The speech of two leaders
Let’s compare Trump’s speech to the United Nations earlier this week (Orlando Sentinel, Sept. 23) with the U.N. Secretary-General’s remarks on Sept. 9.
Trump insulted U.N. representatives, stating their organization was ineffective, their countries were going to hell, they were stupid for falling for the climate change hoax, and neither the teleprompters nor the escalators in their building worked. Trump then lobbed insults at the Muslim mayor of London before claiming that Muslims in the West were plotting to institute Sharia law. Trump bragged about his many accomplishments as America’s president, several of which were worthy of a Nobel Prize.
In his opening address to the General Assembly a few weeks earlier, António Guterres reminded members that the U.N. existed to prevent the horrors of WWII from happening again by encouraging “cooperation over chaos, law over lawlessness, and peace over conflict.” He bluntly told U.N. representatives that the principles of the U.N. were under attack, and it was time to choose. Did they want “peace rooted in international law, human dignity, and human rights” or a world where bullies rule and self-interest prevails?
Recalling his youth in Portugal under a dictator, Guterres said power does not reside with those who dominate or divide. It resides in the people’s belief in a shared humanity, their willingness to defend equality, and their belief in the potential of every human.
It’s time to choose the kind of state, country, and world we want to build together. These two leaders clearly outline our options.
Maggie Culp Longwood
Are numbers reliable?
“U.S. economy expanded at surprising 3.8% in spring” was the Sentinel’s Business section headline on September 6. I have seen several similar headlines in financial magazines and internet news sites. The press seems to be accepting the government’s stats about economical expansion without question.
But I have a question. The last person who issued unfavorable statistics — the commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics — was fired. Why do we expect any new data from bureaucrats in the current administration to provide accurate information?
Carter (Curley) Bowman Maitland
What counts as freedom?
Let me see if I have this right.
After Charlie Kirk, a husband and father of two young children, was assassinated, people were celebrating online because they didn’t like what he said.
Those same people were next screaming that Jimmy Kimmel’s First Amendment rights had been trampled because local affiliates of ABC and the Federal Communications Commission that licenses ABC to broadcast were pulling him off of the air for what he said about Charlie’s assassin and poor judgment of the content of his monologue.
Next time you pass a mirror, look in the mirror and recognize what a bunch of hypocrites you are. Either it’s free speech for everyone or no one. You don’t get to choose, no matter what you believe.
Shari Yudenfreund-Sujka Winter Park
Trump’s Comey hunt will falter
Okay. Now we have seen what happens when a president calls for the prosecution of a “boy scout” Seriously. The president of the United States just asked a woman who looks like a beauty queen and has never prosecuted a federal case in her life to bring a case against one of the most honest and hard working FBI leaders in the recent history of our country.
She is so beyond her scope of prosecutorial law that I could do better. And I am a medical technologist who worked in my field for more than 25 years. Donald Trump would have better luck using me to prosecute this Boy Scout.
Can I have a job in the White House? Just asking. Thanks.
Joy Putnam Daytona Beach
Focus on Florida’s spending issues
We see $3.9 billion taken from the Florida Education Finance Corporation for public education and diverted to school vouchers. The Florida Forever Program allocates $270 million for conservation. The Florida Cancer Innovation Fund, another Casey DeSantis program, is allocating $60 million in grants for cancer research. Remember Hope Florida ? Cancer is a great cause, but this seems like a drop in the bucket over the billions of dollars for vouchers to many children who already attend private school.
Florida is becoming overdeveloped. The aquifers will run into a critical shortage and reclaimed water or treated wastewater will be the answer. Eliminate property taxes? How about we use some of our tax dollars from vouchers to help with critical resources and conservation. Where is Florida DOGE?
Cynthia Skrock Oviedo
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