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Today's Letters: No outsider should hit child

Letters to the Editor
Published November 14, 2007

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Re: Bus spanking was what kid needed Nov. 6, letter to the editor

J. Schlosser must be one our grumpy seniors who believe spanking, "swatting" and abusing our children is still the way to raise kids.

My children are school age and also ride the bus. If they misbehaved, I would hope I would get a letter and maybe suspension from the bus driver. Then I would reprimand them as I, the parent, saw fit.

It's NEVER okay for a person, especially one with such an occupation, to raise his or her hand to another person's child. Maybe that "out-of-control little brat" could have been handled by a mature driver, not a grown man acting like a 5-year-old. I think someone should teach him how to use his words, not his hands.

Maria Manzo, Spring Hill

Re: Haze of smoke's gone, as are smoking companionsJack Bray guest column, Nov. 9

How ridiculous to move to smoke

Jack Bray wrote how unfair it is for smokers to be banned from public buildings where they used to meet, smoke and lunch with pals. Excuse me, but if smoking with pals is so important to you, why not invite them to your home for a visit and you can smoke to your heart's content?

Why on earth would you move out of state because you can't smoke in a public place? It sounds much like a child taking his marbles and going home because the child can't have his/her own way. To give up your home, your friends and your community because you can't smoke when and where you desire is just ridiculous.

If you were in my position, where the slightest exposure to smoke (cigarettes, camp fires, barbecue, etc.) has serious consequences, you may change your mind. Staying away from smoke saves my life and the lives of countless others. If I smoked and you would become ill from my habit, I would make certain to refrain from smoking anywhere around you. I feel that I would owe you that consideration and respect.

If friendship and smoking go hand in hand for you and there is no place for compromise, you must not have any friends who are nonsmokers.

As to the bars and restaurants losing business over the nonsmoking law, where are you looking? I see lines of customers waiting to be seated in restaurants and I used to see (before the ban became law), lines of nonsmokers waiting for seating. I see smokers enjoying their dinner and friends and they don't seem to mind that there is no cloud of smoke between them.

Nothing gives a person the right to pollute the air of others and that is what has happened.

Stop pouting and move on.

Lillian Mort, Bayonet Point

Hope your smokes moved with you

I read Jack Bray's comments suggesting the repeal of Florida's Clean Air Act (Amendment 6) with interest. I wish him luck and a safe trip to Alabama.

By the way, Mr. Bray, please take all your cigars and cigarettes with you.

Marc J. Yacht, Hudson

Smokers rant not entirely correct

Jack Bray mentions the Florida smoking ban, Amendment 6 to our Constitution. Perhaps he should read it.

Unfortunately, I think, as do many, Amendment 6 does not prohibit smoking in bars that sell small amounts of food in their establishment. So, Mr. Bray, your diatribe is not entirely correct. Other states like California and other countries like Ireland curtail smoking in all public places. If Ireland, one of the smokiest countries in the world we've visited, can invoke a complete smoking ban, too bad Florida couldn't.

So, Mr. Bray, before you leave our state, if your wont is to see smokers and their buddies puffing away, you can visit one of these bastions of polluted air.

Lilyan Dayton, New Port Richey

[Last modified November 13, 2007, 21:53:42]

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