Unthinkable acts by moviegoers


To the physically challenged woman who tried to see the 2:15 show '15:17 to Paris' on February 11th. We were at that movie, we found seats about 5 rows up toward the middle of the theater and we witnessed what happened to you. Before the movie began you struggled up the stairs, you used the wall to steady yourself. When you made it to our row (one of few lower rows that had an empty third seat), you asked the couple sitting on the end of our row if they could move over one seat to use the empty seat so you could sit on the end seat. The couple said no, they wouldn't move, one of them said the man needed the outside seat. You struggled down one step and asked another couple on the end if they could move over one seat, they also said no, they wouldn't move. You then gave up and struggled down the stairs and left.

We were shocked beyond belief that anyone, much less four adults could be so cruel as to deny someone with your challenges an end seat. Neither couple left their seat during the movie so it didn't appear to be a matter of a need to take frequent bathroom breaks.

For us, it was one of those situations where shock took over and we did nothing at the time. That moment has passed and we want to express our sincere regret that we didn't stand up, and speak up for you. Please don't think everyone is as selfish, rude and uncompassionate as what you received from those four people.      

L. OBrien, south Fort Myers

Correcting bullying


The headlines on page A2 of the Feb. 9, The News-Press announced the Florida House passed a bill that will allow public school students, who say they have been bullied, to use tax dollars to pay for private schools. Dear Annie, "Bullying must be faced head-on by society" (Sat. Feb. 10) encourages victims and their families to visit

Unfortunately bullying, like many of society's problems, is often placed on the desk of the school and the classroom teacher. 
I am grateful the Florida Legislature has acknowledged the "bullying" problem and is willing help the victims. However, I wonder what measures the legislature is willing to take to create an atmosphere that is safe for all students, not only in school but also in the homes and community. When a victim is removed, the bully will often find another victim and the negative social behavior will continue.
Bullying, like most negative behaviors, is a learned behavior. Most often it is learned through observation - TV, video games, peer pressure or an adult role model. It must be confronted, not only in the schools, but also in the community.  All positive role models---parents, guardians, administrators, law enforcement officers and any one else in authority must collaborate to determine acceptable behavior and moral principles.

These must be adopted and re-enforced not only in the school but also in the home. When necessary, disciplinary action and detention may be needed. When negative behavior is overlooked and goes unchecked, these young people will often become tomorrow's rapists, prisons inmates, gang members, violent crime offenders, etc.  
We often forget that morality and social skills are the very foundation of our laws.  Moral principles, such as honesty, gratitude, compassion, manners, respect, accountability should be taught and re-enforced at a very young age - in the home, school and community. 
Myrna Sanner, Estero


Real causes of Great Recession


I was very disappointed to read the article “Great Recession was a man-made storm” in the Sunday, Feb.11 The News-Press. The article focused on the secondary economic factors and market reactions to the sub prime crisis while being silent on the foundational causes of the Great Recession.  

The responsibilities for founding the roots of the economic crisis clearly must rest with:

  • The Community Reinvestment Act and its regulator misguided and out of control demands on lenders.
  • Reckless government agencies, like FNMA, that encouraged and funded so many of the subprime mortgages and influenced grossly lenient mortgage loan underwriting.
  • Dishonest politicians, like Chris Dodd and Barney Frank, who with Congress legislated many of the government requirements producing the financial failures and blocked so many earlier attempts to establish corrective actions and head off the implosion.
  • Bureaucrats, like Franklin Raines, who put personal gain above integrity and the public interest.
  • Capitalism destroying community organizers, like Barack Obama, who forced creditors to lend money to people who could not repay it. 

For a much better chronicle of the underlying causes and effects I recommend the following books: The Housing Boom and Bust, by Thomas Sowell; The Financial Crisis and the Free Market Cure, by John A. Allison; Reckless Endangerment, How Outsized Ambition, Greed, and Corruption Led To Economic Armageddon, by Gretchen Morgenson.  

Bob Rush, Fort Myers


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