http://www.pensacolanewsjournal.com/news/043003/Opinion/ST003.shtml

PUBLISHED WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2003

Letters to the Editor

Cooked his goose

Our most colorful (and suspended) county commissioner can add another word to his resume'. The dictionary definition of his longtime nickname the "Banty Rooster" is: 1) a short or small, and often, aggressive person; 2. a person of diminutive disposition.

A jury recently added perhaps the final word to the resume': "Capon": 1) a castrated male chicken (rooster) fattened for eating.

I sure hope they remember to pluck this one well before frying - no baking please. I'll pass on this delicacy, however - it still has a foul smell. - Tow Gordon, Pensacola

Protect your beaches

Thank you to the News Journal for the update on how the Santa Rosa Island Authority and Gulf Islands National Seashore are progressing with respect to addressing recommendations we at the United States Lifesaving Association made in 2002. It is good to know that some of those recommendations have been adopted. It important, though, to highlight two critical points.

With respect to warning flags, we stated, "Flags alone are of limited value as has been demonstrated by drownings and near- drownings that have occurred despite their presence. While flags can help notify beach users of general conditions, they do not identify specific problems in specific areas. As well, of course, flags cannot rescue persons in distress."

With respect to lifeguards: "Lifeguards should be provided at locations where swimming is known to occur with regularity and where steps have been taken that invite users to the beach. This would certainly include all six designated swimming beaches. It should also include beaches in front of all major hotels."

Until lifeguards are placed at the places where people are known to swim, and at times they are known to swim, drownings will continue, regardless of the timetable local officials may have for implementing our recommendations. - B. Chris Brewster, Chairman United States Lifesaving Association, Huntington Beach, Calif.

A right to defense

I'm writing this letter concerning the Daniel Carter case. I totally agree with Charles Horn that Carter's charges should be left up to the judge, since he is a juvenile. It should be left up to the judge to decide Carter's punishment, not left up to a jury and power-hungry prosecutors to decide his fate.

He was clearly justified in defending himself from his uncle. He was defending himself in his own home from a very vicious attacker and now the state attorney wants to charge this young juvenile with first-degree murder.

Daniel clearly has a defense, but now prosecutor David Rimmer wants to offer young Daniel a plea bargain of 12 years in adult prison. There is clearly something wrong with that. He's only 15 years old. He is not an adult and should not be treated like one.

It is clearly time that the judges in Pensacola be given back the decision of what to charge juveniles with in criminal cases, not a jury or the prosecutor. Juveniles have a right to defend themselves from their attackers. - Buddy Newman, Pensacola

Follow campaign laws

Let the experiences of former Escambia County Commissioner Terry Smith be a lesson to any would-be candidate. Campaign laws, along with the Sunshine Law, are not to be taken lightly. In recent years they have been further strengthened to put the responsibility for following these rules more directly on the candidate and office holder.

To claim that the finance rules were "convoluted and too long" (News Journal, April 16) does not fly when the great majority of candidates understand and follow them to the letter. If these few pages in the campaign laws seem too complicated, what makes an individual think he will, as an elected official, understand the volumes of studies, draft ordinances, etc., ad nauseum that he'll encounter?

Granted, there are individuals who, through disdain for or an inability to comprehend these laws, will violate them. For instance, my last opponent for county commissioner had over 170 discrepancies on his campaign finance reports.

Potential candidates need to review their motivations and, maybe more importantly, their obligations when seeking office. - Dave Kessler, Gulf Breeze

All free speech

Don Cramer ("Not so free," Letters, April 22) sounds like Al Gore did when he was ranting that conservatives consist of "isolationists" and "extremists." Why is it intolerant to criticize the opinions of others? Why aren't those who are openly criticizing the president and his decision to invade Iraq intolerant of the president? Is it not an exercise in free speech to "call 'em like you see 'em," regardless of the side you choose?

I tire of hearing that, for instance, those who believe with their whole hearts that living a homosexual lifestyle is wrong and destructive are intolerant hate- mongers who want to infringe on the rights of others. Bull. They have just as much right to voice their opinions as those who believe that people living as homosexuals should have special rights because of sexual orientation or be allowed legally to marry. The beauty of this country is that I can think someone is ridiculous for saying what he says and then write a letter to the editor and express that view without being arrested.

Nobody is failing to "allow" the views of anti-war activists to be heard by disagreeing with them. It is all free speech, even if you disagree with it. - Teresa Beck, Pensacola

Seat belt saved me

On April 12, I was involved in a hit-and-run automobile accident at the intersection of 17th Avenue and Cervantes Street. My vehicle was overturned and many people came to my aid immediately. I may not recall their names, however I do remember their compassion and benevolence. Thank you very much.

I would also like to thank the men and women of the Pensacola Fire Department and the Pensacola Police Department. Their professionalism and kindness are greatly appreciated!

P.S. Seat belts save lives! - Linda Standish, Pensacola