Obama video was appalling
We are appalled at the recent video depicting the Obamas in a dehumanizing manner (“Trump shares a racist video about Obamas,” Feb. 6). We are even more troubled at the silence that followed from many of our government and corporate leaders. The imagery crossed a clear moral line and is unacceptable.
This was not harmless satire. It was racism, arising from the same evil spirit used to justify slavery, Jim Crow segregation and Ku Klux Klan terrorism. It’s doubly sad and shocking that this vile video was circulated from the highest office in our nation and regrettably sends a message to many that racism is acceptable. Even worse, it was issued during Black History Month.
As co-chairs of the DEIA (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility) Committee of the League of Women Voters Orange County Florida, a nonpartisan organization, we believe in an inclusive democracy where all voices are treated with dignity. We want to add our voices to those who spoke out against this outrage, in support of goodwill toward all communities and respect for those who may be different from us.
— Marilyn Baldwin and Virginia Meany, Orange County
Florida AG disrespects many Floridians
Shame on Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier (Maxwell: “Florida A.G. says he took $100k side gig at UF to ‘keep food on the table,’” Feb. 21). He said that he took a side gig for $100,000 to teach one course twice a week as well as his $140,000 salary as attorney general. He had said it would be a struggle for him to support his wife and three kids on one salary. Then he supposedly made more excuses, such as he took a pay cut to take the AG job, he has to drive 150 miles to teach, and so on. Well, then, don’t do them. What makes him so special? There are many people living here who make a lot less money and work so hard to make ends meet — no sympathy from me for him. He needs to apologize to the people who make a lot less money than him; this is a real slap in their face. Also, shame on the University of Florida for paying him that outrageous salary. Where is DOGE? How is this allowed? Drain the swamp.
— Thomas J. McGuire, Orlando
The laws of nature
The Trump administration has repealed the earlier EPA finding that fossil fuel use and the resulting increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide has caused global warming (and other climate change). They might as well repeal Newton’s law of gravity, too, because it would make our space program much less expensive. You can’t “repeal” laws of nature.
The facts: There has been an exponential increase in global average annual land-sea surface temperature since 1950. Furthermore, there’s a higher than 90% correlation between atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration and average surface temperature, and a more than 95% correlation between carbon dioxide concentration and world fossil fuel use.
— Gary Waldman, Plantation
The writer is a retired professor of physics.
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