Letters to the Editors

AIM's actions over Chasco irk chamber

© St. Petersburg Times, published August 21, 2000

Editor: The Board of Directors of the West Pasco Chamber of Commerce and the Chasco Fiesta Steering Committee want to address recent criticism from and actions by American Indian Movement of Florida (AIM).

Five years ago, this same group approached us with issues surrounding the annual Chasco Fiesta. While Chasco, based on an acknowledged myth, has become part of our local lore over the past 75 years, we were willing to address concerns AIM raised. We met, we talked and changes were made.

Years have passed without a word and with the festival receiving support from other Native American groups including those hosting cultural awareness of the 2000 event.

In a June 1 letter to New Port Richey Mayor Wendy Brenner, AIM says, "Attempts at dialogue with organizers have failed." We wonder whom AIM was referring to as we, the West Pasco Chamber of Commerce, as host and sponsoring organizers, had not heard from it in several years. In its June 6 letter to the West Pasco chamber, AIM claims to have "patiently awaited and encouraged dialogue with Chasco for five years" and "one last time . . . extends an offer of the dialogue," an offer that was responded to with an invitation by us to meet.

Before responding to our invitation to meet, AIM chose a different route: filing well-publicized complaints with the Florida attorney general and the U.S. Department of Justice. AIM says it wants to talk, but clearly only to the press. We continue to work on a mutually agreeable meeting date though AIM has yet to cite, specifically, a single issue it wishes us to address.

We felt when we worked together in 1995-96 that we listened and acted accordingly, and the silence that followed was construed by us to be agreement from AIM that its concerns had been addressed. Now, a valued local tradition with great impact faces threat of civil disobedience should the attorney general and the Department of Justice not see things its way and we still have to wonder what AIM really wants.

Several points must be understood:

The West Pasco Chamber of Commerce and the board of directors are ultimately responsible for the Chasco Fiesta and the body with which AIM should seek to resolve its dispute. We have offered that forum and continue to be willing to have AIM address our leadership at one of our regularly scheduled meetings.

We have no intent to disgrace, defame or otherwise dishonor the memory, contribution or heritage of Native Americans and have shown in instances where specific requests or examples have been cited a willingness to listen and change.

We do not condone the tactics of AIM, especially the threat of civil disobedience, which we find to be reprehensible.

Please remember Chasco is based on a myth, which over time has become legend and tradition to our area, embraced by generations and found totally acceptable to many Native American groups not affiliated with AIM.

As volunteers, civic leaders and business people, we seek to present a festival that offers a wholesome environment for community celebration and a fundraising opportunity for scores of local schools, organizations and community not-for-profits. Chasco does all that, embracing everyone and through an enormous volunteer effort delivering something our community is proud of.

If AIM has specific criticism, suggestions, or issues, then it should say so. AIM has made threats but has yet to raise specific issues for us to consider. We invite AIM to specifically detail its objections and proposed remedies.

We love the fact that Chasco has evolved from story to legend to community celebration. It is something that brings neighbors together, creates opportunity and a sense of local pride. We will continue to listen to all groups who offer suggestions for improvement as we work toward the simple goal of a local celebration of a fictional story.

As a chamber of commerce, our mission is to bring people together to enhance the business environment here in west Pasco. From sponsors to vendors, volunteers to participants, Chasco does that. With nearly 1,000 paid members, we are among the most inclusive organization in the area. Chasco builds community, supports our non-profits and boosts the local economy. It is a good event and deserves better than to become a political bandstand upon which AIM chooses to shout from.
-- Ken Martin, chairman, West Pasco Chamber of Commerce
Don Zisa, chairman, Chasco Fiesta

Tailgating speeders warned to slow down

Editor: For all you lawbreaking drivers (you know who you are), that car you're tailing is doing 60 mph in a 45 mph zone. Isn't that fast enough?

That red light 40 feet in front of you means you can take your foot off the accelerator. Getting to the red light first doesn't make you a winner.
-- Cal Johnson, New Port Richey

Reconsider idea of beach for new state park

Re: No beach in works for new state park, July 27

Editor: The article by Christopher Goffard reporting comments of some of the people who attended the public hearing indicated that a beach will not even be considered for our new state park. I hope that every possibility will be explored before the issue is dropped. I have seen the clear water and white sand along most of this tract which, I believe, could become the swimming area this part of the state needs. I have been an advocate for the environment all my life, but I do not agree with some of the objections I heard at the meeting.

Any damage resulting from building an access road could be offset by making other improvements to the area. This could include greater control of surface water currently draining into the park. Salt Springs Run could become a fish and game sanctuary, offering reproductive habitat for generations to come. My vision for this state park would include a fishing pier in addition to the canoeing and kayaking which are said to be definites. Inland parks now offer hiking trails, camping and canoeing, but only this park has the potential to give us a beach.

I would be interested to know how many residents were as disappointed as I to hear the officials turn thumbs down on a beach before giving it a chance.
-- Patrick Raimond, Port Richey

We pay a dear price for readily available handguns

Re: Young woman is alive because of readily available handgun, Aug. 16 letter

Editor: This act of self-defense with a handgun will no doubt be reported in the column called "Armed Citizen" in the NRA's American Rifleman magazine. What will not be included in this description of self-defense is who will not be alive because of the readily available handguns in far too many homes and cars.

Large numbers of readily available handguns are stolen from homes and cars each day. How many murders, rapes, robberies and road rage cases are committed with handguns that could have been rendered safe with a proper trigger lock? You can read about it in the paper every day.

Forty percent of gun deaths are suicides with readily available handguns. It is a national tragedy that could be reduced with trigger locks.

If you have a situation which includes frequent family quarrels, domestic abuse, depressed or ill seniors or teens, it's very foolish to have a readily available handgun in the home. However, many tragedies happen because people foolishly do.

No one quarrels, least of all myself, with the right of self-defense. You have a right to defend yourself with anything at hand, even a gun. However, to simply encourage, as the NRA and others do, people to have readily available guns in the home forces many in the home, and outside of the home, to pay a horrendous price for this ready availability.
Arthur Hayhoe, Zephyrhills

Congrats to educator for catching George W's gaffe

Re: George W.'s factual error, Aug. 15 guest column

Editor: James Hollingsworth's remarkable acuity with respect to George W.'s gaffe at the opening of his remarks at the convention is worthy of congratulations. Most of us have to abashedly admit that we really did not pay that much attention and certainly were not riveted enough to discern what, to a true historian such as Dr. Hollingsworth, was a most grievous departure from discipline. The absence of Jefferson, as well as Adams and Jay, was probably the reason there were many imperfections in the resultant document.

On the second point in Hollingsworth's very thoughtful cogent treatment, Doris Kearns Goodwin and Michael Beschlos write books about historical events centered around the lives of presidents. From time to time, Gore Vidal does, too. Their television employers chose to award them the mantle of "historian." It is meant to be more show business than academic. It may be possible that they do garner some awe from viewers who admire any knowledge whatsoever, but to suggest that they influence large numbers of people is fatuous.

Finally, with regard to the number of minorities who showed up on camera during the Republican convention, I, too, had to laugh. Surely the convention managers pushed too hard. Every single one of the maybe 2 percent of minority persons at the convention got something to do on camera. Some even did double duty and more.

To some of us who take note of these things, it was a bit much. Let me emphasize "bit."

Dr. Hollingsworth suggests that the numbers of minorities showing up in future Republican conventions may appreciate because their new place in the sun will emerge concomitant with their place in society has a measure of validity. Of course, we all understand and many of us hope that this will be the case. The reason we measure each other, those of us who bother to measure each other against ourselves, is largely on intellect. We either dismiss or include one another on one's willingness to think. The ability to do so is not the criterion; the willingness to do so is the measure of merit. Dr. Hollingsworth makes a plaintive plea to all of us: Would we please think! That is the essence of an educator.
-- James A. O'Connor, Hudson

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