WE CELEBRATE THE POWER OF WORDS

Even in the age of social media, people still turn to their local newspapers when they want to read and share thoughtful opinions. The Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board publishes hundreds of letters to the editor each year. Here are excerpts from more than

Trump, be like Oprah

Jan 10 — After Sunday night’s Golden Globes speech, the Twitterverse was abuzz with talk of Oprah for president, which caused a panic among certain demographic groups. Calm down. Nobody’s coming for your guns or your stupid wall.

But consider for a moment that it’s not so much that Oprah should be president as it is that the president should be more like Oprah. He should speak kindly and inspirationally … He should … strongly denounce sexism, racism and xenophobia . ...

Essentially, the notion of Oprah as president is less a literal construct than an escapist fantasy from the current dystopian Trump hellscape. If he were actually a stable genius, he’d take some notes. Judi Hayes Orlando

Pass texting-driving law

Jan. 18 — I’m reeling over Sen. Perry E. Thurston Jr.’s guest column ... in Wednesday’s Sentinel, which gave the impression that representatives should vote down the texting-while-driving bill unless it contains wording that protects against racial profiling . ...

How many people might we lose to traffic fatalities in Florida before the bill comes back up for a vote? [Is Thurston] willing to talk to parents and loved ones who experience an accident because of texting and explain, “We couldn’t keep statistics on race, so we voted down the stronger law”?

I honor fairness. … What I don’t honor is bullheaded posturing to make a senseless point. Pass the bill. Address racial profiling separately as a problem among law enforcement if needed. But do not hold up this critical piece of legislation . ... Nancy J. Wise Winter Park

Sticks and stones — and free speech

Feb. 13 — The article “Some want to restrict free speech on campus” in Sunday’s Sentinel illustrates not just the political polarization of our country today, but also the inadequate preparation of many young people who become college students. They should already have learned through normal human interaction at home, church or school that speech does not hate. Hate is created in the human heart and brain.

Also, they should have learned that speech is not always free. If one chooses to spew vile, hateful, incendiary words, there may be a price to pay. In a civilized society, that price should be ostracism. …

And long before high school, they should know the truth of the old saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me.” Scott Campbell Winter Park

We’re not junkies

March 30 — … Many Americans live in severe, chronic pain and are helped by opioids and benzodiazepines. The initiatives to control their use hurts those of us who need them to live comfortably and function semi-normally. Our voices are not considered or heard . ...

We’re not junkies. We’re responsible users. There’s a difference. We can monitor our conditions and use our medications on schedule and as needed . ...

This is very much like the gun-control debate. Laws affect the law-abiding more than the lawless. Those of us who need and responsibly use guns and medications are being punished for the sins of those who abuse the privilege of owning said guns and medications . ... Pamela M. Smith Clermont

Role of firearms

April 4 — ... Our freedom is so much more than guns. Assault weapons were banned for 10 years (1994-2004) and America didn’t crumble. We can disagree among ourselves without painting our opponents with deep-state conspiracies and info-war fantasies. I’m a gun owner and a veteran, but more than that, I’m an American. And being American is what binds us for the common good, makes us a beacon to the world, and helps us withstand the machinations of our enemies. Albert Chastain Orlando

Hannity as Hulk

April 30 — Fifty years ago on Saturday nights, my family watched Studio Wrestling on Pittsburgh’s Channel 11. … How embarrassing that it took me 10 years to realize the top three rows of fans were actually painted on the studio wall . ... At least I had come to realize many years earlier that this wrestling was entertainment ...

Which brings me to 2018 and Fox News. Fox News is a daily series of WWE Wrestlemania events. Sean Hannity, Laura Ingraham and Bret Baier as Hulk Hogan, Stephanie McMahon and AJ Styles throwing “liberal” chairs, “mainstream” media or “conspiracy” theories over the ropes and onto announcers’ tables . ...

Isn’t it ironic when letter-writer David S. Robinson (”Don’t write law to shield Mueller,” April 14) refers to the idiocy of fellow U.S. citizen voters when he can’t even tell the difference between entertainment and reality? Hyper-partisanship … harms our democracy. Greg Gensheimer Montverde

An informed vote

May 24 — ... If the goal of political fundraising is to get more people informed about the candidates, which will inspire more to get involved, which will inspire more to vote, then let’s allow them to raise as much as possible.

And if you’re curious about who donates to these candidates … think about it. Democratic/Republican groups, organizations and billionaires will likely donate big bucks to their candidates. The rest of us will donate $50 to $100.

No surprise. But, more money gives campaigns more tools to reach potential voters. More information will make voters more informed. An informed potential voter is more likely to vote.

The formula works in every other form of advertising. Why not politics?

Pitt Warner Winter Park

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Creationism theory?

June 18 — The term “theory” is used often in the debate between creationism and evolution. Some think “theory” refers to an idea or thought-up plan about how something works. However, “theory” has two distinct meanings. … Creation “scientists” confuse these distinctions when they equate creationism as a theory to evolution as a theory, as June 6 letterwriter Colleen Berry has done . ... For many of us, religion is an integral part of our lives, supporting families, communities and spiritual beliefs. Creationism, as a religious belief, should be so respected. Subjecting it to scientific inquiry disrespects creationism as a theological belief. Educators should make this distinction. Our students deserve to learn the difference between the very different disciplines of theology and science. Marty Sullivan Winter Park

Senior benefits, Titanic

June 21 — Gus Ambler’s Friday letter to the editor brings to mind the unfortunate passengers on the ill-fated Titanic. For the good money they paid, they certainly expected, like Ambler, a guaranteed safe passage to their destination. Sadly, as we all know, a nasty iceberg ended up ruining their well-made plans.

Could it be we, as a nation, are on a similarly precarious voyage? The metaphorical iceberg we may be approaching is the ever-expanding national debt. It has sprinted past the $20 trillion mark and shows no signs of slowing down . ...

It is projected that Medicare’s trust fund will become insolvent in 2026 and Social Security’s, in 2034. We’ve heard similar reports over the years, but nothing gets resolved . ...

By adamantly insisting that we have a right to Social Security and Medicare, are we, in effect, simply rearranging the fiscal chairs on the deck of the Titanic?

Hector Siqueiros Longwood

America unrecognizable

July 19 — Whatever happened to the “land of the free and the home of the brave”? Where did the country go that was the refuge for the persecuted, victimized people of the world? Who have we become? It appears we have turned into the very people we used to condemn for their actions . ...

Personal freedom is being curtailed, and these decisions are upheld in the courts. It is terrifying and humiliating to watch and to know that those of us who believe in kindness, civility and honesty are basically powerless. The ballot box, peaceful demonstrations, unbiased reporting were the ways to make change in the past so we could move forward. Instead we are opting for violence and bigotry. We are contradicting everything we used to hold dear. Is this really who we want to be?

Sad. Maggie O’Connell Orlando

Looked into my soul

July 31 — I had to smile at the letter by Maloey Jones bemoaning the fact that President Trump has a “rabid” core of supporters. Jones couldn’t understand why this was.

It’s simple. … Nothing was working . ... Our angst grew ever more palpable as we watched our country change into something we could no longer recognize.

And then came Trump. It was like he looked into my soul and saw the hopelessness and despair, and, talking directly to me, he said, “I can fix this; give me a chance; what have you got to lose?” So I did.

He has not disappointed me. Promises made, promises kept. Look more at the accomplishments than the rhetoric. He believes in the same America that I do.

That’s why I support him. Lou Valls Orlando ♦♦♦

OSU post-Meyer

Aug. 3 — … [I]t’s sad to read that yet another coach has turned a deaf ear to violence (Mike Bianchi’s “Time for Urban Meyer to resign at Ohio State, “Orlando Sentinel, Thursday). Misdeeds on and off the field, wrongdoings against humanity and offenses against the game cannot be ignored.

This is a shout-out to all the boys of fall: Don’t let these examples deter you. Play like you respect each other, like you love the game and like you are living the best moments of your lives. … If you give everything, and you have conviction in your heart, nobody should ask more of you . ... Listen to your heart and just have fun.

Have the courage to choose the path that puts forth your best potential. In the end, it’s your best chance to be a winner both on the field and off. Julie Williams Orlando

Planet Earth calling

Sept. 1 — … We are called on to be good stewards of the planet provided us, and destroying it and other creatures is opposite what is expected of us. For Christians, protecting our planet is a Biblical issue, spoken of in Holy Scripture from the beginning of time.

So banning straws by a growing list that includes Disney, the Seminole Tribe and Casinos … dozens of college campuses is just the tip of the iceberg — the effort is making highlighting the issue of the ethos of the single-use plastic anything the real focus.

People of faith have a calling to examine how our disposable society is destroying our ability to live on a planet balanced by a Creator a lot smarter than we are. Steven Beumer Maitland

Men, listen carefully

Oct. 2 — The Supreme Court hearings have generated a lot of passionate discussions among men and women. I would like to suggest to my fellow men that this might be a good time to be quiet and listen to the women who are close to you. For them, this may not be strictly a political conversation. If we listen carefully and build some trust, we may find that the women we hold most dear have something deep and personal to share.

James Fegan Longwood

Truth does not expire

Oct. 4 — When is it too late to report sexual assault? Does the truth of it have an expiration date? I believe truth is independent of who, what, when, where, why and how it is discovered. When folks are falsely accused and denied their freedom, property or opportunity for prosperity, the truth of their innocence cannot arrive too soon. Likewise for folks who seek to escape responsibility and accountability for their actions, the truth of their guilt cannot arrive too late. We cannot orphan truth because we do not like its parentage. A woman is sexually assaulted every 90 seconds. We imperil ourselves and others if we deny or disregard that truth. Bob Brooks DeLand

Squirrel Hill memories

Nov. 6 — As a youth growing up outside of Pittsburgh, I met and dated a girl who lived in Squirrel Hill . ... As Christmas approached, I was introduced to that other holiday — Hanukkah … There were several synagogues, many kosher delis and cafes and … clubs with real, live jazz. It was a whole new world and an education for a young Catholic. It ... gave me a deeper appreciation for the roots of my own faith and spurred me to expand my knowledge at college in courses here in Florida with a local rabbi.

It is with deep sadness I watched the news from a neighborhood with so many fond memories and full of kind and generous people. I search for ways to express my grief and solidarity with the Jews of my community here. They are all in my prayers to our common God . ...

Kevin Burke Maitland

Diversity in military

Nov. 11 — ... My father convinced me to join the military to pay for [medical school]. I joined the Air Force, and my life never was the same.

The diversity in background and thought, combined with the sense of duty and unifying identity as Americans, made me realize that our country was the world’s beacon of hope for the future.

I served with pride for 11 years, leaving as a major, and never looked back.

This current version of America is transient and flawed, just like the segregated version my father lived through. Our military is the real reflection of America. It is diverse, full of purpose and devoid of politics — unified as Americans.

James Gerald Floyd, M.D. Orlando

Confucius and rulers

Nov. 28 — … In Confucius’ view, government’s purpose should be to create the conditions for a moral, harmonious society, ruled by example and instruction, and appeal to our better natures, not fear of punishment. Immoral leaders should be removed.

The appropriate family responsibility should be to reciprocate by instilling the moral values in their children to create good citizens, who in turn reward their leaders for virtuous behavior.

Our institutions are legally capable of the changes needed for a more humane system influenced by Confucianism, but the inclination of our government to initiate it grows more remote every day.

James Weatherspoon St. Cloud