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July 13 was a historic day as Indian River County became the 45th Florida county to approve a resolution designating IRC a "sanctuary" for the Second Amendment, a public expression of their unequivocal support for the rights of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms. With enthusiastic support from Sheriff Eric Flowers and most of the commissioners, Moss consented with her silence by "not objecting."

Given Moss's apparent disdain for her constituents, her lackluster "support" of the resolution was no surprise. Moss was the only commissioner who has repeatedly disrespected her constituents by missing scheduled meetings. In May or June, we scheduled meetings with all five county commissioners on the same day to discuss our resolution, and to present to them nearly 1,500 signatures from IRC residents, gathered over the previous year in support of the resolution. Moss must be busier than the rest of the commissioners since she was the only no-show.

No explanation or apology was offered by Commissioner Moss. Not wishing to embarrass her publicly, I refrained from mentioning her lack of decorum at the public meeting on July 13, and in good faith offered to show her the signed petitions, which she had not previously witnessed due to her own malfeasance. When she insisted on keeping them overnight, I reluctantly obliged, explaining that the petitioners did not wish their information to be shared or made public. When she said Wednesday was too soon, I offered to pick them up on Thursday, to which she agreed.

After repeated attempts to reach Moss, she has not responded or returned the now 1,600 petitions, lent to her in good faith. What is her motive?

Laura Moss has demonstrated by her elitist attitude that she deserves neither respect, nor our trust.

Lamarre Notargiacomo, Vero Beach, supports the Indian River County 2nd Amendment Defense Coalition.

Recently, I had a spirited discussion with a perpetually disgruntled conservative. During our conversation, the subject of critical race theory arose. I challenged him to define CRT, anticipating his answer: Its a liberal attempt to turn children against one another. While this is the conservative definition of CRT, its as simplistic as it is wrongheaded.

Simply stated, CRT is a decades-old academic theory proposing a new approach to examine perpetual racism and exclusion. (Note: Initially, CRT was, in part, a repudiation of liberal responses addressing racist legal practices. It had nothing to do with public school instruction.)

Flustered by my response dismissed by right-wing operatives whove turned CRT into a divisive political strategy he blurted, Youre the laughingstock of the neighborhood (because I challenge right-wing fabrications). CRT has encouraged scholarly conversation about the impact of racism on U.S. history. (Few things frustrate conservatives more than scholarly investigations, which emphasize objective analysis over subjective opinion and political propaganda.)

Furthermore, CRT has led to critical investigations into other cultural issues, including the effects of internalized shame on marginalized minorities. (If youre a privileged white male, youve no idea how destructive that kind of constant, inescapable shame feels.) Unfortunately, CRTs opponents invoke their enormous misunderstanding to frame liberals as unpatriotic buffoons who want to incite white guilt among school-age children. This is demagoguery in its most pernicious form.

In a recent salute to Americas Fourth of July celebrations, NBCs Harry Smith said, Our history is both woeful and wonderful (and) our stories should be shared (and) owned. It endangers no one to understand the sins of our past.

The poet William Blake wrote, The man who never alters his opinion is like standing water, (which) breeds reptiles of the mind.

This is what truth looks like.

Cray Little, Vero Beach

Editor'snote: The following two letters are being rerun in their entirety due to an inadvertentprinting erroron July 22.

Florida is falling into the clutches of another COVID-19 wave and where is our illustrious governor Ron DeSantis? Why, at the border in Texas. He has sent a 50-member troop of law-enforcement officials to the border in support of Texas Gov. Greg Abbots plea for help protecting the border. DeSantis followed to show his support, or maybe get a photo-op with his idol Donald Trump.

Our state is falling into the ravages of this plague and our leader is off the reservation. Please tell me what he can do there as opposed to as what he can do here?

He cares more for showing his and Trumps minions what they want to see than doing what it will take to finally bring this plague to an end. He has abused his powers by selling T-shirts and political material using anti-Fauci slogans.

When will he finally resign himself to care about the people of his state? Both DeSantis and his wife have been vaccinated and have never fostered the same for his constituents. Trump could have put an end to non-vaxxers, as De Santis could have, but both chose to turn their backs.

If more citizens do not get vaccinated, then only non-vaccinated individuals will get sick, and possibly some will die.

Policis must be left out of this pending disaster.

Joseph De Phillips, Stuart

So a political action committee connected to Gov. Ron DeSantis is now selling Dont Fauci My Florida merchandise. Wow. Considering the governors record on COVID-19 I can only say Please America, dont DeSantis my cemetery any more than he already has.

Stephen Osiecki, Vero Beach

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Letters to the Editor: July 23, 2021 - TCPalm