Tequesta were Miami’s first people

Re the Nov. 22 story, “For first time, Miccosukees have a spot among Wynwood’s murals:” Congratulations and wonderful! It’s about time!

One of the trends in museums is inclusiveness; Miami is jumping into it with both feet. Is that as good as it gets? Not really.

Howard Cohen, who wrote the front-page article, says that, “The Miccosukees are ‘the original locals’ in Florida.” Later, art collector Dennis Scholl compares the Miccosukees to the Australian Aborigines, or “Traditional Owners of the land.”

We need to recognize the Tequesta, who are the real locals and “traditional owners”, whose residence in southeast Florida predated the Miccosukees and Seminoles. Historically, the Miccosukee migrated to Florida as part of the Seminole tribe, formerly part of the Creek (Muskogee) Federation, who lived in Georgia.

They are one of the native peoples forcibly removed to lands west of the Mississippi early in the 18th century. Both tribes gained their present separate identities and political structures in 1962.

The Tequesta were longtime residents of the north shore of the Miami River. Their site now has been largely covered by a commercial development. Around the world, archaeological remains of past peoples can be viewed through clear floors. Why was this not done for the Tequesta site in downtown Miami?

The Tequesta probably worshiped on the south side of the river, at today’s Miami Circle. Most of the remnants of their presence have long been erased by waves of development.

One last burial mound, an extensive midden, and an even earlier site are preserved on the grounds of the Charles Deering Estate.

Miami is a city that ignores its history. Yes, we are a city of the future.

We also have an amazing, long-lived historical story. Let’s get what remains right.

– Annette B. Fromm,

Miami Beach

SCHOOL START TIMES

Re the Nov. 21 story “Miami-Dade Public Schools might start later in the morning:” I just can’t imagine, with the already deplorable traffic conditions in Miami-Dade County, why anyone would consider putting virtually all traffic on the road at the same time.

Parents dropping off their children, school buses and school zone speed restrictions will be changed, affecting a maximum number of drivers getting to and from work.

I suppose what is now a one-hour drive to go 10 miles each day, each way, will become two (four per day) in order to get to and from work. I hope someone will consider the big picture.

– B. Roberson,

Miami

LIFE WELL LIVED

Our condolence to the Kaplan family on the passing of patriarch Joseph Kaplan, who died on Nov. 21. We see his passing with sadness, but also with hope. Sadness, because men of his character and temperament are sorely needed now. He was the type of splendid American we respect and admire.

Hope, because there are more like him out there. Just look at the progeny he left behind. His daughter Susan, who walked the picket lines with him as a child, said: “He raised us to follow our passion.”

And those are good passions: The Kaplan clan includes Mitchell, a national treasure and, as my wife cheerfully proclaims, the best thing that ever happened to our community.

His progeny reminds me of an old Spanish adage: De casta le viene al galgo (The greyhound’s skills come from its breed ). Rest in peace, Joseph Kaplan, yours was a life well lived.

– Ignacio H Boladeres,

Coral Gables

DUAL LOYALTIES

GOP counsel Steve Castor tried to smear Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, a Purple Heart recipient, because he was not born in the United States, suggesting he has dual loyalties. I guess that would go for all born outside the nation.

While Castor was safe and comfortable in his home, Vindman was getting his butt shot at, so Castor has the American privilege of smearing him.

By the way, does that dual loyalty also go for the first lady?

– Mario Signorello,

Miami Springs

TWO-TIMER

Trump has cheated all his life. He hid his school record. He cheated the Army. He cheated businesses, banks, his charity. He cheated on all three wives. For sure, he cheated on taxes.

He cheated us all to get elected, and now he has been caught cheating again to set up 2020.

– Jean Kulick, – Miami Beach

BEST AND BRIGHTEST

My thanks to all the federal employees who risked their careers, pensions, salaries, etc to testify at the impeachment hearings. Very proud of all of them.

They made America look good for a change!

Now about all the bosses — Trump, Pence, Giuliani, Pompeo, Perry and Mulvaney.

They need to get up the courage, stop obstructing justice, take the oath and testify.

– Kitty Roedel, Coconut Grove

TRUE LOYALTY

Does the irony escape President Trump that Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman and Fiona Hill, both immigrants who testified in the Congressional impeachment hearings for all to see, are displaying more patriotism and courage than he and his GOP enablers in Congress?

– Rich Szymanski,

West Kendall

IMPARTIAL JURY?

Is it only me, or do others find curious the idea that U.S.senators, who make up the jury in an impeachment trial, are able to routinely meet and plan a defense strategy with the object of the impeachment?

For this and other reasons, perhaps an examination of the rules and processes for impeachment — and the subsequent trial — are in order.

– Robert Kemper,

Pinecrest

ELIGIBLE RECEIVER

Re Armando Salguero’s Nov. 21 opinion, “Walton latest example of Dolphins’ misses with character evaluations:” I was disappointed that Salguero linked Kenny Stills with Mark

Walton as “character misjudgments.”

Walton, in his brief and now presumably extinguished NFL career, had repeated brushes with the law, culminating in another arrest last week.

In contrast, Stills was a class act who made an honest effort on the field, but irked fans who appreciate athletes taking a political or social stance only when it aligns with their own values. Stills was not unloaded for being a head case or unproductive. He would surely still be a starting wide receiver with Miami, as he is now averaging more yards per catch for the Houston Texans than any Dolphin.

Stills’ trade coincided with the team’s rebuild strategy, but another element was publicly criticizing owner Stephen Ross for ostensibly supporting improved race relations while hosting a major fund raiser for the race-baiting President Trump.

Sports need more athletes willing to take a principled stance, even if it potentially harms their earning power — and fewer sports writers cavalier enough to equate that, even tangentially, with felony assault on a pregnant woman.

– Hoyt Olsen,

Miami

FADE TO BLACK

After several weeks of impeachment hearings and public testimony from incredible witnesses, there are facts that cannot be refuted.

Donald Trump is a nasty, demeaning and crude human being who gets through every single day by lying and cheating his way through everything.

You wouldn’t want him at your Thanksgiving table. You couldn’t tolerate him as a fellow employee.

And you certainly couldn’t work for someone so totally devoid of any qualities that you could respect.

One can only hope — as more than 100 Republicans in the House and Senate blindly follow this man over the cliff — that next November, Trump will be a lameduck president, ready to go speedily into the darkness from which he came.

– Glenn Huberman,

Miami

THE THING WITH BILLIONAIRE MICHAEL BLOOMBERG AS A POSSIBLE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE IS

THAT PEOPLE WANT TO CHANGE THE SYSTEM, BUT IT’S HARD TO CONVINCE THEM THAT YOU THINK THE SYSTEM IS BROKEN WHEN THAT SYSTEM GAVE YOU BILLIONS OF DOLLARS

Seth Meyers