The readers’ forum

Adding beds won’t solve homeless problem

Re the June 14 story City to add 15 beds at shelters: Over the last several weeks our community has watched several Miami commissioners’ efforts to deal with the homeless population in and around the downtown urban core. 1371676517

Obama no war monger

There are, of course, many reasons to be grateful that President Obama defeated Sen. John McCain in 2008. But perhaps Syria is the biggest reason. 1371676517

Team’s conduct unbecoming

Shame on the Miami Heat players, team management and the NBA for the deportment of the Heat players during the playing of the National Anthem before Game 4. Their disrespect was reprehensible and warrants immediate action by the league office. Not one of them rendered appropriate honor to our nation. They looked like a bunch of thugs. 1371676464

Slippery slope on bilingualism

Recently Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia delivered an entire speech in Spanish on the floor of the U.S. Senate. Kane added, “One of my people got a call by a Latino staffer in the House who said, ‘I have waited 20 years to see this happen.’” 1371676466

Abolish death penalty

Gov. Rick Scott’s signing of a bill to shorten the death-penalty appeals process can only court the execution of the innocent. Execution, the most grievous and irreversible of penalties, should be abolished. 1371676397

President sets the tone

The mood, the tone, the ethos, the sly and the slick of all we are discovering in our government’s actions is launched from President Obama’s office. 1371676397

The readers’ forum

Juneteenth — a celebration of freedom

Juneteenth, also known as Emancipation Day, is the oldest known celebration commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. On June 19, 1865, the Union soldiers landed at Galveston, Texas with the news that the war had ended and freed all remaining slaves. Note that this was two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation — which had become official on Jan. 1, 1863.

Bees not news

Re the June 16 story Miami couple saddened after bee hive destroyed: It must have been a slow news day for the Miami Herald. This article took up two-thirds of a page in the newspaper’s local section.