Opinions expressed in Letters to the Editor are those of our readers and not the Pensacola News Journal. In order for letters to be considered for publication, they must be 250 words or less and include name, a full address and phone number. Only your name and city of residence will be published. Email submissions toopinion@pnj.com.
Pensacola’s Mayoki Tribe is indigenous appropriation
For those you attended the Pensacola Mardi Gras, the pretendian Mayoki Tribe made their annual grotesque appearance. This made-up "tribe" of white people appropriating indigenous culture needs to end. Please join us in the 21st century.
Dismantle this tribe and use this time to instruct those both young and old that indigenous people are still here and every time you appropriate another culture you are continuing the cultural genocide perpetrated by your ancestors.
At a minimum, the younger people sporting colorful headdresses, loin clothes, and face paint will be called out on the socials for their racism - hurting their potential futures, job and school opportunities.
Be the ones to break the cycle. I implore anyone in the Pensacola area to help in calling out this backwards, long-gone racism and for those 'celebrating' indigenous culture to do so by attending events hosted by tribal people.
Come join us, see how we live and celebrate, attend a pow wow, eat an Indian taco, but for God’s sake, stop indigenous appropriation.
Nicole “Migizi Miigwan” Nesberg, professor, Integrated Indigenous Studies
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Fishing in swimming waters brings marine life to shore
Chumming refers to the practice of dispersing a mixture of fish parts, oils, or other desirable substances into the water to create a scent trail that attracts marine life. The chum acts as a powerful lure, enticing fish and sharks to approach the area where chumming is done.
As a beach lover for 65 years and a beach homeowner for 25 years, I have watched the changes in the population and vacationers on our beaches.
With the present news of the shark sightings and injuries in the Gulf waters, I can only say that I am not surprised. These Gulf waters are “home” to the marine life who inhabit it. We are in “their domain”.
While chumming might use a different quantity of attractants, fishing with live bait also disperses the same attractants, which equally invites marine life, that includes sharks. However, I have been frustrated that our counties continue to allow people to cast their fishing rods into the Gulf waters throughout miles of its shore, and in the process, attracting the marine life to shore.
At the same time, your family, including children, are swimming very nearby in these same waters. How long will it take before a tragedy happens because of this “sport”.
Designated fishing areas away from swimmers or using the pier would be a much better option.
With the news today of sharks coming closer to our shore, I feel that this will continue until there is a real change!
Laurie Brandt, Navarre Beach
Hunter’s conviction showed gulf between Biden, Trump
Hunter Biden’s recent conviction displayed, in stark contrast, the difference between President Biden and former President Trump. President Biden accepted the verdict with grace and dignity. Former President Trump has no idea what grace and dignity means.
Presley Harper, Pensacola
Slim pickings on 2024 presidential ticket
When in the last couple of generations have we had a competent, morally decent president?
Answers to that question will vary, but those attributes can hardly be awarded to the two presumptive presidential candidates, Joe Biden and Donald Trump. Faced with choosing between them, former attorney general Bob Barr stated that he plans to vote for the lesser of two evils - Trump. Others may feel that Biden is the lesser of the evils.
Biden's mental competency is a serious matter of concern, and his support for abortion makes his claim to be a practicing Catholic despicable. If he's elected, Kamala Harris will most likely finish his term in office. Trump, on the other hand, has leadership qualities and an army of rabid supporters. Some too rabid. Who knows how reckless he would be in the White House this time? His legacy of mendacity surpasses both Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton combined.
So folks, who's going to get your vote in November? Choose your scoundrel carefully, and let's do better in 2028.
Woodrow Soderlind Jr., Pensacola
Pensacola needs its own Cook Out
I see a review is under way for the possibility for a Cook Out restaurant. Their barbecue and burgers are amazing, especially their North Carolina style barbecue. They also have a wide variety of very good milkshakes.
Scott Morgan, Pensacola
Joe and Hunter’s embraced showed connection
After the Hunter Biden conviction, Hunter was videoed being greeted by the President of the United States, his father, Joe Biden. There was no audio, but the video showed Joe and Hunter in a long and intense embrace, followed by claps on the back as they separated.
I thought this was an appropriate segue to Father’s Day. A father and son embracing after a tough day for the son, sharing a loving moment of connection. The president is on record saying he would accept the results of Hunter Biden’s trial and that he would not pardon Hunter if convicted.
Hunter would not escape the consequences of his actions but would be in the arms of his father. Happy Father’s Day!
Harold DuCloux, Pensacola
Trump’s friends say a lot about who he his
I changed my party affiliation from Republican to Democrat last year. The reason being I could no longer justify political stances the Republican Party was espousing, nor could I tolerate the hypocrisy, disrespectful attitudes and behaviors of its leaders.
I admit I was never a Donald Trump fan, but he is who he is. My issue is with the Republican Party itself due to their continued support of someone who is morally bankrupt and only concerned with his own welfare. In four years not one shred of evidence has been presented that the 2020 election was stolen, yet he still claims it was and his diehard followers continue to believe him.
Most past cabinet members and his own attorney general have told him the election was fair and refuse to endorse him in the upcoming election. In addition, numerous investigations held by Republican officials in the key states of Georgia, Pennsylvania, Arizona and Michigan have not found enough discrepancies to overturn their respective election results.
Growing up I was told if you want to know who a person really is, look at who his friends are. I have done this with Mr. Trump and all I see are hypocrites, disbarred lawyers and convicted felons. If your child had friends like this, would you want them to continue hanging out with them? If not, then how can you justify supporting a man like this for the presidency of the United States?
For me the choice is easy. I do not want a man in the Oval Office I would not want my child to emulate.
Mike Maney, Pensacola
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America never had and never will have equal justice
Mr. Crawford, first let me say that I am sincerely sorry about your serious disabilities. If you cannot see or hear what the former president has done and said, then you are obviously blind and deaf. It is very disheartening to realize that there are so many people, such as you, who cannot see the direction in which this country is going.
As for your alluding that there has always been equal justice for all in America, it makes me wonder on what planet are you living? How can this be true when whites used to lynch Blacks for sport and entertainment, feed Black babies to alligators, etc., without fear of reprisal or repercussions?
White-collar crime has never been punished as harshly as blue-collar crime. A present day example of this fact is that we have individuals, who tried to overturn an election or overthrow the government, receiving punishments that amount to slaps on the wrists. People of color would receive more time for stealing a candy bar from a convenience store.
There has never been equal justice for all in America and probably never will be. Let’s be real.
I am going to cut this reply short because I have concluded that one cannot have a rational discussion or debate with an irrational individual and sir, you are that.
Carlton J. Charles, Pensacola
U.S 98 contractor needs better communication
The contractor doing the U.S. 98 widening in Gulf Breeze has a tough job, considering the heavy traffic, weather delays, breakdowns, labor shortages, etc.
However, communication with contractor supervision is deplorable. The DOT was happy for Grand Pointe East to install our irrigation lines in their right-of-way since we were going to maintain their property and keep their grass green and the shrubbery in the median growing for the past 24 years.
Sadly, when the contractor performed necessary excavation for the widening, they destroyed our irrigation system. When we asked for their assistance to repair the system they destroyed, they responded, no, the facilities were in the right-of-way, and they have no liability. The contractor further stated a letter was sent to the HOA president stating if we wanted to protect our system, we needed to remove them.
We asked for a copy of said letter (GPE has no record of this letter), and the contractor did not respond. Then, for no explainable reason, the contractor asked us to provide a formal quote of the repair expense. That was provided and yielded no response. The contractor needs to step up and do the right thing.
Bill Stinson, Gulf Breeze
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