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© St. Petersburg Times, published June 29, 2001
Re: Visit by former Brazilian president Fernando Collor de Mello to Oldsmar.
Eleven years ago, after having done my best campaigning against Fernando Collor de Mello, I came to the realization that there was no way out but to leave my beloved country and start all over again in a country where the politicians were not so bad.
So, three days before he took office, I packed up my five-month pregnant self, my husband and my 2-year-old daughter and headed to America. That was the best move I have ever made, because even though things are not always perfect here, this country really works and with hard work, it has given me a happy and comfortable life.
Everything was fine until I saw in your paper that Fernando Collor was in Oldsmar. I felt like throwing up. He is here, where I live. Is he haunting me? Is he haunting every Brazilian in America? Is he not happy to have made our lives miserable and impossible in our own country?
Go home, Collor. No, home is Brazil. Go anywhere in the world that is far away from us. How does Tibet sound? You can certainly use some learning in how to be a good person. Shame on you, Oldsmar City Council member Marcelo Caruso. You should know better.
-- Simone Amaral, Oldsmar
Re: Oldsmar mayor details road trip, story, June 19.
Ex-president of Brazil Fernando Collor de Mello did not leave office of his own accord. He was forced to resign due to participation in political scandals. Brazilian history shows that he did far more harm to Brazil and its people than he had ever done good.
Your article makes the meeting between Oldsmar Mayor Jerry Beverland, Oldsmar City Council member Marcelo Caruso and Fernando Collor de Mello seem like an honorable thing. Considering his history, most Brazilian citizens would agree that it is far more dishonorable for any political figure to meet with Fernando Collor de Mello.
Since this meeting concerns the future of Oldsmar and the Brazilian community as a whole, I feel that the Brazilian point of view should be represented. As the article is written now, it seems that the voice of Brazilians has not been well represented. Fernando Collor de Mello is not a good representative of Brazil. If he was, why would he have stayed away from his own country for eight years?
-- Juliana Castilho, Clearwater
Re: School's over -- teachers struggle, letter, June 11.
I may not sleep at night. I just read that Pinellas County teachers can't afford $15 for their end-of-the-year luncheon. Should we take donations?
Hey, we all do what we do, and most of us do what we were trained to do. It's what we bargained for and we know going in the parameters of our occupation/reward. No reward? It is our right to move on to other endeavors.
Please don't tell me that teachers are disillusioned by the promises of politicians. You do have degrees, correct? It's just another case of looking to the government to help us out. Help yourself! We all "struggle." It's up to us to decide where the money goes and how to plan for those situations that have taken place every summer as far back as we all can remember.
Buck up! It's a jungle out there.
-- Mike DePrisco, Clearwater
Re: Job lets teens see future in medicine, story, June 25.
Thank you for this story, and particularly for the picture. What a pleasure to see a positive story about our young people! The young man pictured, Greg Horsman, looks so dedicated and sincere in his job. His family should be very proud of him and his ambitions for a medical career.
It was nice to see your article reminding us of the good activities of our teenagers.
-- Dorothy E. Karkheck, Palm Harbor