Letters to the editor

Give diplomacy a chance

‘The Parallels of History’ editorial ignored history’s complexity.

Dear Editor:

One of the greatest gifts we have in the United States is free speech. Anyone can state their opinion about anything or anyone without fear of any form of government reprisal. Such grand freedom, however, puts the responsibility and the task of sorting truth from fiction on the listener or reader, and that is the way it should be. We cannot afford to be seduced by facile comparisons motivated by critique or contempt of any present-day politician.

Nowhere is it more difficult to separate truth from fiction than when the comparison of historical events, which we know are true, is made against present reality and contemporary figures. When history, particularly a complex history loaded with evil and suffering, is reduced to a means to forward one present political agenda, it makes the task of sorting truth from misrepresentations very difficult for the reader. To compare the events of the horrific Holocaust with what is going on today, such as was done in the article “The Parallels of History” in the April 23 Longboat Observer, not only does a disservice to history but also any attempts by peacemakers to make sure those events are never repeated. While such often-made comparisons may appear fascinating, in truth, they are facile and do not serve us or our attempts to thwart the evils of empirical power. 

Such comparisons serve to demonstrate the difference between those who think the security of Israel and the world comes through making war and those who understand security comes only through the pursuit of peace through justice. It is the difference between thinking if we crush our enemies through exercising empirical and military power, the world will be more secure and safe, and realizing that if history tells us anything, such use of power only serves to build conflict, ugliness, destruction and evil in the world. Let’s give diplomacy a chance. We turn to war only as the very last resort. 

I hope we can appreciate how dangerous and slanderous it is to compare contemporary politicians of whatever stripe to historical figures, as if the comparison were fact. When anyone wants to vilify a public figure, all they have to do is compare them with a disgraced or evil historical figure, such as was done with President Bush when he invaded Iraq and was compared to Hitler. The truth is, while there may be some similarities, there is no parallel between the circumstances and events of the 1930s and 1940s with the circumstances and events of today. It is fiction.

The superficial and often-repeated comparison of United States presidents with Great Britain Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain when they seek peace through negotiation rather than through war is not new. In 1988, a full-page ad was taken out in the New York Times comparing President Ronald Reagan with Chamberlain because of his work with Russia reducing nuclear arms. Pure fiction! Any time a president seeks to promote peace rather than war they are compared to Chamberlain. Just a few weeks ago, John McCain compared President Obama with Chamberlain because he opened up conversations with Cuba. Such claims not only require one to engage in an exercise in imagination and fantasy, they also serve to add to the difficulty of separating truth from fiction in a complex world. 

It was Abraham Lincoln who said, “Am I not destroying my enemies when I make friends of them?” If we must make comparisons, it seems Obama is much closer to Lincoln than he is to Chamberlain.

David J. Frenchak

Longboat Key

Upkeep is town’s responsibility

Dear Editor: 

Sincere thanks for shedding valuable light on some of the vexing financial issues facing the Longboat Key Public Tennis Center. Common sense would dictate that this highly acclaimed Longboat resource be funded in no less generous a fashion than any other town asset. And it’s noteworthy that no other public tennis facility in the U.S. shows a positive cash flow. Basic upkeep expenditures are undoubtedly the responsibility of the town, and for far too long this esteemed Longboat institution has been kept operational largely by the generosity of a few private citizens owing to our misguided parsimony over the years. 

Longboat Key has distinguished itself as a top-tier resort community offering world-class beaches and numerous other high quality amenities. It’s only logical that this same standard be extended to what is without doubt one of our most valuable assets.

Dan Purcell

Boston

Tennis Center is a win for town

Dear Editor:

As a member of the Tennis Center, I’d like to thank the Town Manager, Mr. Bullock, and the commissioners for supporting this facility.

It is a great asset for the town, as it attracts lots of seasonal (visitors) and tourists.

Therefore, we need the support of the town to maintain this beautiful facility.

Chantal Diem

Longboat Key