Letters: Act Civilized During Memorial Day, Don’t Trash Our City
To the Editor:
Thank you for your most informative articles: especially the ones regarding Politics. I would appreciate it if you would be so kind as to send my comments/opinions to Jeffrey Bradley the producer of the following article:
September 8, 2011 Urban Beach Week Meet Sharia Law is very accurate when related to the influence of Saudi Arabian money in our ways of life.
However, I believe that there are other points that have to be considered regarding such events as the famous/made infamous Memorial Day Weekend.
It is so obvious that while we are living in one of or perhaps the most free country in the world, we also have to recognize that on occasion we overpass our freedom; to the point of abusing our liberties as is happening in areas such as South Beach, at the oceanfront area especially.
My observations during and after the Memorial Day festivities has been not very appealing; for such reason and, as I have suggested and requested from our group, the Tuesday Morning Breakfast Club, instead of mentioning and complaining plus accusing some groups of horrendous misbehavior we, the members, mostly senior persons, should write to the authorities regarding the proper conduct to be followed by the police and the steps to be taken in order to control the abuse from groups who make South Beach into a garbage dump in front of we the residents and TAXPAYERS.
For such reason I have written very clear letters to the authorities, the tourist offices, and to the NAACP asking them to instruct their young, especially men, to act in a civilized manner and avoid trashing the city. These people include our college students on vacation or spring break, and they come in many forms and colors.
The above is one important point to be taken into the utmost serious consideration. While other points are also important, such as: Why do we consider receiving monies from Saudi Arabia when we don’t agree with their imposition of religious laws and ways of life? Are we allowed to instruct them or suggest to them regarding the well informed abuses that Islamic (not all of them, of course) people commit against children and women? So why then do we allow them and even welcome them to attempt to change our ways?
We are not perfect, but we like what we have, we like our women in very small garments and our men can drink alcohol if they want to. Who are “they” to criticize us or try to impose their unfair (which I don’t believe are true religious) rules on us anyway?
We are obviously very different from what we call the Islamic people; we have little or nothing in common in what is related to the treatment of women and children. Then the question is: Why do we have to be in their country and use our weapons in a war that we know is impossible to be won?
Do we have the right to impose our ways on them, as much as, do they have the right to impose their religious or otherwise morality on us? I say no. Then, we should leave them alone and stop trying to change their ways of life as much as allowing them to try to change ours.
We buy their oil, despite the fact that we TALK AND TALK about our tremendous sources of energy (new energy, such a wind, etc.) and we accept their money. It makes us look like people who will do anything for money, even sacrificing our principles and ways of life to the best bidder.
We used to pray in our schools, suddenly we cannot pray; however, when someone is sworn into a new office, the bible is used. So, our irregularities are nothing to be proud of either. By watching the many religious programs we have to realize that many are shows that at the end produce actors and actresses. It is OK with me but, for the sake of GOD, let’s decide what we are and where are we going. And for once have a serious, respectable Immigration rule that will ensure that unsavory people are not allowed to enter our country and try to change our ways of life.
Respect for others’ opinion is respectful, to be a fool and let almost anyone try to change our ways of life is just as crooked as the ones who impose their wills on us.
I always present suggestions for the solution of problems. My suggestions about normalizing the so many festivities and controlling the behavior of our so-called “children” (most of them grown up individuals going to college) will be to produce honest politicians, to educate our police force, and to advise the visitors that ill behavior will be severely punished by charges in money or by making them work cleaning the city. We know that certain irreverences are still part of our ways; example: the shortest of clothing material that is therefore turning the underwear into the outer wear, but we like it and who in the world has the authority to change us?
Alejandro ‘El Condor’ Arce
Miami Beach.
