To replace the mockingbird with the flamingo as Florida’s state bird would be a grave mistake and sends the wrong message.
The mockingbird is plentiful and seen by everyone. It is a truly democratic bird of the people. The flamingo? Where can one see it? It’s hidden and elitist. It’s beautiful, but not easily seen. It might as well be hidden behind the walls of a gated community. This is not the message we want to send about our state.
The song of the mockingbird is a joy, and if that song is not to your liking, just wait for the next. Even the flamingo’s song, if it were worth copying, would be mocked by our bird.
Most of all, the mockingbird is brave. I once watched a mockingbird chase a cat from its nest and continue attacking for half a block down the street. Now is not the time to kill our mockingbird.
Laz L. Schneider, Fort Lauderdale
(Editor’s Note: The only bill on this subject, SB 78, would replace the mockingbird as the state bird with the scrub jay. Sponsored by Sen. Tina Polsky, D-Boca Raton, it has not been heard).
Democracy needs vigilance
Autocrats have traits that define them. They include not recognizing the results of elections they don’t like; removing elected officials and replacing them with their toadies; dictating what can and cannot be taught in schools; banning books; interfering with health care and lifestyle choices; interfering with corporate governance; using lies and Orwellian-style “mis-definition” to shape public opinion; organizing mobs and/or their personal militia to carry out their wishes by force; suppressing the vote; and banning public scrutiny of their activities.
Look around the world. You see these traits in despots. Or look at Donald Trump or Gov. Ron DeSantis and tick off the checkmarks. Many people fled autocracies, often masquerading as socialism or communism, for American democracy. I sincerely hope these people will now help uphold American democracy by not supporting autocrats in this country. Remember that Adolf Hitler was initially elected. Democracies require constant vigilance to be maintained.
Frederick Mitchel, Fort Lauderdale
Leave Disney alone
Why does DeSantis want control of Disney World? Disney is the greatest thing to happen to Florida since oranges. Disney runs like a fine watch, while most bureaucrats don’t know what time of day it is. Why does DeSantis want control of Disney? Disney is the greatest thing that has happened to Florida since Oranges. Disney runs like a fine watch and most bureaucrats don’t know what time of the day it is. Disney should be allowed to run Florida. Then we would be living in the greatest state on earth.
Dane R. Hancock, P.E.,Fort Lauderdale
In everyone’s business
While on his book tour around the country, our governor found that his genius plan to replace Disney’s Reedy Creek board of directors with his hand-selected group was outmaneuvered by a pretty smart group of people at Disney, who made DeSantis’ clowns essentially powerless as a board.
That made our emperor mad and he is now going to sic the Florida attorney general on them to show who’s boss. Wasn’t DeSantis once for smaller government? What happened? It has come to Florida to die under DeSantis. He has his hands in everyone’s daily business and now he signed a bill for permitless carry. So when you’re on line in the grocery or going to the movies, you may see people next to you with their guns. Thanks, Ron, for killing Florida.
Mark Walker, Boca Raton
