Civility at home

To the editor:

Since the president's address in Arizona, I have been listening to how people speak to one another, not just political figures, but in general.

I am surprised at the way politeness has been replaced by sarcasm and respectfulness of another's opinion no longer exists. Being civil to one another will require all of us to examine our speech. Are we tolerant of another’s opinion? Free speech dictates that we must be, as intolerance causes fear and fear causes silence. Are we polite in our speech? Free speech also dictates that we be thoughtful about our words. We are responsible for what we say and the way we say it, even when we are anonymous on the Internet.

If we want to keep our freedom and our country, we need to take responsibility for our words. Let's start with civility at home and carry it around with us.

Donna Hart
St. Cloud

Stop anonymous blogging

To the editor:

Since the issue of civility seems to be front and center right now, I think there is a related issue to civility that is staying under the radar screen, primarily because many would rather not go there. Why? Because they're having too much fun.

What is it? It's anonymous blogging. It allows individuals to make all kinds of slanderous and nasty statements, especially about people in positions of authority, without any proof whatsoever as to the truthfulness of their accusations.

It's as if the American value of "a person has a right to know his accuser" has totally disappeared from our value system. Granted, there are a few times when it's necessary for an accuser to stay anonymous, such as when life, limb or family would be put in jeopardy, but those situations are few and far between.

I once knew a young lady who reported her neighbor to Children and Family Services because she witnessed her neighbor abusing her two children. After the call to Family Services, she immediately called her neighbor and let her know what she had just done. As hard as it was for her to make that call to the neighbor, she was taught that her neighbor had a right to know who her accuser was.

Maybe I'm naive, but I think that's an American value that we as individuals should hold dear. And as tempting as it may be to go on those blogs and anonymously lash out at those to whom we disagree, we need to face up to the reality that it's the cowardice found in our dark side that compels us to take that route.

Just as some of us have had to quit smoking, drinking or eating too much because it was bad for our health, some of us need to stop the anonymous blogging for the same reasons. It's bad for our individual spiritual health and the spiritual health of our nation.

Martha Anderson
Kissimmee

Things always change

To the editor:

This is in regard to Tony Ferentinos’ recent comments.

If anything, the economy has taught us never will it be business as usual again. People will either adapt and tough it out or go by the wayside. Thus, it has always been throughout history. No guarantees except death and taxes. I thought that’s supposed to be good for us — separates the boys from the men.

Personally, I see no problem in St. Cloud or Kissimmee with tent sales or street vendors if common sense is used in drafting an ordinance. Certainly no vendor should be able to operate directly in front of a same type business. The only thing I see here is established businesses not wanting to see residents spend what little money they have at any place but their own. Left with little or no options, who is that really good for? The consumer gains with competition, plain and simple. Without that, they get the short end of the stick.

Personally I have no problem with any type of tent sales or shows in town. People are not forced to patronize them. As long as they are properly licensed, why not?

No matter local business or tent sales, the mantra of “caveat emptor” remains. Isn’t that the way capitalism is?

Unemployment and food stamp use can be blamed on many factors, not just the above listed issues. While they are part of the equation, they are miniscule when compared to the big picture. Any nation that loses its manufacturing base has no real wealth. Wages become stagnant and the only winners are the multinational corporations that put profits over the interests of its nation’s people — period.

William C. Shoop
Kissimmee