SPAIN DRAIN

As a third-generation native of West Tampa, I truly appreciate your enthusiastic support for our attempts to preserve Tampa's unique multicultural heritage. In your most recent edition, you had an article about the Centro Espanol ("Saving The Centro," by Roxanne Escobales, Dec. 6-12), and as usual, it was well-written and captured the essence of what it is we are trying to accomplish in our city. However, I do need to clarify something that was said. In the article there was reference to the fact that the Centro Espanol was the center of social life for the Cuban and Italian cigar-makers of old West Tampa. While this statement is not incorrect, it is significantly incomplete. The Centro Espanol was, in fact, a SPANISH organization, as opposed to Cuban or Italian. Centro Espanol is Spanish for "Spanish Center." Tampa's unique "Latin" heritage was a blend of Spanish (from Spain), Cuban and Italian (primarily Sicilian) cultures. Each of these groups had their own social centers, such as La Unione Italiana, Circulo Cubano, etc. As I become more involved in preservation activities in West Tampa and Ybor City, I am somewhat surprised to see that in many cases the Spanish influence on Tampa's history is often overlooked. This could be, in part, because Cuban and Italian culture are simply more familiar to most Americans (relatively few Spaniards emigrated to the United States).

Tony Carreno, Via e-mail

JUDGE WITHOUT DREAD

In reference to the article "Judicial Disinterest" (Political Whore, by Wayne Garcia, Dec. 6-12), I agree with his view; however, he left out the best reason of all for going to an appointment system. It's the same reason our Constitution has us appointing Supreme Court judges. An appointed judge can rule on a case based on law. He doesn't have to worry that his ruling won't be popular, putting his employment in jeopardy; he need only worry that his ruling is correct. The politics of appointment are a whole different ballgame.

Dave Soskin, Via e-mail

MORE OVERRATED

Eric Snider should be required to perform live at Folsom Prison before he is allowed to write any more columns ("Overrated," Nov. 22-28). PS: Anyone who thinks "A Boy Named Sue" is Johnny's best song has got no rhythm, and is a fool, or a liar, or both.

Anonymous, Via e-mail

EVEN MORE OVERRATED

There are some sacred cows I wish to opine upon, and it ain't pretty. My views aren't as gutsy as saying Bayshore smells bad, but I am not as rebellious as you. Pope Benedict: The most sacred of cows. I was annoyed by him being chosen, uh ordained, whatever you Catholics call it. Here is a guy who was a member of the Hitler youth. This guy is going to replace the man who left a written apology at the Wailing Wall? Less than a year goes by and this German pope makes a statement which can be construed as offensive to a religious belief system? I DEMAND A RECOUNT!!!!! Jesse Jackson: This man became famous for holding Martin Luther King's bags. Perhaps I am simplifying. That's because I want to pad the guy's resume a bit. If he held King's bags that would mean he had a job! Well, Jesse did manage to beat Mel Gibson to the anti-Semitic punch. Only problem is, HE WAS SOBER! Barack Obama: He hasn't been senator for long, but the man is considered a front-runner for the presidency. Barack, call us in 10 years. Florida Teacher's Union: I have friends and relatives that this organization is supposed to represent. The people that they represent are unhappy. They are underpaid, overburdened, and our children are ranked as some of the dumbest in the nation — and that's just the University of Tampa.

Jerry Nixon, Via e-mail

AND MORE STILL…

We ranted, and so did you. The "Overrated" cover story generated so much bile that we felt it important to keep the dialogue going. So … to read the full text of these and other responses, or to make some "Overrated" nominations of your own as Jerry Nixon does above, go to the "Overrated" section of Creative Loafing's blog, blurbex.com.

This article appears in Dec 13-19, 2006.