Maci, Boomers, Twitter, Trump, DeSantis, Musk, plastics and cesspool | Letters, Nov. 28

Treasure Coast Newspapers

Once again, Stuart Air Show makes veteran proud

The Stuart Air Show was absolutely amazing.

Great job to those who hosted it, and for the pilots and crews who took risks to remind us of the great country we live in. As a U.S. Air Force vet, I couldn't have been more proud.

Did you miss it this year? Check out the highlight reel at tinyurl.com/stuartairshow

See you next year!

Tim Arthur, Palm City

Scenes during the Stuart Air Show on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022, at Witham Field in Stuart. The three-day event featured thrilling performances by nationally known performers as well as interesting and historical static displays of aircraft and vehicles.

Maci Jones shows 'remarkable' resilience

I read Maci Jones’ story with great interest. How fortunate that poor child is to have been adopted by Lisa and Darin Jones and to have received the most advanced medical care and continuous therapy. 

Her resilience is remarkable. I am certain many tears have been shed and many prayers offered for her continued improvement and happiness.

Unfortunately, I have seen far too many similar situations around the world with my work at the World Bank — both in the 41 African countries I worked in during 23 of my 31-year career and in Southeast Asia.

The first thing that comes to mind is the deliberate mutilation of children so they can be used for begging. It's absolutely horrific and all too often done in several of these countries. Given the large presence of non-profits in all these countries and pressure from international organizations, I hope this behavior is in the process of being eradicated.

Thanks to columnist Larry Reisman for his excellent work on the Jones story. He continues to bring the combination of timely topics and human interest stories to his readers. I am grateful and I don’t miss a single one!

Barbara Ruddy, Vero Beach

Here's what you can do with your opinion

It doesn't matter how strong your opinions are. If you don't use your power for positive change, you are indeed part of the problem.

Joe Liguori, Vero Beach

Social media companies create lucrative cesspool

Hooray for Nancy Celano’s letter endorsing Elon Musk’s decision allowing ex-president Donald Trump back on Twitter. God knows, Twitter hasn’t been the same cesspool without him.

Ms. Celano’s observation that the “woke” mob is filled with hate, resentment and vitriol for Musk’s decision, and that the mob’s hate, resentment and vitriol are “beyond measure” is not correct.

Twitter, like all social media companies, measure hate, resentment and vitriol every second of the day. It’s their business model — find hate, resentment and vitriol, find a target audience and then feed them the hate, resentment and vitriol they crave.

One has to wonder how Ms. Celano decided only “Democrats are filled with unreasonable anger and hatred,” only “liberals have brought America to the brink financial ruin” and only Democrats “manifest a lack of class and tolerance.”

She must have read it on Twitter.

Chris Christensen, Palm City

Elon Musk took control of Twitter and fired its top executives, US media reported late October 27, 2022, hours before the deadline for the billionaire to seal his on-again, off-again deal to purchase the social media network.

Don't stop drivers who violate traffic laws? That's naive 

I just finished reading an opinion by a young woman, Finesse Moreno-Rivera of "Young Voices." Her naivete is astounding. She states the police should not stop non-threatening vehicles or motorists for non-violent offenses.

As a former New York Police Department officer of over 20 years, now a Florida resident, it seems a large portion of the public have become more aggressive and violent drivers as the years go by. While I agree there should be accountability for all police interactions, to say we should ignore traffic stops that she deems "frivolous" is foolish. Speeding, tailgating, reckless lane changes, "running red lights," etc., are endemic in today's society.

More traffic stops need to be made and more moving violations issued. Then maybe more drivers would behave. It's a shame that fear of tickets have to be held over rude drivers, but civility on the road is a dwindling commodity.

Robert Maloney, Port St. Lucie

Critical race theory? How about homeowners insurance?

How about Gov. Ron DeSantis get off his soapbox and address what is really important to us Floridians?

Most of us older people are having a hard time. My house insurance went from $3,059 a year to $4,800; that’s an almost 60% increase in one year.

When is he going to address that?

Who really cares about his critical race theory?

He needs to do something about this insurance.

Clara Wisniewski, Sebastian 

New School Board begins with partisan votes

A recent editorial spoke about partisanship and how it’s not good for our region.

One claim is no party-affiliate candidates shouldn’t help their campaigns by associating themselves with party-affiliated candidates. Letters from the public stating why citizens endorse or support a candidate were banned, yet the editorial board interviewed candidates and gave its recommendations, which I believe were clearly partisan.

Then on Nov. 22 at 11:30 a.m., the School District of Indian River County held a swearing-in ceremony for three NPA school board members. Circuit Judge Victoria L. Griffin, before administering the oath, stated she hoped the members will keep children as their priority.

The room was full of individuals there to observe each member take their oath of office with family members beside them. Many pictures were taken to memorialize the occasion.

Next came the organizational meeting, where the first order of business was nominating and voting for chair and vice chair. I’m not sure anyone in the audience expected to witness what happened next.

A nomination and vote for chair resulted in a 3-2 yes vote for Peggy Jones. Then a nomination and vote for vice chair took place. Jackie Rosario was nominated by Gene Posca, which she had to second the nomination as no one else would, and the result was a 3-2 no vote.

It was very clear that everyone in the room just witnessed for themselves what the next two years will embody — partisanship.

It appears those who tried so hard to defeat Rosario will use every tool in their toolbox to minimize her, and now Posca, moving forward.

It is about power and control.

It is about promoting the woke status quo agenda.

Sorry judge, this dogmatic display confirms it is NOT about the children!

Karen Hiltz, Sebastian, was a candidate in the 2022 Republican primary for Florida House District 54.

Plastics, Florida's GOP boomers have much in common

For decades Florida marketed itself as the premier destination for wealthy Americans wanting a leisure-filled and tax-free retirement. Now, with our self-focused Boomer generation mostly retired, Florida has the nations’ second highest proportion of over 65’s.

And probably the nation’s highest concentration of wealthy Republican seniors.

In 1967, pop culture gave Boomers their first major recognition in the movie “The Graduate,” when Benjamin Braddock received a piece of advice: “Plastics,” Now everything comes in plastic or is made of plastic. Plastic litters our roadsides and beaches, and forms archipelagoes in our oceans, while microplastics circulate throughout our bloodstreams. Thank you, Mr. McGuire.

Janis Joplin ‘s 1971 lament advised Boomers: “Freedom’s just another word for nothing left to lose.” Decades later in 2021, Trump Republicans demonstrated their freedom by instigating a coup. The state with the greatest number arrested for this “civic” exercise was the Freedom State, Florida.

Bruce Springsteen released his generational anthem, “Born in the U.S.A.” in 1984. This year Florida Republicans cheered as Gov. Ron DeSantis denounced immigrants and had 48 people, mostly Venezuelan asylum seekers, flown from Texas to Martha’s Vineyard.

As Florida’s Boomers enter the last phase of their stay, remember that in 2018, 38% of home health aides were immigrants. If we exclude immigrants, who will wash you and wipe your backside? Your children?

“Son, don’t you understand?”

In Star Wars, Episode 1 (1999), Master Yoda enlightened Anakin Skywalker with this eternal wisdom: “Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering. Fear is the path to the Dark Side.”

Please take this wisdom to heart. Fear, anger and hate poison our lives, our souls, and our future. Your lifestyle choices are destroying our future. Empower your waning days with love, hope and forgiveness. 

Richard Stange, Fort Pierce

GOP candidate choices unbelievable

I am going to be 76 in January, and I will never understand the mindset of the current GOP, even if I live to be 100.

There's been much in print lately about the level of popularity for Ron DeSantis in our state; even to the point of stating that some Democrats must have voted for him instead of voting for Charlie Crist for the governorship. I doubt that that is the case, but I could be wrong.

I do not understand how this evil man, who has advanced his way in the GOP by imitating Donald Trump's horrid use of hatred and animosity, has become a possible standard bearer for the Republican Party. Then again, we have Herschel Walker in a runoff vote in Georgia for a Senate seat; can't get more ignorant than him. What a huge embarrassment for the state of Georgia. 

One explanation could be this party now honors lying, ignorance and bad behavior as superior qualifications for running for office. Has it been forgotten that DeSantis schemed with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to persuade immigrants to get on an airplane and fly to Martha's Vineyard as part of a political stunt?

This man is dangerous; he is just as nasty as DT, but is much smarter and more cagey than his role model. Apparently, the voters in Florida find these traits to be qualities they approve of and found the need to re-elect this political animal to another term as governor.

I doubt he will fulfill the term of office for that position as he has his sights set on the presidency. Why not? DT got elected despite his despicable character and appeals to the lowest denominators. Perhaps we will witness a "food fight" between DT, DeSantis and "Ye" West for the GOP presidential nomination in 2024.

How spectacular for our country!

Sharon Garland, Hobe Sound