In Disney's pocket
I am puzzled by your comments in Happytown™ `Feb. 23`. I contacted you to pass a tip about an issue that might be of interest to Orlando Weekly. Instead, you flipped the subject while you wrongly represented my previous city of Orlando concerns.
The fact is that I welcome and respect diversity `and` I have great respect for the purpose of religion. However, under the control of Glenda Hood, prayers were given nearly through one religious belief. And most of those were against the law, which states that prayers are allowed, if they don't single out one particular god or belief.
When I raised my concerns, Hood allowed one rabbi and one Hindu to give a prayer. Additionally, all are supposed to be allowed to give the prayer, yet Mayor Hood cleverly refused to allow anyone from the public. Instead they selected only those who met their secretive religious agenda quo.
The prayer issue stems from the fact that Vicki Vargo gave a proclamation to a hate group promoting "freedom from homosexuality," and she used actual passages from the Bible in a government document to honor their cause.
I still believe in your cause, but not the way you attack those who support freedom, respect and the love for people. Perhaps Disney will give you free park tickets and a copy of The Chronicles of Narnia on DVD for your efforts by which to skew me without cause.
Royce Mathew, Orlando
Don't shoot
Please, please, please get some formal handgun training `"Happiness is a concealed gun," Feb. 23`. I can appreciate your enthusiasm as a new gun owner, and I welcome you to the ranks of Florida's law-abiding CCW holders. Please do not continue to sunbathe with your gun in plain view; open carry is illegal in our state, and is generally a bad idea (and rude). Please familiarize yourself with the correct use of the following words: bullet, cartridge, clip, magazine and shell. Most importantly, PLEASE get some formal handgun training (the CCW "class" you attended doesn't count). There is such a thing as responsible gun ownership, and it all begins with safety.
B.T., Orlando
Proud but ashamed
I just finished reading this article `"In dubious battle," Feb. 16` and have an array of emotions brewing. I am a veteran and the wife of a soldier serving in Iraq. He deployed in October and it is much harder to be a wife than it was to be a Marine. I mentally prepare daily for his return next October and know that there will be adjustments. I know we do not do a good enough job preparing soldiers or their family on their return. Ignorance is bliss for some people. There needs to be more available, especially for the reservists and Guard members.
I am a very proud wife, but I am ashamed of how we ignore and hide the truth from ourselves and the public. I would love to know the military divorce rate since the deployments began. I feel sorry for the very young wives who had grandiose dreams of being a "soldier's wife." The majority of them are uneducated and have children very young. They learn to be a married single parent and do not have the life skills to be successful if their soldier returns unhealthy, or does not return at all.
Thank you for sharing that story. Please also spread some good for those of us that are still deployed and dealing with all the negativity that is now encompassing us, especially for our children's' sake.
Jamie Roman, Longwood
Probably not
Had the FictionFixer `"Mr. Fix-it," Feb. 23` been around while Drew Garabo was "writing" for the Weekly, would he still be around?
David Cavalleri, Orlando
[email protected]
