The meaning of ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’

I recently attended To Kill a Mockingbird at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts.

As a white male, I was extremely impacted by the play and felt uncomfortable being “forced” to watch racism, hate and discrimination that white people historically perpetrated upon African Americans. When the curtain closed, I was feeling embarrassed about the behavior of white people like me, and thinking about what I can or should be doing about racism today.

That said, according to Florida law and HB 7, the state should have come in, protected me and shut down the performance. It made me uncomfortable thinking about our history, and how I might be responsible for continued racism.

The state was not even threatening the liquor license of the Broward Center for graphically demonstrating what racism looks like.

I left feeling uncomfortable, challenged and unprotected.

It was exactly what I should have been feeling — and precisely what the state says I should not have to feel.

Wayne V. Pawlowski, MSW, LICSW, Wilton Manors

Targeting Pride events

The bill that Sen. Clay Yarborough, R-Jacksonville, sponsored to curb Pride parades statewide in public places (SB 1438) reminds me of the movie “Porky’s.” He probably has never attended nor has been asked to attend a Pride event.

Yarborough neglects to recognize that gay and lesbian couples have children of their own. These parents exercise freedom to bring their children to a Pride parade or event. It’s not the fault of the organizers or establishment when a parent brings children to view such an event. It is the parent’s freedom to make the choice for their children. All it takes is for one narrow-minded right-wing conservative to make a false accusation to the state about children attending a Pride event because they consider it lewd and it’s against their lifestyle or beliefs.

The fault should not fall on the organizers for children being in attendance, especially if the parent exercises parental freedom to bring their children to a particular event. If Yarborough wants to fine and impose punishment, then fine and impose punishment on the parent(s) for bringing their children to the event — not the organizer or establishment.

If you are going to start fining establishments because children were allowed into an event, you should also fine movie theaters for allowing underage children into PG-13 and R-rated movies without parents or guardians. The only difference between the two is that the one event centers around the LGBTQ community.

Richard Berg, Fort Lauderdale

All wrong on vouchers

George Schonholtz of Boca Raton wrote recently that parents sending their children to private schools pay 100% of their share of property taxes and other fees for public school, so therefore an $8,000 universal school voucher is fair and equitable.

I would counter that it is the choice of parents whether to send their children to public or private schools, and if they choose a private school, they are 100% responsible for that cost. If a family chooses a trip to a local fishing lake instead of a Disney cruise in order to save money, that is their choice.

As an adult man with no children, I too pay 100% of my share of property taxes for the public school system, yet I gain nothing in return.

In our society, we understand we must pay taxes for a myriad of things we might or might not participate in. Picking and choosing to pay an entitlement to a specific group of people is not equality — it’s payola.

James (J.L.) Quebbeman, Coral Springs

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