Todays Letters: Ignorance and insensitivity

By Letter to the Editor
Published February 8, 2008

Wrongheaded remark warrants swift apology Feb. 3, editorial

Check your facts, Ginny Brown-Waite. As an elected official sworn to represent citizens of the United States, your ignorance and insensitivity will not be excused or forgotten by the Puerto Rican community.

If you knew any of the following facts and still referred to Puerto Ricans as "foreign citizens," we must assume the remark was racially motivated:

Puerto Ricans have been citizens of the United States since 1917. They have served in every war and military action since World War I and are presently serving in Iraq.

In Korea, Puerto Rico suffered the largest number of casualties of any ethnic group. They pay import taxes on many items, from food to autos. Large companies, such as U.S. pharmaceuticals, enjoy tax concessions and cheaper labor in Puerto Rico.

Whether born in the United States or Puerto Rico, the Hispanic families in Hernando still have strong ties with Puerto Rico because we have families on the island. They are not "foreign citizens."

Frances Gonzalez, Spring Hill

County needs younger leader

I think what Hernando County needs is a younger, more ambitious and motivated leader to take over some of these positions that are opening up, such as county administrator. We need a change to make this county run better.

We have had so many administrators who have come and gone and I think they are at a point where they have nothing to lose or are getting ready to retire, so they have no ambition to better our community.

This county is growing and there are a lot of younger residents here who need to have a say in what happens in county government. Come on, let's make a difference here; after all, we are the future of this county.

Jennifer Smoot, Brooksville

Re: State takeover of Weeki Wachee Spring

Happy ending for mermaids

Swiftmud says okay,

Weeki Wachee will stay.

The mermaids will giggle,

Their tails will wiggle,

And the neighbors all holler "Hooray!"

John Albert, Spring Hill

Clarification

A letter to the editor Thursday, "In dire need of a history lesson," omitted the author's name. It was written by Rico Torres of Bayonet Point.

[Last modified February 7, 2008, 20:50:31]