services. You parents get those tax credits and breaks.

I want to thank all the parents for using services for which we all (even those without children) pay. I want to thank you for not even having the common courtesy to try to improve those services you receive and for which I am paying.

Thank you for proving one final point. Should I wish to build a deck, Pasco County wants me to file a permit. But anybody can have children, no permit required, no test, and no need to be held accountable for their schooling.

By the way, if you responded to the survey, please disregard my comments. You are the type of parent from whom our future leaders shall come and I'm willing to spend a few bucks for them to be educated, like me, here in Pasco County. You and the faculty deserve a better response from the others.

Michael Jeffery, Spring Hill

Buses are handy, drivers helpful

As an 86-year-old woman with weakening eyesight, I decided to give up driving before being forced into it. Before giving up my car, I checked out all the bus routes and found that I could handle it.

The bus drivers are courteous and capable. They don't even seem to mind when they have to help me insert the toll card, which happens often. Thank you one and all.

Dagny Jensen, New Port Richey

Hacienda should expand skyward

The only way to add to the Hacienda Hotel is up. Worse would be to block off Bank Street.

This would impede emergency response by the fire and police departments from Main Street to the business parking lot needed by the Hacienda.

R.J. Herrmann, New Port Richey

Open your mind to nudity in art 

Artistic exposure May 14 story

Oh, the problems of nudity! When Michelangelo created his nude statue David there was an outcry and a fig leaf was placed in the appropriate place for a time. Rubens is well-known for his buxom nudes and Pablo Picasso etched his Quatre Femmes Nues, among other nude artworks. Isn't it time that we get it? There are even nudes predominately displayed in the Sistine Chapel of the Vatican.

Angye Fox didn't show any more nudity in the Pasco Times then you would expect to find on the beach on any given day. Perhaps the disgust and disappointment from readers should be replaced with a better understanding of creative art. Since art is in the eye of the beholder, I wouldn't expect them to appreciate everything created, but this is still a free country and Angye's form of art is certainly unique and newsworthy.

Hopefully, readers can expand their horizons. Our children should be taught to appreciate art and not consider it part and parcel of our lowest of urges. This is the way to intelligently inform and reason. I also believe that a newspaper should be able to cover all the news and not just the segments that are of interest to some.

Hank Bracker, Holiday

Surely there are better subjects 

Artistic exposure May 14 story

There are many good artists and certainly many interesting people who could be featured, instead of a sexpot with a stripper pole in her bedroom and a hobby of painting canvases with her breasts.

Your readers expect better from "Florida's Best Newspaper."

Betty Burke, San Antonio

Think before you publish, please 

Artistic exposure May 14 story

How dare you tout yourselves as a newspaper to be used in classrooms?

It is so discouraging to see that this is what we have come to. I cannot believe that staff writer Erin Sullivan can actually feel proud of reporting the woman's breast size and every detail of her sexually charged bedroom decor. I don't know about others in Pasco County, but I for one am sick of this type of journalism, if that's what you call it.

I am respectfully requesting that you carefully consider the quality of articles that you publish - or the lack of quality, as it may be.

As far as Angye Fox is concerned, I am extremely sad that she chooses to degrade herself in this manner. She is truly worth more than this demeaning lifestyle she has chosen. I hope that Angye will continue to pray and read the Bible so that she can find out God's purpose for creating her. One thing I am sure of is this is not it.

Kathleen M. Stephan, Port Richey

[Last modified May 18, 2007, 00:22:38]