Who are we, America?
Martina H Kilgo’s June 20th letter to the editor compares what is happening in the United States under the administration of Donald Trump to events in Germany that led to the rise of the Nazi Party and the atrocities of WWII. Those of us who were born in America during the war were taught that we live in the greatest country in the world. We had no doubts. We sang patriotic songs in school and were grateful that we lived in the shining city on the hill.
We aren’t shining so brightly now. For eighteen months we have endured a president who defends racism. A presidential cabinet tearing apart the very agencies they are appointed to manage. Scientists discredited as environmental concerns are cast aside. Our allies are insulted and foes taunted. The media is attacked daily.
Now we are seeing children of immigrants being caged on our borders. Young children taken from parents. We are seeing white tents in the unrelenting sun housing adolescent boys. We are seeing media being denied access to facilities housing children. Children! We are all responsible. World leaders are decrying this cold-blooded treatment of families. Why isn’t every American, especially every member of Congress, screaming and shouting for this to stop now? Who are we America?
Jo Flanagan, Cape Coral
Children ripped from families
Do not let yourself think that what is happening now is not your problem. It is.
If you are affiliated with the party in power now, you are supporting children being ripped away from their families, from their friends and from their education and being placed in detention center facilities, or dare I say "concentration camps".
The person who is the leader of our beloved country has our Republican elected senators and congressmen and women paralyzed with fear of losing their jobs if they oppose him and his policies. Do not be fooled, this man's
Agenda leans toward a dictatorship. We can never allow that to happen to this wonderful
country of ours. My heart cries for these children and their mothers and fathers.
Rona Rosenthal, Fort Myers
Ecology and economics
All Floridians realize that our economic health is dependent on a healthy environment. Our current representative, Francis Rooney has certainly worked to protect our recreational waters. But unfortunately, he does not seem to have the foresight to realize that ultimately our ecology will be directly affected by global warming.
As a matter of fact, he does not believe, despite the testimony of 99 percent of scientists, that it is a man-made phenomenon. As has been argued many times, the climate has been cyclical over time, but not by decades as is happening now; but rather by millions of years. My support in November will go to David Holden who will fight for sensible protections for planet Earth.
Jamie Ferguson, Cape Coral
Immigrants and children
When illegal immigrant children are separated from their parents coming into this country illegally, it is no different than when U.S citizens are arrested that have children. These children are also separated and taken into protective custody or housed in foster care if no relative or other person is available to come and care for them. For the illegal, this could all be avoided if the family agreed to return back to their home country, which they elect not to do.
The media and liberals say foreign illegals should feel and be welcomed into this country, even though they are disobeying our laws by coming here illegally and putting a burden on our schools, medical facilities and our social and welfare programs, adding additional costs to the American taxpayer and forcing our own needy to do without.
According to Center for Immigration Studies, 51% of immigrant-led households are on some type of assistance compared to 30% U.S households. The percentage increases to 76% for immigrant households with children compared to 52% native-born households
When are we going to stop treating illegal immigrants like royalty and start taking care of the American taxpayer?
Lou Walker, Cape Coral
Reading all these articles about kids being torn from their mother's arms and, according to CNN, placed into concentration camps. Are you kidding me? Talk about fanning the flames which the liberal media loves to do.
I have to ask, where was the outrage when Obama was in office? Things were the same then so I have to conclude that it is because of who is in the White House. No surprise there.
Also, I have not seen one constructive suggestion as to what could be done to solve this issue. All talk and no action. The U.S. has allowed this to continue for so long and now it is out of control. The media will continue to twist the facts and truth to fit the liberal agenda and the anti-President Trump agenda. Maybe each one of those folks should take a couple of the kids home with them. How about the guy, from Playboy, screaming at Sarah Sanders during one of the press conferences. Need to take TV cameras out of there. These people do not care about issues only air time. Playboy, really?
Barbara Steffens, Cape Coral
Trump and North Korea
Hold your horses on that Nobel. While it"s good the President is talking rather than threatening, people are a little ahead of their skis in believing he should be awarded a Nobel Peace Prize.
We've been to this point and beyond several times before, as research on the history of U.S. and North Korean nuclear diplomacy shows. Multiple past negotiations beginning in 1994 and over succeeding presidencies have led to detailed agreements to freeze or abandon plutonium weapons program with steps to implement inspect. Each time North Korea broke the agreement.
What President Trump signed was merely a beginning, a vague promise to complete denuclearization with no agreement on the details of timetable and enforcement. Hopefully, that will happen. At this point, it's just an empty promise, not a historic achievement worthy of a Nobel.
Rosemary Giovannone, Fort Myers
No street lights in Suncoast area
I have been a resident of the Suncoast area of North Ft. Myers for a year now. When I moved here, there were virtually no street lights in the area. One year later and still no street lights.
Do we as taxpayers have the right to have street lights, especially in the darkest areas of North Fort Myers. This now includes the busy route of Bayshore, Hart Drive and others. I work nights and come home around 10:30 p.m. There are still bikers, and walkers out at this time of night. Most bikers have a light, but not all.
I have heard that the only way that this will get fixed is if enough people complain about it. So here it is my fellow North Ft. Myers residents. Let's complain until something is done to keep our streets safe. Especially now that school is out.
Norm Wing, North Fort Myers
Trump and DeNiro
In a recent letter, the writer voiced his displeasure with something Robert DeNiro said. Apparently, he has no problem with anything Trump has said. Mocking a disabled journalist, denigrating women (too many to mention), having a feud with gold star family, dissing a war hero and lie after lie.
Then all he does is praise murderous dictators and embarrassing us in front of our allies. All I can think is that whoever praises this man has the same “values” as Trump.
Stop listening to Fox News 24/7. Whatever you hear, please fact check.
Charles Perkins, Cape Coral
Sergio and the nurse
While driving home on Treeline Blvd today, a woman pulled beside me and motioned for me to pull over on the road. She parked behind me, said I had a flat tire. and asked if I had a tire jack. Then she offered to put on the spare tire. As we were talking, I saw a man drive by and then circle back. He walked up, found the tire jack, and changed the tire. The woman was a nurse from Lehigh and she stayed with me until I was well on my way. The well-built man was Sergio, from the Dominican Republic and wore a World Gym shirt.
I tried to pay him and he sternly refused. My prayers now include that nurse and Sergio for helping this retired widow - proving once again that there are still helpful, kind people in our world. If you ever have the good fortune to meet Sergio, please tell him how grateful we are to have people like him come to our country. Special thanks also go to that nurse who was so thoughtful to stop me and offer to do such a hard job.
H. R. Crombe, Fort Myers