DeSantis’ comment suggests he’s not interested in serving all Floridians | Opinion

Half a mandate

Re: the April 7 story, “’Emotional’: House speaker responds to DeSantis attacks.” Gov. DeSantis told the Republican base that the Florida House is offering Democrats a “lifeline” at a time when the Republican-controlled chamber should be “trying to step on the left’s throat.”

Is the governor not elected to serve all Floridians?

While it might have been apparent that he seeks to follow his base, publicly stating his draconian wish to “step on the throat“ of nearly half of the state’s population should not legitimize this behavior in his mind nor in the rest of us.

Stephanie Rakofsky,

Coral Gables

Hear the call

Elon Musk recently shared (and then removed) an “X” user post claiming that Stalin, Hitler and Mao were wrongly blamed for millions of deaths. This fits with his ongoing celebration of demagogues and tyrants. He would gladly erase history to transform demons into idols.

This week, Jews will gather to discuss our slavery in Egypt, our resistance to idolatry and our gratitude for freedom. Worshipping a tyrant, whether a Pharaoh or a short-tempered megalomaniac, is idolatry. Bowing to an oppressor is a form of slavery. The Haggadah, the Passover playbook, calls on us not only to remember but to recognize idolatry, slavery, resistance and freedom in all their forms, past, present and future.

This year, the Haggadah feels less like a relic and more like a modern political platform, a call to resist those who would erase the past, glorify tyrants and turn us all into slaves and idol worshipers.

Viccy Simon,

Coral Gables

Just punishment?

Re: the April 10 Miami Herald story, “Its over. It’s done. The killer of Miami Herald employer is executed 25 years after murder.” The story concluded with this quote: “I think justice was served today.”

The crime was one of passion, fueled by lust and possibly self-hatred demonstrated by the need to force someone to give up what the murderer believed he was unworthy of having. There was no premeditation, only lecherousness and anger that drove one person to take the life of another.

The state had 25 years to consider the case. The execution was premeditated, begging the question, was it driven by passion and hypocrisy, because premeditated murder is a first degree felony. Justice requires clear thinking absent of emotion.

Understanding the hurt family, friends and coworkers experienced, the questions we must ask are: does murder end murder? Did the execution help us forget or remember the loss? Was justice served?

Phil Beasley,

Plantation

Stand up guys

Happy to see Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez and his Florida Senate counterpart, Ben Albritton, stand up to represent the one-third of our democracy that seems to have forgotten that the Executive is an equal and separate branch of our government. We are not an autocracy!

I also hope that Perez, in his future political career (if he reaches the national level), does not lose his principles, as it appears one of his predecessors, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, has done.

Juan A. Galan, Jr.,

Coral Gables

Beyond retirement

I retired on my 66th birthday nearly 16 years ago, but I am still ambivalent about that decision. I loved doing the “Lord’s Work” as the senior development officer at the Miami Jewish Home and Hospital for the Aged (now Miami Jewish Health). I loved the routine, the brain-storming sessions with like-minded and enthusiastic colleagues, the ambassadorship to the greater Miami community. And then, my “busy work life” and “sense of purpose” ended.

Or did it?

I registered with Florida International University’s adult learning program (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute), I joined the water aerobics “Esther Williams” group and I took ongoing classes at Temple Israel of Greater Miami. In those early days, I was taking nine and 10 classes a week. Further, I continued to practice my passion for people, programs and public relations. I was busy and my brain was engaged. Then the pandemic really did stop it all.

Fast-forward to post-pandemic: a catastrophic car accident on Alligator Alley; two spinal surgeries; two years-plus of rehabilitation; and a resulting partial disability.

Thank goodness for Zoom! I still take classes. I still write regularly with StoryWorth (I’m on my third volume). I’m back to baking, needle-pointing and a social life, albeit far more modestly.

With renewed purpose and just a tinge of regret, I can truly say, I don’t know when I had time to work.

Norma A. Orovitz,

Bay Harbor Islands

You oughta know

Re: the April 8 Miami Herald online editorial, “What’s the cost to Florida’s economy of Canadian tariffs and canceling spring break?” President Trump’s breaking of the free trade agreement is off-putting. Further, the weak currency exchange rate and a fear of being searched and detained by U.S. border agents are also reasons to avoid visiting. However, the editorial missed the main reason Canadians are refusing to visit: Trump’s repeated threats to take over Canada and make it the 51st state.

As long as these threats continue, Canadians are not interested in supporting the American economy, or being in the vicinity of any U.S. citizens who support Trump or who think the threat on Canadian sovereignty is amusing.

Nancy O’Krafka,

Vancouver, BC,

Canada

Serve worriedly

DOGE has arrived at the Peace Corps. Those of us who are Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (more than 240,000 since 1961) worry about what may happen to this tiny agency. Peace Corps’ budget is only $430 million, a drop in the bucket when we hear discussions of billions and trillions.

Why is Peace Corps so important?

Peace Corps makes our country stronger. A 2023 survey of returned volunteers showed that 86% of respondents remain active community volunteers. We join Rotary clubs, work with the homeless, hungry families and environmental causes.

Peace Corps makes our country safer. By stabilizing communities around the world, we build friendships and respect with others. We also return to careers in education, health care and other helping professions.

“The toughest job we ever loved” should remain available to our citizens.

Ana Alejandre Ciereszko,

returned Peace Corps volunteer in

St. Vincent & the Grenadines 1969-71,

Miami

Evolving thoughts

The April 8 story, “Company says it has created a species of wolf last seen 12,000 years ago,” announced that Colossal Biosciences had created a species of wolf last seen 12,000 years ago, in its mission to resurrect extinct animals.

What about Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution, which states that species change over time through the inheritance of traits that enhance survival and reproduction, leading to adaptation and the diversification of life?

Furthermore, why not to keep the focus on the betterment of our planet and its inhabitants, as it now exists?

As members of the human species, let us thrive in personal growth and strength in spirituality and kindness to continue to evolve.

Sylvia Viyella,

Coral Gables

Heart of darkness

As I watch the rest of the world scramble to deal with President Donald Trump’s tariffs, I’m reminded of former President Richard Nixon’s “madman theory.” The idea was to convince hostile nations that Nixon was irrational so they would be afraid of provoking him.

Scholars have been skeptical of the theory, noting the difficulty of convincing foreign leaders than a U.S. president is a madman. That doesn’t seem to be an impediment today.

Michael K. Cantwell,

Delray Beach

Condo crisis

Our state leaders must do something for the thousands of retirees and everyone else drastically affected by the skyrocketing costs of homeowners associations and insurance. Many can’t afford to live here anymore, but most of us can’t move due to health and financial restraints.

We hope there are people who care about this crisis and will do something to fix it; better sooner than too late.

A. Dumitris,

Jacksonville