Domestic Arrangements
Re: "Arrested Development" by Rochelle Renford (July 17-23)
The tendency of humans and many animals to combine one life with another life is apparent. Love, protection, sustenance or some other deep, emotional need drives us to seek partners. Standard heterosexual combinations work for most, resulting in legal marriage. Besides all the benefits thereof, the law makes each marriage partner responsible for everything in the union, especially economically — even for the debts contracted by the other before the marriage. That's combination in the fullest sense, which requires a legal process in order to be broken apart.
The combined lives the law doesn't recognize, sincere heterosexual and homosexual partnerships, need some legal recognition that gives them the same benefits, liabilities and similar dissolution process that come with marriage because they differ from marriage only in the lack of those benefits, responsibilities and legal strictures. Until such recognition is in place, the participants in those extralegal partnerships cannot prove their mutual sincerity in a legal sense. It shouldn't be called marriage because that will delay its realization. "Domestic Partnership" does nicely. Those partnerships which then fail to clarify the legal nature of their relationship should have no claim for legal consideration.
Bud Tritschler
Clearwater
All About Bill
Re: "All Told" by Scott Harrell (July 17-23)
That was a great article about Bill Stevenson. My band just played Fort Collins and we had the opportunity to sit and chat with this living legend. His presence exudes nothing but intelligence, wisdom, and warped wit.
Will Reising
The Fire Sermon
Via e-mail
Just wanted to congratulate you on an informative, well-written and accurate article on All. As a current frequenter of the All message-board, I can tell you that All's real fans appreciate the accuracy and the attention to detail. In fact, that's exactly where I found the link to the article.
John Kinard
Via e-mail
Skateboarders and Other Undesirables
Re: "God's Skating Room" by Trevor Aaronson (July 17-23)
If we're living in God's waiting room (or skating room) how come no one's taking a number? If the movers and shakers want to continue to rejuvenate St. Petersburg downtown, they will have to get rid of the halfway houses and flop houses and cheap rundown rental properties that border the downtown area. A panhandler asked me for money for a latte the other day. The bums are sleeping on the benches in the parks and the have-nots are going through the condominium dumpsters on a daily basis, and these are not the people who lost a bundle in the stock market. That will come soon enough.
Finish the job. If you want to attract customers to the upscale restaurants and shops, go all the way. A skate park that no one wants to manage is not the solution to the problem.
Janine Warsaw
St. Petersburg
Strategic Whitted
Re: "Unclear for Takeoff" by Trevor Aaronson (July 17-23)
I find it absolutely perplexing that St. Petersburg city officials and the Times have no real vision for that area in the years to come. This provincial thinking will harm St. Petersburg and could even harm America! The airport could play a more and more important role as we get used to the notion that the war against terrorism is not a quickie war in a far-off place. Strategies developing will reveal how valuable Albert Whitted can be. Future generations will bless us for not destroying this increasingly important transportation facility.
No Smoke Blowing
Re: "Smoke and Mirrors" by Rochelle Renford (June 26-July 2)
I admire your fairness in journalism. The Tampa Tribune, being a reputable newspaper, should learn that it has a responsibility to the public to provide the truth and not just hearsay. Please keep on with the fair coverage.
Mustafa Alvi
Via e-mail
I just wanted to let you know that it is nice to see that there are good and honest journalists out there. Great article. Keep up the good work!
Rizwan Javaid
Irving, Texas
It is refreshing to read something that has not been manipulated by the media (or by Honest John Ashcroft). My interest in this subject is not superficial. Although I was born in Chicago, most of my career (1951-86) was spent as a math professor at the American University of Beirut. I made many visits to other countries in the area, including Israel. For over 50 years I have seen how the truth is distorted. Add to this the fact that most of the American public is not really interested in what goes on in the world. More important to them are the latest scores or buying a new gas guzzler.
Peter Yff
Via e-mail
This article appears in Jul 31 – Aug 6, 2002.