Today's Letters: Punish music teacher, but not with prison

By LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published July 20, 2007

Prison sentence lacking justice July 18, editorial 

There have been countless cases of inappropriate student-teacher relationships. Many are alarming, many disturbing, many hard to comprehend. Is it okay for a teacher to have a relationship with a student? No. It certainly isn't.

But let's take a look at the facts in the case of Daniel Zdrodowski. He was 28. She was 17, within months of the legal age of consent in Florida. They liked each other. They got involved. Like turned into love. Now the state is outraged. He is going to prison for 5 1/2 years.

The man made an incredibly bad decision. But has justice really been served? We are all aware of similar cases where no prison time was served. In this case, the girl wanted to be with him. He wanted to be with her. Was it bad timing? Yes, indeed it was. And they both knew that. They ended the relationship, waiting until she turned 18. But was that taken into account? No. How can a judge sentence this man to 5 1/2 years when the "victim" didn't want to prosecute, and when the victim's mother didn't want to prosecute?

Should he be punished for his actions? Yes. This man, Daniel Zdrodowski, has lost everything. He will never be able to teach again. He has been publicly disgraced. It seems that house arrest would be just punishment for a man who didn't hurt anyone, and he will likely become a victim of our increasingly dangerous and violent correctional system.

I may be a biased voice. I know Dan. I have known him for almost 10 years. He was my instructor. I taught with him. I am his friend. But I ask you to consider the circumstances. Isn't that what the judicial system is for: to judge cases according to facts and circumstances?

I may not change any minds, or influence any opinions already in place. But this is a good man. This is a man who does not deserve to be made an example of. Let's save the prison space for offenders who actually have a victim.

Meghan Sheehan, Seminole

Consent is key

If a minor wishes the courts to perceive him or her as an adult, the courts should be bound by law to do so, based upon the courts' own admission that minors sometimes have the capacity to make adult decisions and thus suffer the consequences. Specifically, the courts have a history of prosecuting minors as adults.

Because the courts have prosecuted people using such reasoning, they should be bound by the same reasoning for exculpatory ends. This is so especially where the capacity of consent determines guilt or innocence.

"Consent" enjoys a history of importance in the context of guilt or innocence as evidenced by the fact that the topic has been immortalized in an ancient Latin legal maxim: Volenti non fit iniuria (There is no injustice done to one who consents).

Daniel P. Quinn, St. Petersburg

Nature has laws, too 

Prison sentence lacking justice July 18, editorial

My grandmother was just 16 when she married my grandfather. He was 27 and her teacher.

In 1961, the homecoming queen of my high school married the young football coach shortly after graduation.

Neither of these events created a scandal or pious posturing.

We must respect our laws, but the laws of nature will always supersede the laws of man. Dan Zdrodowski and the young woman are obviously in love and did "what comes naturally."

The danger here is that when the law defines "sexual predator" in such a black-and-white way, the law loses its intended purpose and effectiveness.

In this case, Daniel Zdrodowski has become a victim, and justice has eluded us all.

Doris Jacobs, St. Petersburg

Law vs. justice  

Prison sentence lacking justice July 18, editorial

Thank you for this editorial. I am the father of Daniel Zdrodowski, and I believe the writer of the essay captured the essence of my response to the whole proceeding.

All the parents and friends who spoke on Dan's behalf or were in attendance had the same reaction to the judge's sentence. We felt she listened in a detached manner, gave a perfunctory "thank you" to each speaker, then gave the same ruling she would have given if no one had showed up.

I think this judge's ruling clearly demonstrates that the law and justice are not synonymous. The prosecuting team, in league with the judge, was more intent on administering "cookie cutter" justice than in rendering a thoughtful sentence that, while acknowledging Dan's mistake, would still allow him the opportunity to turn his life in a new direction.

I thank the many people who gave their support to us by attending court that day and who still hope that this draconian sentence will be changed.

John T. Zdrodowski, Oldsmar

Epic blunder 

U.S. took eye off prize: al-Qaida July 19, editorial

Your recent editorial provides convincing evidence that we are not safer. The editorial states that contrary to the president's view that the war in Iraq has made this country safer, the National Intelligence Estimate suggests that the threat of another terrorist attack against the United States is growing, fueled by the war and the spread of Islamic extremism.

The president's statement that al-Qaida is "on the run" is a myth.

Your editorial's conclusion, "Through the lens of history, the war in Iraq is likely to be seen as one of the epic national security blunders in U.S. history," hit the target dead center.

Sol Helfand, New Port Richey

Democrats' all-night session

Political stunt

Senate Democrats have not held an all-night session to solve the looming Social Security crisis.

Senate Democrats have not held an all-night session to solve the looming Medicare crisis.

Senate Democrats are not holding all-night sessions to lower fuel costs or health care costs.

Senate Democrats do hold an all-night session (a political stunt) to demand our failure in Iraq.

Democrats have invested themselves in our defeat and now cannot allow President Bush a victory in Iraq, so they undermine our own military and nation for their own political advantage. Democrats have no answers, only hindsight and cheap criticism.

Ronnie Dubs, St. Petersburg

War predictions

How can someone - anyone - look us in the eye and boldly predict the future? Still we hear that if we stop this occupation of Iraq, the Middle East will implode, or something. If we don't fight the religious fanatics there, they will follow us home.

I remember other predictions . "The communists will come to Hawaii, then to California." Look at Vietnam now.

Are these the same people who talked about weapons of mass destruction and said, "They will greet us with flowers," and that Iraq will be a cake walk at very little cost?

I'll make a real prediction. If we leave, our soldiers will stop being killed, 100,000 contractors will stop profiting from our tax money, we will stop wasting billions that could be better spent, and maybe the world might start to respect us again!

John Culkin, St. Petersburg

An insulting vacation

The recent revelation that the Iraqi Parliament is about to embark on a month's vacation is absolutely deplorable! While our courageous servicemen and women are fighting and dying daily - and whether or not we as individuals agree with our being in that country at all - this slap in our face by the Iraqi government is almost too much to bear.

Will the Iraqi "powers-that-be," such as they are, finally step up to the plate and make some progress in governing their own country? For now, it seems to be: "Tune in again for the latest, after our vacation." What a shame!

Don Tag, Gulfport

[Last modified July 19, 2007, 22:16:30]