Letters

Dear Readers,

I thank you deeply for your letters — of any opinion or persuasion — especially those delivered without name-calling or invective. Here are some recent ones, abridged only for length. I look forward to hearing from you again.

— Roger Williams

Re: “Test Them,” April 3

FROM: Louise Foley

Hello, Mr. Williams, I just read your commentary in the April 3-9 edition of Florida Weekly and so agree with everything you wrote…

“I do believe every elected official should be required to take a several day seminar covering the Bill of Rights and the US Constitution before being sworn into office.

Also, in this important time of science ,every elected official should have a college degree and have taken at least one science course. By the way, this would exclude Mr. Kennedy!!!!

Thank you for writing that column!!!

— Louise Foley

FROM: LooserJim@gomadison.com

I found it interesting that there was no mention of qualifications/test requirements for journalists & media in this “commentary” piece.

FROM: Sue Ryan

Mr. Williams,

You have outdone yourself!!! What an outstanding piece in this week’s paper! Thank you for your analysis of some of this country’s deepest problems. You have an incredible mind… so like the way you think.

— Sue Ryan

FROM: Bruce Shore

Dear Mr. Williams,

Your “Test Them” column in the April 3-9, 2024 Florida Weekly was ALMOST perfect.

In approximately 1951, my parents (without any training) opened a luncheonette on Main Street of my hometown, Woodbridge, New Jersey. My mother was tasked with selecting the products that were to be sold and when it came to ice cream, she faced a dilemma and narrowed the choice to Dolly Madison or Jane Logan. With her well honed taste buds, Jane Logan won — mother must have been correct since the luncheonette was a success as I can attest to due to the significant weight I gained eating that delicious ice cream!

Keep up the wonderful and fun writing!

— Bruce Shore

FROM: Bill Kopp

Your column is spot on and your analysis is cogent. It’s not what you know in politics, it’s who you know (and) what PAC will fund you. Good column my friend.

— Bill Kopp

FROM: Sean O’Connor

You bloviate that you are patriotic and American, yet in what way?

You are not standing against Marxist- Satanic obama and is minions you clearly are one of them.

Snarky thin veiled remarks re Trump reveal you. As if, humble yourself with confessing the sins you cultivate. Many republicans and all democrats are traitors to our great nation that used to be aligned with Christ like our forefathers were.

— Sean O’Connor

Re: “The Long Generation,” April 17

FROM: Joseph Graebner

Thank you Roger for another fantastic article, “The Long Generation” (April 22).

You’re the best.

And thank you Florida Weekly for providing those of us who like to hold a newspaper or a book in our hands for the written words we enjoy reading.

— Joseph Graebner

Re: “Famous Floridians,” April 10

FROM: Cathy Dee

Dear Roger,

What a fantastic article in this week’s Florida Weekly. As a native (only three of us left, sadly 🙂 ) I read with great interest your stories about some of Florida’s finest.

I fear we’re losing our uniqueness as more and more non-natives inhabit our Paradise. I guess that’s the underbelly of progress.

An avid Florida Weekly fan,

— Cathy Dee

FROM: Debbie Delucco

Dear Mr. Williams,

Every Thursday, I look forward to Florida Weekly and inevitably turn to Page 2 first for your column, no matter how interesting the front-page story may be.

Today, however, I have a small issue to dispute with you regarding your mentioning of the Highwaymen in your cover article. You included A.E.Backus in the small list of Highwaymen cited. Please note that A. E. “Bean” Backus was not a Highwayman; he was their (white) mentor.

There’s a wonderful Bean Backus museum in Ft. Pierce that features not only his works but also many works by various Highwaymen that he mentored. Several years ago, I had the privilege of meeting some of these talented Black painters, and invariably they praised the man who taught them to paint and who encouraged them in their artistic endeavors.

— Regards,

Debbie Delucco

Jupiter

FROM: Deborah Pollack

Mr. Williams,

I enjoyed your article, “Florida’s Founding Figures,” in today’s Florida Weekly. You might want to know that A. E. Backus was not one of the Highwaymen. A fine, trained artist, he influenced them, taught only one of them, and they copied his works. For more information, please see this: www.edwardanddeborahpollack.com/Backusandhighwaymen . html

Also, Laura Woodward (1834-1926) was Florida’s most important 19th-century woman artist. She arrived in South Florida by 1889, helped convince Henry Flagler to open a resort in Palm Beach, and painted in the Everglades as early as 1895.

— Sincerely yours,

Deborah C. Pollack Palm Beach

The post Letters first appeared on Palm Beach Florida Weekly .