Protests over Juanes' concert among some in the Cuban-exile community are absolutely ridiculous. I could understand hurt feelings if this artist were Cuban, but he is not.

Hasn't history taught us anything? Years of the embargo have done absolutely nothing but keep people in Cuba more isolated. Change can only occur if the new generations experience, learn and see how the other half lives.

More important, instead of threatening Juanes, concerned exiles should be as eager to do something to prevent the violence that is occurring in our schools. What message are we sending the Cuban people when a Cuban teen is killed in his school in this country? His mother sent him here for a better life, which has been cut short.

We need to learn to handle disputes with something other than threats and aggression. This is where people's efforts and energy should be directed, not at an artist who wants to share his talent.

VICTORIA M. SUAREZ, Miami

The public interest

I curtailed my subscription to The Miami Herald some time ago because I felt I was reading the same old news, and the reporting was not the zealous, newsworthy reporting that Floridians are asking for.

However, lately there has been much reporting about government and issues that we need and crave, news that only The Miami Herald can uncover -- and that, as a guardian of the public interest, it has an obligation to report.

I am happy and applaud your efforts. Keep up the good work and never let up.

M. FRANKLYN ROMAN, Miami

Investigate Cheney

Former Vice President Dick Cheney deserves to be investigated because he broke the laws of the land -- or bent them to satisfy his urge to torture in our name.

CARLOS R. PONCHIO, Hialeah

Carter is wrong

The worst mistake I ever made in voting for president was 1976 when I voted for Jimmy Carter. His administration was the worst during the past 50 years. Now for him to make remarks about racism just goes to show his ignorance.

The people who voted for Barack Obama because he is an African American are no less racist than the people who did not vote for him for that reason. People who did not vote for Obama just do not like his politics. People who disagree with his health plan just do not like the health plan.

HARVEY JUDKOWITZ, Miami

Too-cozy relationship

With reference to attempts to place the Public Service Commission under the judicial branch of government as a solution to its too-cozy relationship with the utilities it regulates: Despite rules requiring judges to avoid even the appearance of impropriety, that system is seriously flawed as well.

Florida elects its state trial judges, and law firms and wealthy personal-injury attorneys ply them with campaign dollars and use valuable connections to help them get elected. Even when they're appointed they're helped by influential lawyers who know the governor or the nominating committee members. And they sit and hear cases where those very lawyers, or their firms, appear. Whether they intend it or not, it's only natural for a human being to be influenced in making decisions by such favors.

PSC Commissioner Katrina McMurrian is no different. Even if she didn't discuss the rate case with the FPL executive at dinner, she is unbelievably obtuse if she thinks that she won't be influenced by the perhaps cozy relationship that results from such interactions. Why does she think she was invited by Florida Power & Light to speak at the conference and to dinner?

RICHARD FRIED, Miami Beach

Transparency?

In her Sept. 16 Other Views column, Czars avoid oversight by Congress, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, uses words like ``transparency'' and ``accountability.'' Where was she when Vice President Cheney had his secret energy meetings and wouldn't reveal anything about them? Real transparency there.

And where was she when Attorney General Alberto Gonzales fired prosecutors who would not agree with him politically? And why wasn't she fired up when ``Heckuva job, Brownie'' stood by and watched the city of New Orleans drown? Tell us, where was the accountability back then?

DAVID PLATT, Hollywood

Nothing made at home

A few weeks ago, my daughter and I visited the Smithsonian in Washington. At the gift shop, my daughter was about to purchase a coffee mug when she turned it over and saw ``Made in China.'' We looked at many other items -- T-shirts from Madagascar, etc. -- and the only items we found that were made in the USA were my daughter and I. We did not buy anything. How sad.

JOAN COHEN, Aventura

Join the discussion

The Miami Herald is pleased to provide this opportunity to share information, experiences and observations about what's in the news. Some of the comments may be reprinted elsewhere in the site or in the newspaper. We encourage lively, open debate on the issues of the day, and ask that you refrain from profanity, hate speech, personal comments and remarks that are off point. In order to post comments, you must be a registered user of MiamiHerald.com. Your username will show along with the comments you post. Thank you for taking the time to offer your thoughts.

     Showing: Oldest first Newest first Most-recommended first Least-recommended first

@Nyx.AuthorDisplayName@ wrote on @Nyx.PostedAtTime@:

@Nyx.repliedToText@

@Nyx.replyAnswerText@

Reply to this Comment @Nyx.Recommender@ @Nyx.AbuseReporter@