South Miami Senior High students pay a moving tribute to victims of 9/11 | Opinion
On Sept. 9, I was honored to attend a “Never Forget 9-11 Remembrance” program at South Miami Senior High School, prepared and delivered by students born after Sept. 11, 2001. They were members of the school’s Army JROTC program. Members of the fire and police departments and the military attended.
Students saw a presentation of news videos taken on that horrific day, heard moving speeches and the playing of “Taps” for those who lost their lives that day. It was inspiring to see students teaching other students about an event that occurred before they were born.
As a retired military member recalled to active duty a few days after 9/11, I was impressed that a school and these JROTC students ensured this day and the courage of our fellow citizens were remembered. We must never forget.
Thomas Gammon,
Kendall
Lost artwork?
The Sept. 4 article “Miami-Dade’s cultural center, built to save downtown 40 years ago, may be scrapped,” offered a comprehensive review of what cultural icons might be lost should urban sprawl be re-imagined and developed into a welcoming and walkable area at the west end of downtown. However, there was one unaddressed issue: Where will “Rhythm of the Train” be reinstalled?
The late artist and sculptress, Joan Lehman, a descendant and spouse of Miami’s foundational families, designed the stainless steel sculpture, which was offered pride of place alongside Miami’s Cultural Plaza. According to plaque just west of the courthouse, the landmark creates “an undulating rhythm alluding to the speed, movement and rhythm of rail travel.” The work harks to Miami’s beginnings and to the light-rail network that ties Miami’s inner core.
While memory of what transpired in the art museum (notably, Pope John Paul II’s visit in Sept. 1987) and what non-native artists brought to that area, we also need to remember our own homegrown celeb.
Norma A. Orovitz,
Bay Harbor Islands
Urban density
The Herald’s Sept. 6 editorial, “Is Miami’s single-family-home dream sustainable? Our housing crisis says, maybe not,” says that soaring housing demand creates a simple mathematical choice of building either out or up, smaller and closer together. This includes backyard and garage apartments in what would no longer be single-family neighborhoods — a breach of faith to those who have made homes there in accordance with zoning laws.
Maybe there is another choice: a resounding “No” to unlimited population that could turn our community into the blight from which new residents fled, in our nation and in other overcrowded countries.
Neighborhoods should not be forced to accept increased density any more than homeowners are required to endlessly add to their homes to accommodate incoming relatives.
Robert L. Krawcheck,
Coral Gables
Judicial review
After reading the Sept. 6 story “Attorney seeks parental leave in lawsuit. Other side agrees. This Miami judge said no,” I wonder why Judge David Miller is still on the bench.
Did we elect him? Was he appointed?
He sounds like a mean person and, I assume, is feared by his staff. His apathy and self-importance, and the behavior he seems to have exhibited, is not what we need on the bench. He should be removed.
Marc Singer,
Miami
Meaningless voices
Miami-Dade County School Board members who voted against recognizing a month dedicated to LGBTQ students have no business representing students. They are consumed by fear and allowed homophobic parents and community speakers to lead them to vote this down.
Gov. DeSantis is their fearmonger-in-chief. He has brainwashed his followers into believing that teachers “indoctrinate” students by simply supporting their lives, loves and humanity.
Shame on this school board and its cowardice. It has shown our LGBTQ students, and all our students, that it is unworthy of representing them.
Mayade Ersoff,
Palmetto Bay
Siding with bigotry
Congratulations to all the Miami-Dade County School Board members who stood proud with the Proud Boys and refused to fight against intolerance and bigotry in our community by voting against recognizing October as LGBTQ History Month. The company these members keep and their lack of integrity and courage speak volumes about their character.
Hopefully, the voters will take note of this next election. Hopefully, we’ll have better candidates to choose from, too.
Matthew George Sagorski,
South Miami
