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© St. Petersburg Times, published October 5, 2001
Editor: I hope that the person or persons who took the flags next to my mailbox did so out of patriotism or because they did not have a flag.
Thank you for not taking my large flag on its pole on the tree with the big yellow ribbon put there for concern for the men and women who will be called on to fight, which includes some very dear to me.
I also hope that the reason you took my Dale Earnhardt banner on its pole from the tree is because you are an Earnhardt fan and mourn his passing, as I do.
I send you my condolences on the passing of a great race car legend and God bless America.
-- Bonnie DiBello,New Port Richey
Re: Don't judge a book by its cover, Sept. 27 letter.
Editor: I assume that by the letter the writer failed to read the entire article about my slashing ordeal.
Thank you for the concern. For your information, my brother is a self-proclaimed "chrome dome," in his own words and proud of it. He also sports many tattoos. My cousin, a Vietnam veteran who was awarded the Purple Heart is bald and his body is a story in tattoos. I also have tattoos and shave my head on occasion.
Instead of making an opinion on two sentences, "They are skinheads. They don't make any qualms how their looks are making a statement," learn what a "skinhead" is. They are an offshoot of neo-Nazi, white supremacists, Aryan Nation and KKK ideology. They believe that only pure white people should inhabit the earth. They wear swastikas, barbed wire tattoos and other insignia that stand for only one thing -- hatred. They also happen to shave their heads to stand out.
Nowhere in the article did I say that I had a problem with bald people or tattooed people and no, I have no problem with earrings. I even believe that a person has a right to their freedom of speech to talk their hatred, but I did not serve in the military for them to act upon their hatred by slashing me or committing any violent acts against any innocent person.
Out of the hundreds of letters and calls that I received with concerns and support for my actions, the published letter was the only negative response I received. I'll chalk it up to narrow-mindedness and ignorance. By the way, one of my tattoos is a peace sign, a '60s anti-establishment symbol.
-- Ted Koran, Weeki Wachee
Editor: There they go again. Another hate or special interest group created by the Clintons trying to limit the First Amendment rights of others. The Million Mom March, more like one-tenth of a million, started by a member of the Clinton clan is out spreading their chicken little gossip about the Second Amendment to our great constitution.
Rep. Ken Littlefield introduced a bill that would produce a license plate promoting gun safety. There are about 51 other specialty plates now in production which allow money to be raised to benefit many worthy causes.
The spokesman for the Million Mom March opposes this right of the gun safety people. He stated for the paper that we should focus on preventing criminals from getting guns. Where has he been? That is the position of the National Rifle Association and that is what part of gun safety is about. He also stated that we should protect citizens. It seems to me that he should join the National Rifle Association rather than the million moms, because his stance is much closer to the NRA. I am not a member of the NRA, but I believe it has done much more for gun safety in this nation than most other groups.
Let's remember that the two nations that have most recently banned guns had a sharp increase in crime immediately.
I say good for Mr. Bill Bunting of the Second Amendment Club of America. Your effort to make our country safer is commendable. I know you have worked very hard to promote gun safety.
-- Judson A. Hiscutt, New Port Richey
Re: Maybe next time we'll have better candidates, Sept. 30 letter.
Editor: I was offended by the letter and the gratuitous statements made in it. First, I can fully understand the discontentment with Commissioner Peter Altman. I, too, believe his fiscal policies are objectionable. I still disagree with the conversion of a four-lane bridge on Main Street (an evacuation zone) to a two-lane bridge with tank traps to either side.
Now allow me to take exception with the rest of the statements.
"Next time a better slate of candidates." The Republicans had a great slate in 2000. In the primary, Ed Poulin and William Faulkner were both local family men and business owners, who were well-established. The Republican winner of the primary was Jack Armstrong, also a local family man with proven service to the community.
To call Armstrong, a "puppet of the then-sheriff" is an insult to him. "Lesser of two evils," is not even close. Armstrong was the best choice and the voters of Pasco failed to see it.
Let us hope in 2004 the voters can again see the same candidates and this time make the right selection.
-- Hugh C. Townsend, chairman,Republican Executive Committee Pasco County
Editor: As a veteran, I have tried, unsuccessfully, for many years now to get the TV networks to show the playing of the national anthem before every football game.
All my letters have fallen on deaf ears. The TV networks all thought it was more important to ask us to purchase a new car, or wash our clothes with the proper detergent.
Now that patriotism is in vogue again and we get to see and hear our anthem played at all the football games, let's not allow the networks to take it away from us again! If they decide it's more profitable to show commercials again we should cause a backlash they will never forget.
Let us always open all sporting events singing The Star-Spangled Banner!
-- Joe Lynn, Holiday