Florida’s mean streak grew a mile wide in 2022. We can do better in the new year
In 2022, Florida’s meanness came into full and ugly bloom. With Gov. Ron DeSantis channeling the grievances of the GOP into increasingly draconian laws, we saw Black students, gay people, college students, librarians, teachers, migrants, drag queens and even Disney targeted.
Knowing the Legislature would slavishly follow his every lead, DeSantis mounted a culture war that was little more than an airing of long-nursed grudges — much of it in service to his reelection campaign and then, most likely, his run for the White House.
It’s a cynical thing to do, to fan the flames of anger for your own political gain and use the power of the state to tighten your grip on public office. It’s an abuse of power, and it encourages the worst in people. And yet that’s what happened over and over in the past year.
There was the parental rights bill, nicknamed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, banning districts from encouraging conversations about sexuality or gender identity in primary schools. When Disney stood up for gay people and opposed the bill, the Legislature went a step further and passed a bill to punish Disney.
There was the Stop WOKE Act, the law that went after critical race theory. The law prohibited K-12 teachers and college professors from engaging in classroom instruction that could be seen as making white and straight people and men feel guilt. A judge who struck down the law in November
NEW YEAR’S WISH
The new year is a good time to think about what is really important. Character is a word we don’t hear much about today.
What value can character have in a world that is stacked against those who have not or can’t achieve what we define as success because they live in an unfair or racist society?
Sadly, when we say someone is a “character” today, we are not speaking of the good qualities that used to embody that word, like integrity, respect, responsibility, discipline, honesty, generosity and selflessness.
Everyone makes mistakes, has failures or acts in ways that are insensitive to others. That says so much less about their character than what happens after they have fallen. The ability and willingness to apologize and be quick to forgive says volumes about who we really are. That’s character.
– Charles Michael Sitero,
Ormond Beach
IMMIGRANT LIVES
As we head into the new year, can we, as a country, consider the cruel and inhumane treatment Gov. Ron DeSantis has done to a desperate people?
While they are not my family or community, they are women, children and men who, for whatever reasons, fled their countries as many have before them. My own grandparents fled Eastern Europe and Ireland for similar reasons.
I realize that we cannot have open borders. We do not have accommodations for hundreds of thousands of people to come and settle here, but we do not have to treat them as some jokey political gesture for the governor to make some ludicrous point.
Is there no decency left in our once conservative Republicans?
– Judith M. Briggs,
Cutler Bay
STOP COMPLAINING
We are just days away from Republicans taking control of the House of Representatives. One would think now would be the perfect time to roll out their planned initiatives and legislative programs for bettering our country and the lives of we, the people.
Republicans never tire of complaining that immigration will be the death of America and that we are being invaded by hordes of gang members, drug dealers and sex offenders across our borders. Yet, Republicans’ silence is deafening.
We hear only about Hunter Biden’s laptop and seemingly endless investigations
BOB MCFARLIN
called it “positively dystopian.”
Then there was the time the state went after drag-queen shows on the ostensible grounds that children were being sexualized. Parental choice went right out the window with that one, it seems.
There were the efforts to ban books, curb gender-related healthcare and relocate Texas migrants to Martha’s Vineyard, a strange episode that now includes a top DeSantis aide using a private email address with the alias “Clarice Starling” — a reference to the Hannibal Lecter serial-killer novels — to set up the state contract.
Courts have stalled or thrown out some of the laws, as taxpayers, of course, foot the bill. That’s added up to about $17 million so far, as we pay for the governor’s attacks.
DeSantis likes to call this the Free State of Florida or “where woke goes to die.” But we think, under his administration, it has earned a new nickname: the Mean State.
Who can forget the governor during a University of South Florida appearance in March mocking high school students for wearing masks, calling it “COVID theater”? “If you want to wear it, fine,” he scolded,
“but this is ridiculous.”
It was mean-spirited and it was angry, and it sadly epitomized so much of the discussion in Florida today. We talk past each other and are quick to take offense. Whatever happened to giving people the benefit of the doubt? Of listening before jumping to conclusions? Of trying to be open-minded instead of defensive?
We think most people, if they were confronted with the fleshand-blood Floridians bearing of nonexistent corruption motivated by revenge and the belief that owning the libs is a blueprint for governing.
Time for Republicans to put up or shut up.
– Leonard Fenn,
Coral Gables
YAY, COACH
So pleased to see University of Miami men’s basketball coach Jim Larrañaga get the honors and recognition he deserves. He’s a real gentleman and leader for the young men he coaches. May he continue and thrive in the new year.
– Roberta Leonard,
Miami
FREE FROM FEAR
Gun rights have become a major battleground in the United States. The right wing wants no restrictions on firearms, even those primarily for military use.
We recognize that there are different interpretations of the Second Amendment, which gives us the right to own a firearm.
The left wing feels there should be some restrictions on the sale and use of firearms, along with an increase in firearm safety.
One issue not discussed is the right of people not to feel fear when simply being outside.
People have become hyper-vigilant — at shopping
MONICA R. RICHARDSON
the impacts of these laws, might think twice about backing them or, at the very least, might consider a viewpoint they didn’t appreciate before.
So here’s what we think needs to happen in 2023: Let’s try to listen more.
We can’t rely on our state government to do it, that’s obvious. We can do this one all on our own. Maybe we all will learn a thing or two, even if our socalled leaders don’t.
We’re in, if you are. malls, restaurants, houses of worship and, amazingly, schools.
In 1941, President Roosevelt gave his famous “Four Freedoms” speech, the last of which was freedom from fear.
There has to be a balance between the right of an individual to have a firearm and the right of all of us to have freedom from fear.
We all deserve to have a peaceful existence.
– William D. Goldman,
Highland Beach
MONEY TRAIN
Why is the Miami Herald giving Brightline credit for building the Aventura train station?
The Miami-Dade County Commission previously approved $75 million in taxpayer money for the construction of a station in Aventura for Brightline trains (as reported numerous times in the Herald).
The commission has also approved what will be a $12 subsidy (if one does the math), for each passenger who boards the train in Miami-Dade, just as each passenger riding a bus or the Metrorail is subsidized by about $12 by taxpayers to pay the additional expenses to run the county transportation department (also reported numerous times in the Herald).
– Bob Deresz,
Miami
UKRAINIAN DEFENSE
To those who would support a nearly $1 trillion defense budget but have doubts about continued support for Ukraine’s war in defense of Western democracy from a massmurdering, aggressive tyrant, that is what our defense spending is for.
Neville Chamberlain, a former prime minister of the United Kingdom, tried to appease a similar monster, and we all know the outcome — global war.
President Reagan talked about “peace through strength,” and the Soviet Union was held in check until it ultimately collapsed.
Ukraine is fighting the war that we have tried to avoid for decades. Appeasement will only encourage Russian President Vladimir Putin to go further in his quest to remake the Russian empire. He must be stopped in Ukraine by the strength of Ukrainian fighters, with support from the United States and NATO.
– Steven Meyerson,
Boca Raton
STELLAR JOURNALIST
Friday evening was Judy Woodruff’s last appearance as anchor of the
“PBS Newshour.” She is an exceptional journalist. Her grace and intelligence will never be forgotten. Her Cronkite-like objectivity is rare amid today’s opinionated and divisive commentary masquerading as news.
The “PBS Newshour” has had a history of brilliant anchors, and she followed in that tradition admirably. She will now undertake special projects for PBS, focusing on why our country is so divided. While her style and substance of journalism will be difficult to replicate, I hope that those who follow in her footsteps maintain the same high standard.
– Peter M. Brooke, Doral
DOUSE THE FLAME
I agree with Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony, who banned inmates from lighting candles in prison to celebrate Hanukkah. They are in prison for a reason, and it’s usually not a good reason. Why should they have the right to light candles, which could turn into something very dangerous?
– Mike Turkal,
Palmetto Bay