Today's Letters: A fallen soldier has left an amazing gift to us all

By LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published June 3, 2007

A story for Jake May 27 

It's hard to express in words the emotions I felt while reading John Romano's story. Here I sit in a beautiful, peaceful setting with my sons safe, happy and playing, and we forget about those who are driven to put their lives on the line to make this possible. Even if we do not agree with the situation, we need to be grateful to those who are making a choice to serve, and I commend Michelle for supporting her husband in his quest against her own beliefs.

I have purposely avoided reading anything on the war because I become too agitated when I read of the lives lost, but I could not stop reading A story for Jake. What an amazing gift Dave has given to Jake. My heart breaks for Michelle and Jake. Jake has a wonderful father and mother who have already given him the building blocks to become one of those individuals who reminds us of the good in our world - much like his dad. Also, the appreciation that Michelle has for the time Dave had with Jake and for the journal Dave kept is testimony to her strong character, and I hope that strength helps her through this difficult time.

How many more Michelles and Jakes will lose loved ones before this conflict is resolved? When do we say enough is enough? As Michelle stated, this was just one of 3, 000 stories, but what a poignant and well done story. And Dave's gift to Jake has now become a gift to all of us. Thank you, Michelle, for sharing so much. I hope you continue to remember the wonderful memories of Dave.

Debbie Sokolov, Largo

How can we let this war go on?

Last Sunday was a beautiful day to live in St. Petersburg. It was warm but humid with a nice breeze. I'd been to church services that morning and talked with friends and family. In the afternoon I even watched our Devil Rays beat the Chicago White Sox.

And yet tears continued to roll down my cheeks. Of course it was because I had just finished reading A story for Jake, a very sad and real report in the Times. I opposed the Iraq invasion from the start, so some would say that is why I am so sad. I am sad because my country, which I love, is losing its precious resources in a war of hate and ignorance by those in office who are too stubborn to admit their errors.

How can we sit by and let this continue? What must we do to stop it and bring home our forces as soon as possible? I wish A story for Jake was required reading for everyone in this country.

Rob Pressrich, St. Petersburg

Carter looks good 

Worst in history May 27, commentary by Christopher Hitchens

Christopher Hitchins' column lambasting Jimmy Carter belongs in the comic section. Compared to the human disaster occupying the White House currently, the Carter years were good times. The economy had too much inflation, but Carter did not rely on massive borrowing to finance an unbalanced budget.

Carter warned a skeptical nation about long-term energy shortages. Bush and his cronies enrich the oil companies while ignoring looming disaster and denying global warming.

Carter's patience brought the Iran hostages home safely. Bush has sent thousands of Americans home to their families in boxes.

Carter, a veteran, displayed a sincere respect for the military. Bush has abused and depleted our armed forces to the point we are weaker than ever.

I found Carter to be an uninspiring president. The American public preferred the happy talk of Ronald Reagan. Fair enough. But after the last six years, Carter looks awfully good now.

Scott Cochran, Tampa

Not up to the job 

Worst in history May 27, commentary by Christopher Hitchens

I don't know what's worse: Jimmy Carter's presidency or Christopher Hitchens' rant. Carter might have been an incompetent president, but Hitchens' implication that he is somehow disloyal is totally out of line.

So what if Carter disagrees with our policies in the Middle East? The crux of Hitchens' problem with him is that Carter is not sufficiently subservient to the neocon agenda in the government. After all, it was Carter who put the peace process back on track in 1978 by getting Menachem Begin and Anwar Sadat together. Perhaps Hitchens prefers constant war at the bidding of the Israeli lobby.

In some ways Carter was a bad president, though not necessarily our worst. Sen. Sam Erwin of North Carolina described him as a decent man who just wasn't up to the job. The Carter era was indeed trying for Americans in many ways, like the economy, but at least Carter had respect for the Constitution and Bill of Rights.

Leonard Martino, Tampa

Why target Stillman? 

Two years at Stillman A series by Bill Maxwell

On May 13, Bill Maxwell wrote the first of a three-part series concerning a struggling historically black college in Alabama named Stillman (I had a dream). I waited to read all of his series before responding. And I still have the same questions: Why did Maxwell bother to write this? Who was the intended audience?

I surmise that the majority of the readership of the St. Petersburg Times is white, and, I would venture to say, not particularly familiar with many historically black colleges or their history.

Has the Times ever devoted such prominent space highlighting financially and academically marginal white colleges or universities? Why pick poor, historically black Stillman to highlight just because Maxwell made a promise to himself?

Even when black people are successful, the larger white media often diminish our success. For example, when Florida A&M University was named College of the Year by Time magazine in 1997, the St. Petersburg Times ran that story on Page 6B (Time, Princeton Review name FAMU top college, Aug. 25) at the bottom of the page! Had any of Florida's predominantly white colleges received such an honor, the placement and fanfare would have been greater.

There is no doubt that too many historically black colleges are facing a crisis of major proportion. However, stereotyping black people by presenting limited or incomplete information will not move our country forward. A paucity of positive press is apparent when it comes to presenting people of color in the media. Sadly, I fear Maxwell's choice to promote this particular black college failed to expand the sparse knowledge people have of black higher education and marginalized all black colleges in the process.

Keith Berry, Ph.D., Florida A&M University, Tampa

Insightful writing 

Two years at Stillman A series by Bill Maxwell

Hats off to Bill Maxwell for a hard-hitting and insightful look at one of our nation's underachieving Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

After reading Maxwell's first part, I could not wait to learn more about what he discovered during his two-year effort. It was nice to learn that he did find a couple of diamonds in the rough.

I felt pain with him as he told about his efforts to help the youth that he taught, and when students showed him disrespect. The conflict he encountered was amazing.

I hope Maxwell will write a book with even more insight of the inner workings of a struggling institution, which graduates only 30 percent of its students in six years. And without a doubt, Maxwell will be recognized by his peers in the year ahead for great reporting with this heartbreaking series.

Kirk Faryniasz, Riverview

What if 

Turkey: Islam in a secular society and Why we need to get it right in Iraq May 27

It is interesting to compare Philip Gailey's column on Turkey and the one by Bob Kerrey. Gailey is reporting from Turkey, a Muslim country which, after many years of secular rule, has developed a democratic government and popular support. Kerrey is commenting on Iraq, another Muslim country whose secular government was destroyed by our invasion, although Kerrey believes it was a terrorist threat in any case.

Turkey continues to arouse strong, popular, secular support despite a government now more adherent to Islamic beliefs. Iraq is incoherent. If we had left Saddam Hussein in secular control and only tracked down our enemy Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan, Iraq would still be a stable nation - a nation useful in our growing conflict with Iran, whose enemy we both were.

W.H. Riddell, Tampa

[Last modified June 2, 2007, 21:06:59]