Lawmakers’ grade on Puerto Rico too high
I was confused when I opened my Sunday Sentinel and found the article “Evacuees struggling to put down roots here” in the same issue that rated “Puerto Rico diaspora” a grade of B in the Sentinel editorial “Recapping our top 10.”
As the article describes with example after example, the tens of thousands of evacuees have not found the promised help declared by Gov. Rick Scott in October. “With families displaced by Hurricane Maria already present and still arriving in Florida, it is critical that our state is prepared to provide the resources they need upon entering our state,” he stated. Clearly the Republican-led Legislature did not assist in making that goal a reality, as the article proves.
The editorial noted that “raiding the affordable-housing trust funds again when evacuees will make the state’s shortage even more acute is simply inexcusable.” Based on all this evidence, a B is simply not earned and echoes of “grade inflation” to me.
Stephanie Garber Celebration
Student protesters inspire
It has been inspiring to see students from Parkland and throughout the state and country stand up, walk out and demand that Congress and legislatures, the president and governors listen, learn and act against the slaughter of children in schools.
Many schools and some whole school districts have welcomed the protests, and even helped students organize the demonstrations. Others such as the Citrus County School Board and the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office acted to stop students from leaving classrooms.
Why has the county I chose to retire to, when I left the Orlando Sentinel in 2008, carried out this potentially unconstitutional action against students, who are doing one of the most important jobs of a citizen: petitioning elected officials about grievances?
I do not know. It has barely been addressed by the leaders, the adults.
They must know that the U.S. Supreme Court has made it clear that the Constitution does not stop at the school door. They must have read the Constitution and the First Amendment, which guarantees all citizens the right to free speech.
Some students have made it clear they expect public leaders to listen and to act to stop these slaughters.
Or, as they have said, they will be voters soon, and they will not forget those leaders who don’t listen, don’t learn and don’t respect the public. Marjory Stoneman Douglas, Columbine, Sandy Hook and other school names will decide elections soon.
Robert P. Curran Beverly Hills
Kass disappoints
A clear sign that things are going from bad to worse for Republicans is reflected in columns written by conservatives like John Kass. His Thursday Sentinel column, “Mass. liberal gets taste of party’s own politics,” is a good example.
Instead of debating the merits of Republican versus Democratic political issues, Kass regressed to schoolyard name calling. Thursday’s target was Mass. Sen. Elizabeth Warren.
Warren’s lack of interest in having her DNA tested for proof of her Cherokee heritage and her previously stated “Cold Omelets with Crab Meat” (native American) recipe was all Kass needed. For Kass, this was surely all the proof required that Warren was a fraud.
And for the conspiracy theorists, Kass’ dogged pursuit of Warren is amazingly similar to Trump’s fascination with Obama’s country of birth.
I respect the likes of conservative columnists like George Will and Charles Krauthammer; however, the Sentinel should stop wasting space for columns by literary lightweights like Kass, who add nothing constructive to the dialogue.
For thoughtful Republicans, even columns by conservatives critical of President Trump should be preferred to the childish and invidious musings of Kass and his ilk.
Liane M. Lee Winter Park
