Letters to the editor for Thursday, July 1, 2021

Political parties differ in terms of the causes of crime

According to a recent Yahoo News poll of 1,592 US adults, “both Republicans and Democrats are more concerned about crime.” Although each party recognizes the increase in crime, each party interprets the causes of the increase in crime differently.

“Soaring arms sales” and “systemic racism” appear to be the main causes cited by Democrats, while “the Racial Justice Movement” itself was cited by Republicans as the main cause of the rise in crime. Since each party sees the reasons for the increase in crime differently, they also see the reactions to crime differently. Democrats report that the prosecution is “too harsh on most offenders” while Republicans report that “the police are not tough enough”.

Regardless of the party, most respondents are “concerned about the collapse of law and order in American cities,” according to this poll.

I realize that there are more variables as we look for causes of our crime increase and sensible solutions. We cannot bombard Americans with vicious political discourse around the clock or instill fear and anger. We cannot continue to be confused and divisive in our responses to COVID-19 and not generate anger. In addition, we can no longer strategically market and promote alcoholic products, more vapor products, and more psychoactive drugs and not create even more trouble.

As we continue to generate more anger, we will continue to experience more crime because of less unity, more feelings of separatism, and less respect for one another.

Lance C. McCormack, Marco Island

Proposal on “Sanctuary City” inappropriate, divisive

It is worrying that a group of extremists is pressuring the Naples City Council to declare Naples a “city of refuge for the unborn”.

As a year-round resident and business owner in Collier County for the past seven years, I firmly believe that even such a proposal is not appropriate for a city council. The topic is to be discussed at the state and federal level, not at the local level.

If the city council were to take on this issue, it would be extremely divisive for the citizens of Naples. Certainly there are problems – really local in nature – that are divisive enough. Does it really make sense for the city council to meddle in this arena?

Such a move would have a very negative impact on Naples’ reputation. Similar proposals in other states have attracted the attention of the national press, leading to ridicule and derision of these communities. Economically and in terms of tourism, that would not be good for Naples.

If such an ordinance was ever passed, it would inevitably prove unconstitutional – but not until the city was embroiled in lengthy litigation costing thousands of dollars.

Let us ask our city councils to draw their attention to issues that are relevant to our city.

Ann McClorey Fisher, LCSW, Naples

Ex-presidents keep title “President”

A letter writer declined to refer to Mr. Trump as “President Donald J. Trump”, indicating that (unfortunately) the current President is Joe Biden. The writer may want to brush up on her Emily Post, the etiquette expert. A President of the United States always retains the title of “President”. Hence, it is quite appropriate to refer to Bill Clinton as “President William Jefferson Blythe Clinton” and so on.

Donald BD MacArthur, Denise Morganstern MacArthur, Trump Tower, New York

Prison sentence too easy

Casey Crowther, who only gets three years and a month in prison, is joking. It should be 30 years and a month. This is a slap in the face of decent, respectable people and companies. He took our money. Devoted, loving husband, valued member of Fort Myers, is a joke. He lived here in St. James City and all of the neighbors complained about the riot, his noisy parties, disrespect to people and neighbors. That is the problem with our judicial system.

Charles Presser, St. James City

Relegate Lee to museums, history books

Robert E. Lee raised arms against the United States, and his name should be relegated to museums and history books and not respected by true patriots.

A little further, I would like to point out that Fort Myers is named after a West Pointer (Abraham Charles Myer) who joined the rebel side at the beginning of the Civil War in 1861. Hendry County is named after another Confederate soldier. Francis Hendry.

When we hear of the heritage and culture of the South, it is the whitewashed and revisionist story that was invented decades after the civil war by the losers of that conflict. Let’s not prolong this farce by honoring the men who took up arms and fought against the United States to save slavery and their lives on plantations.

Robert Savino, Fort Myers