Lee is history
I've almost concluded Richard Metz is the best writer to The News-Press. Once again in his letter of April 18 regarding Generals Grant and Lee, he informs with knowledge, common sense and courtesy. I will add a footnote.
The subject of the removal of all things regarding Lee, has been under discussion off and on for 15 years in Fort Myers, often around election time. Hmm. It will likely continue until there is a more enlightened leadership in black organizations, or whenever they recover from liberal Democrats' brainwashing.
In the meantime, their accusations of "racist" is diminished by overuse, as it is hurled against anyone and anything they assume disrespects them. Its become a political tactic. However, the assumed disrespect may simply be a difference of opinion, and that's the case with the Lee subject. But why should the opinions of the Lee haters count more than those of his defenders?
To judge someone born in another century by today's morals, culture, customs and fake everything is intellectually dumb. Lee's defenders simply agree with history, known worldwide by educated people. He was a great military leader, a noble man who thought slavery was evil. He was loved by his troops and respected.by his foes, He was also an excellent engineer and actually drew up the plans for Fort Myers before the secession.
So for God's sake, stop fighting the Civil War again. Focus instead on the uncivil war that's dividing our country.
Jan Ganter, south Fort Myers
A traitor is a traitor
What is it that Richard Metz doesn’t understand about the words, seditionist, traitor and treason? All of these words can be used to describe Robert E. Lee, who fought for the Confederacy, whose cause was to maintain and expand slavery; hardly a noble cause.
Benedict Arnold was an early American hero of the Revolutionary War, but later became a traitor when he fought for the British. I don’t think that you will find too many statues honoring him.
Gen. Erwin Rommel was a respected German tank commander lauded as a brilliant strategist during WWII, but you won’t find any statues honoring him in Germany.
All of these men may have been wonderful husbands and fathers who were kind to animals, but to erect statues honoring them requires a deeper understanding of the cause for which they fought.
If this is what Mr. Metz calls “cramming my opinion or sympathies” down his throat then so be it, but I would challenge him to expound on the qualifications of Lee in the context of the cause of the Confederacy.
Roger W. Quagliano, Fort Myers
Say no to pot
Quick fact about marijuana vs alcohol. Marijuana is smoked to get high. As a student in college in the '60s, I can verify that through first-hand knowledge. Alcohol on the other hand is not always consumed to get drunk. People often have a social drink at dinner or other functions with no intention of becoming drunk. Legalizing marijuana will result in many more impaired drivers ( tendency is to drive too slowly) and stoned citizens wandering around town. Is this what we really want?
Frederick Jarvis, Estero
Estero runaround
A new Estero Parkway roundabout was proposed by the Estero Village Council. It would be in front of the entrances to the Cascades and Reserve communities.
A town hall meeting was held at the Cascades where more than 200 angry residents packed their ballroom in protest. District 3 Councilmen Jon McLain stated that after such a negative response from the Cascades the roundabout was "off the table".
At the last council meeting, it was back on the agenda again. District 2 Councilman Howard Levitan stated that he would condemn the Cascades property in order to make this roundabout a reality if we didn’t cooperate. What a mean-spirited remark.
The new roundabout in Bonita Springs and Williams Road roundabout are disasters. We were almost sideswiped and rear ended on Williams roundabout and the one in Bonita Springs may have to be reworked or removed.
Roundabouts are very dangerous and should not be built on Estero Parkway Please voice your disapproval to village of Estero at 239-221-5035.
William Dasbach, Estero
NRA misfire
Some NRA absolutist recently had a letter published in The News-Press. I'd note he spent the entire front end belittling, insulting and lying about the Parkland shooting survivors, creating tin-foil hat conspiracies to promote and strawmen to defeat. At the end, he then demanded that the students approach him and his fellow NRA members with respect! ...and here I thought irony was dead ....
Russell Leisenheimer, Akron, Ohio
NRA kills
The NRA does not protect me from owning a pistol or hunting rifle, the Second Amendment ensures that protection. The NRA does protect the manufacturers of military rifles to thrive while our children and law officers are exposed to such destructive weapons, legally permitted because of NRA lobbying. When you join then NRA your dues are putting a nail in the coffin of a future citizen yet unknown but bet your bottom dollar, as long as these weapons are allowed to be sold more catastrophic bloodshed will accrue.
William Young, Cape Coral
Kids' protests matter
Politicians, do not underestimate the kids protesting your unwillingness to act. They will be voting soon. Fifty-four years ago, folk singer Bob Dylan wrote the music and lyrics to his classic protest song, "The Times They Are a-Changin’". The words are still relevant, as the kids from Parkland are mobilizing the country, and the world:
Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Don't stand in the doorway
Don't block up the hall.
For the times they are a-changin'.Ron Ustruck, Cape Coral
Cacioppo needs encore
Bob Cacioppo and the audiences of The Florida Rep deserve better from its board and The News Press both of which for some reason, to me, and others are aiding in the destruction of one of the stellar attractions in Southwest Florida.
The rush to headlines might benefit the newspaper but it sure reflects poorly on the journalistic ethics and interest in what is good for the community as does the board's action in it rush to a poor conclusion of what boils down to artistic expertise vs. an almost exercise in blackmail.
I do not believe Actors Equity nor the actors involved ever envisioned or would want such a destructive result now being visited on the theater going public of Southwest Florida. Would all parties, you too, Bob, please backup do the rehearsal of this play over and please, please, try again.
Victor Smith, Punta Gorda
ZIP it
How blatantly absurd, on so many fronts, that a sitting governor, running for U.S. Senator, would lie so boldly and dramatically.
But then, we’ve gotten used to that, haven’t we?
For Rick Scott, in his newest ad, to state that all ZIP codes want term limits defies belief. And then to say there is “only one exception: Washington D.C.” demonstrates incredible ignorance.
First, the District of Columbia is identified with 271 ZIP codes. It’s obviously a much larger place than he knows … which leads to: how much else has escaped his personal data base.
Yes, he got the total number of U.S. ZIP codes correct: 41,680. I cannot believe, however, that there is a single piece of research anywhere that says that the people in ALL ZIP codes want congressional term limits.
Whether I support congressional term limits or not, I certainly do not support the use of optics that are more important than facts for this man who wants to speak for those of us that he so blithely pigeonholes and categorizes for his personal benefit. I guess I’m glad this is the first salvo in his candidacy. It will make me even more circumspect in evaluating what he has to say in his future ads.
As we learned last November in another election: buyer beware.
Arlene R. Foreman, Fort Myers
Panning Pitts
I have read the column by Leonard Pitts and while I believe in the First Amendment, this guy is over the top. His vile comments are inexcusable and misrepresentations of the situations he describes just further the divide between us.
I can appreciate his opinion but enough is enough. He did clean up his act for a while but is right back at it again. I am disappointed that The News-Press doesn’t cull out garbage like this.
Larry Struzik,North Fort Myers
Take care of people
I thought when a doctor got his license he took the Hippocratic oath. My interpretation was that this was an oath to heal the sick, rich or poor. but apparently something got lost in the translation because if you don't have insurance or Medicaid or are on government supplements you don't count! Let me tell you a story.
My neighbors son is a hard-working young man. He was working on the east coast of Florida in a well-paying job with benefits. His reputation preceded him and he was hired by another company for more money and better benefits. He gave his notice and took the job.
In the interim he was taking his motorcycle to the dealer to sell as he has a pickup and didn't need two vehicles. Well he didn't make it.
It was a very bad accident and not his fault but because he was between jobs there was no insurance. He has broken bones in his back and foot. He has fluid accumulation at the base of his spine. He is in constant pain. He has been shoved around from one doctor to the next with no results. He needs surgery badly but no doctor will touch him without money up front! It's disgusting!
He never has asked for help and yet there are people out there that know how to work the system and live off taxpapers money and here is a young man that has always paid his taxes and never asked for help and where is our government? Out to lunch! We just spent billions of dollars to send a rocket into space to look for life outside our solar system and we can't even take care of the people here!
Maryanna Kleve, Fort Myers
Trump hate insane
The Democrats hatred for Donald Trump is truly insane. Not just partisan or petty or mean-spirited, but truly insane. A year of investigation by Robert Mueller and his team of Hillary donors has turned up no evidence of Trump collusion with Russia. Nor have three Congressional committees investigating Russian interference. So now the Democrats have filed a lawsuit to go over the same ground hoping for a different result – the very definition of insanity.
William Beadle, North Fort Myers