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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 14, 2007

Not Your Father's

Democratic Party

In his letter of Dec. 12, Dallas Dunlap included a list of significant achievements by the Democratic Party. Also of significance was the fact that the most recent of these dates to over 40 years ago. The reason is simple: That was around the time that Mr. Dunlap's party lost its course. The party of Roosevelt, Truman and JFK began its death spiral in the 1970s.

Listen to John F. Kennedy's speech before the Economic Club of New York in December 1962 for example. In it JFK calls out an "across-the-board, top-to-bottom cut in personal and corporate income taxes" to "reduce the burden" on the all the people. Have you heard any Democrats say anything close to this since then?

John Kennedy also vowed to "pay any price, bear any burden" to "support any friend, oppose any foe in order to assure the survival and success of liberty" and recognized that "the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state, but from the hand of God." This is a far cry from the current Democrat philosophy.

Given the state of his party today, I suspect that JFK wouldn't even be invited to address next year's Democratic national convention. It's not your father's Democratic Party. Today it's the party of Nancy Pelosi, Harry Ried and moveon.org. Perhaps this is the party that Mr. Dunlap wants, but it's not who the rest of us want running the country. When we Republicans rail at Democrats we're not attacking the party of accomplishment, we're expressing displeasure at what it's become, the party of division, opposition and self-promotion.

John S.V. Weiss

Spring Hill

A History Lesson

Some who consider the Rebel battle flag symbolic of slavery and racism often ignore their own history.

Therefore, New Yorkers can be proud that NYC has bravely publicized its slave past with a museum and a dedication to the burial site of 15,000 free and enslaved Africans. Museum artifacts - "Negroes, sold here" - expose its slave history when 20 percent of the population was enslaved by 40 percent of the households, second only to Charleston.

This shocks visitors because "Northerners have historically absolved themselves of complicity while heaping blame upon the shoulders of the plantation south," said the New York Times. Educators have betrayed us by creating this "cultural amnesia" and allowing many Americans to believe "Gone with the Wind" represents America's complete slavery past.

Perhaps Southerners should quit waving the flag and adopt the North's method of dealing with its past: Hide it and blame it on some body else.

Bob Womack

Crystal River

Ban Cell Phone

Use While Driving

I was reading the article by Ms. Wilshusen about people not seeing motorcyclists and how often that happens. I agree with her a 100 percent, whether it's ignorant or other reasoning why motorists keep hitting motorcyclists, who really knows?

I would say the majority of motorcycle accidents are not cause by the motorcyclist but by the person in the other vehicle who is clearly not paying attention. I have nearly 100,000 miles and 10 years experience riding a motorcycle and have had many close calls. Just recently at the intersection of Deltona and Forest Oaks Boulevard, I was waiting for the light to change green. When it did, if I had not been aware of my surroundings, my girlfriend and I would have been hit broadside.

I always hesitate before I enter an intersection on my motorcycle or in my car because 3 1/2 years ago my wife was fatally injured at the intersection of Deltona and Northcliffe. For whatever reason, they could not determine who was at fault. I am not saying that I do not make mistakes while driving, because I do. Everybody does, and I try to apologize if I can when I do.

What I have experienced in the past 3 1/2 years, and it is very evident on the road today, are people using cell phones while driving and how dangerous it has become. In the close call I mentioned above, that was the situation. The person driving the blue Chevy Caviler who went through a red light had a cell phone in his ear.

I do not know when the governments of each state are going to ban cell phone use while driving, but they better do it soon because there are going to be more people injured or killed.

When I say most of my close calls in the past 3 1/2 years, about 90 percent of them in my car or motorcycle have been because the ignorant driver who almost caused an accident was using a cell phone, including law enforcement.

I hope and pray very soon that the state of Florida and other states get off their butts like some other states and cities have and ban cell phone use while driving a motor vehicle. If it takes county by county in this state to enact a law, then how about it county commissioners; let's get the ball rolling. Let's stop the injuries and fatalities in this county. The injury or life you save could be yours someday.

I have one thing to say to the drivers who use cell phones while driving: Get rid of them or pull off the road somewhere and use them, but not while you're at a stop sign, stop light or moving down the road.

Gary Mercer

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