Corpus Christi Caller Times Letters to the Editor

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Sunday, September 19, 1999

Letters to the Editor for September 19, 1999

The real issue
   In a recent editorial regarding our current issue with the NCAA, you stated that I "was taking a shaky stand on behalf of lower academic standards for athletic programs." In my view, you have once again acted with vindictiveness without first obtaining the facts readily available from my staff.
The real issue was my objection to attempts to selectively impose on us interpretations not uniformly understood or applied by other universities in at least Texas and Oklahoma.
The NCAA's initial verbal ruling caused us to load more academic courses on our athletes than other universities are doing. Subsequently, I concluded that this was plainly unfair and reinstated all players while notifying NCAA that we required written official answers. Their written response did support our position on full-time student status but still denied our position on transfer students. This information was made available to you in our press release, but you did not consider it in your editorials or news articles.
This has not been a case of lowering academic standards; it has been a case of fairness and I resent that you, without having all the facts, readily imply that NCAA cares more about academic standards and athletes that we, your neighbor. You should be looking more for reasons to support us.
I continue to be amazed at your propensity to discredit TAMUK at every conceivable opportunity. You are dividing our South Texas community, rather than promoting efforts to unite it. That is why I have been publicly critical of your journalistic integrity. You can hold this issue against me personally, but don't attempt to discredit this institution.
   Marc Cisneros
(President, Texas A&M University-Kingsville)

   Too poor to evacuate
   Why has no one discussed the "bottom line" of why many do not evacuate Corpus Christi during a hurricane warning. Many of us are the working poor. We financially live on the edge and do not have a vehicle that will make the trek to San Antonio, et al. We work hard to raise our families and have no extra money to make a trip for fun or hurricane. Is Mayor Neal an elitist who forgets the sizable portion of this city's population that is the working poor? It was not the Red Cross' responsibility to provide shelter for this city's populace during hurricanes. It was, is, and will always be the responsibility of the city government to provide safe shelter and/or the means for safe evacuation for all the citizens of this city, rich or poor. Even the working poor pay taxes!
   Polly Anderson

   Caving in to ACLU
   On a recent Friday night the administration of the Gregory-Portland High School ceded morality to the American Civil Liberties Union by not having, for the first time, an "Invocation" before the G-P/Carroll football game. I wonder if there were three people in the stands or in the field who were "pleased" by this decision. I know that there were many who were appalled and disappointed.
   This country was founded by people who came here to practice, freely, the religious beliefs that were denied them in the countries they came from. How disappointed these founding fathers would be in those of us who so easily and quietly relinquish the right to praise our God for all to hear.
   Those who would deny us this right must be so happy that we would allow the "right of the few" to prohibit the wishes of the many!
   Christianity did not prevail to this day because the martyrs went quietly to the lions, but because they went to the lions praising God and not being quiet, and proclaiming their faith to all and willing to die for that faith as proof of their belief.
   I offer for discourse a suggestion on how to solve this problem. Rather than deny everyone their chance to offer an Invocation, I suggest that any -Christian, Jew, Moslem, Hindu, et al -who wish to extend praise to their deity, be give one minute to do so. Those minorities who would deny the majority their rights, need to find somewhere else to live.
   Libby Muffoletto
   (Portland)

   Redemption possible
   Here's a solution for how one good intention that went down the tube. Those contributors/mentors who thought that $100 was all they thought a first grader would need 12 years down the arduous road for his college education, should reassess their thinking as this "great" sum will only get the kid two to three books, max, for a class and bus token to the school.
   And for those who are 'upset' about their names being in the paper for letting those kids down, all is not lost. They may redeem themselves by contributing what they promised the first time.
   And if they have benefited from their education and in present leadership positions to chip in an adequate amount of a minimum of $1,200-plus to show the kids that they care. I am sure the newspaper is willing to upgrade your standing from "tight grouch" to "fine contributor."
   Good job Caller Times, in bringing to light a great investigative report!
   Roger Kozar

   Bird's best friend
   We would like to thank Rachel Wilken, a.k.a. "The Bird Lady of Corpus Christi", for her dedication in caring for the wild birds in our city that need help.
   These birds arrive on her door-step in varying conditions - baby doves, no bigger than a thumbnail, that have fallen from a precarious nest, or, recently, a humming bird stripped of its tail feathers by a curious cat. We feel blessed to know that she is there and will do everything she can to care for and rehabilitate these birds for their return to the wild.
   We thank Rachel for the many lives she saves each year and for the peace of mind she provides us, the resident so of Corpus Christi, when we find a fragile life that requires your expert knowledge and care.
   Lynn Davies

   Helping orphan animals
   We, the people of Gulf Coast Humane Society, have received some very unjust and false accusations recently. It is time to tell you what we do and what we stand for.
   First and above all, we dearly love every animal that comes through our doors. We give them clean cages, bathe them, and feed them. If they are sick, we try to make them well. We neuter and spay ever animal in our shelter.
   During the last hurricane scare, we took in some animals from an out of town shelter. We were a bit low on food and space, but we couldn't say no to these people who were scared and needed a helping hand. I know this because I helped our director feed all of the animals-just the two of us. No one else had come to work at the time. I didn't mind, as this is what we are all about.
   We would like to neuter and spay every animal in Corpus Christi, find homes for the abandoned and abused, and educate children to be responsible to our animal friends. We could come close to doing these things if we had more money and support from you, the people of Corpus Christi. We received no funding from the city, nor any governmental agency. We are a nonprofit organization dependant on the generosity of the community we want to serve. Please help us help our mistreated and orphaned animals to have a better life.
   Cora T. Keeler

   Political payoffs
   Congress spends billions of tax dollars each year supporting excess baggage such as corporate welfare, pork projects, special tax benefits, etc. In return for the pay out members of Congress receive large sums for dull speeches. They choose to all this pay off Campaign Financing. One should notice the pay out and pay off consumes tax dollars.
   Congress passes out corporate welfare billions and those receiving the money return some to members of Congress. This game does not cost members of Congress or those receiving tax through billions five cents. It is a payoff both ways using tax dollars and this governmental corruption is spreading like an uncontrolled disease. Once money enters the fray others join the frenzy and Congress tries to peddle this power of the purse as representative government.
   This corruption should more than concern Americans who desire to rescue constitutional government. Government, by the power of money was not intended by those who gave America the United States Constitution.
   Miller Pope

   City must be sold
   While I applaud the redesign of the Corpus Christi Airport, that alone will not guarantee success. What is needed is an aggressive and sustained marketing effort directed to the flying public, the travel industry (especially travel agents) and the airline industry.
   The Palm Springs California airport is a good example. They compete with the Ontario airport which is a little over an hour's drive and has many more flights and a perception of lower fares. However, they have been able to convince the flying public that convenience often outweighs small fare savings and their ridership has grown from 500,000 to over a million in seven or eight years. I'm convinced that Corpus Christi can do the same thing.
   Murrell Foster
   (Three Rivers)

   The right answer for Bush
   With all the furor created about whether he did or did not at sometime in his lifetime use an illegal substance such as cocaine, George W. Bush has a golden opportunity to capitalize on this controversy.
   If he ask himself and his handlers how would "Bill Clinton" spin this situation and apply that tactic, not only would he become an all American hero, his public opinion polls would soar and he would easily waltz in as the Republican nominee and surly be elected president.
   However, I personally think that anytime anyone raises the question he should tell them to "get lost" and move on to the next question.
   Mel Doyle

   Praise the forecasters
   I am writing in response to a letter from Margaret Stepro (Sept. 13). I work as a weather forecaster in the local area. Although I agree that God is much more powerful than a storm, how ridiculous it is for Mrs. Stepro to suggest that evacuation was not the answer. Prayer, though very important indeed, would not save us if indeed Hurricane Bret were to have made landfall in Corpus Christi. Thanks to the notice of the hard-working weather forecasters, from Texas to Miami, most of Corpus Christi evacuated. Now, true as it is, we were spared the wrath of Hurricane Bret, but is she insinuating that had Miami residents prayed more, their homes and lives would have been spared from Hurricane Andrew?
   No, weather forecasters are most definitely not above the Lord, no one is. But I have to say that had you had no notice, and Hurricane Bret were to have struck Corpus Christi dead on, you would be late in your prayers.
   So, please, thank the Lord for the skilled weather scientists and technological superiority that we have now as opposed to 50 years ago. If it weren't for them, we quite possibly could have been looking at a 20-foot storm surge and un-Godly winds that would have caused extensive and assuredly, deadly damage. Let's give credit where credit is due, to the forecasters for the advanced warning of the storm, and of course to God for sparing Corpus Christi the brunt of the dangerous storm.
   Nicole Barbe