Florida Today from Cocoa, Florida • Page 30

14A FLORIDA TODAY, Friday, May 29, 1998 mmm. Michael J. Coleman publisher Judy Pace Christie executive editor Melinda Meers managing editor Pam Piatt editorial page editor NOW THAT THE HCTJPV fUT AWAY THE LAWRENCE trtTUr? IB tn mi la ax 1 Mn i rvr ffAHHA "Our goal is to help you preserve the best traditions of this historic Birthplace of the Space Age and to help you ensure that all Brevard County will realize the full potential for its bright tomorrow." -Allen H. Neuharth, Florida Today Founder, March 21, 1966 OUR VIEWS Clarice appointment good step toward equality in judiciary A sculpture in the lobby of the new courthouse in Viera honors a pair of slain civil rights leaders, but that's about as close as blacks have gotten to the inner sanctums of the judiciary in Brevard County. Until Wednesday, anyway.

The appointment of Cathleen B. Clarke to a county judge position this week lowered a barrier that has faced African Americans in Brevard since the county was founded 144 years ago. Clarke will be the first African American judge in the county's history and only the second minority to serve on the bench on the Space Coast. It's about time. Although Florida has become an ethnic melting pot in recent years, the local judiciary has remained almost exclusively white and male.

That's deDlorable. because the countv's iu- Your Views Supporter says go for all the proposed space projects Texas and got to meet some of my cousins' children. Those are the people I thought of as I read those By Denise Boulet Melbourne It was with great interest that I read the recent Florida Today article entitled "The Martian Chronicles." Maybe you asked the wrong people and should have asked the children. I've long been a supporter of the space program. I think we humans should do it all space station, moon base, Mars base, asteroid mining and everything else.

I don't have children, but a couple years ago I moved to Administrator Daniel Goldin and say, "Go for it." I am a taxpayer and I want my tax dollars to fund our space program for myself and for the children. Go for it, Goldin! Pay attention, Congress! This is the letter of the day. The best letter of the month will be reprinted with the writer's photograph. The top 12 letter-writers will be honored at the end of the year. letters from around the world.

I want their lives to be better than mine. I want them to have a future in space. If I had billions of dollars to give away, I'd give it to NASA CLARKE dicial system, like other major institutions in our society, needs to reflect the diversity of the population. Clark's appointment will help accomplish that. When she takes office Monday, the Palm Bay attorney will increase the number of females among the 19 local judges from two to three, a small but significant step toward equality for women on the bench.

"I appreciate all the support I've gotten," Clarke said Wednesday. "Now I'm ready to go to work." The fourth time was the charm for Clarke, who began applying for judicial positions in 1 993. She will fill a vacancy left by county Judge Lisa Kahn, who recently was named to the circuit court. "A lot of the credit has to go to Gov. Lawton Chiles, who has made more of an effort than anyone to diversify the bench," said Michael Fitzgerald, a Melbourne Beach attorney and legal counsel for local branches of the NAACP.

"Being that Brevard County's courthouse is named for two civil rights leaders, Ms. Clarke's appointment is a signal that minorities now will be better included in the system rather than kept on the outside. Clarke is an excellent role model to show that minorities can reach the pinnacles of the legal profession." Even after Clarke takes office, with only two minorities and three women on the bench, Brevard County still will have a long way to go to achieve equality among its judges. But Clarke's appointment is a good start in that direction, and Gov. Chiles deserves credit for helping to end more than a century of de facto segregation in local courts.

Welcome to the 20th Century, Brevard County, even if it is almost over. Merritt Island on Memorial Day, we usually do have a parade. So remember, don't drive State Road 520. Consider this a year's notice. Veteran paraders should be commended By M.

A. Doucette Merritt Island Now, Pakistan On May 16, a small number of our veterans held their flags and i i i i Staying politically correct takes work By Arthur Durham Melbourne I haven't been politically incorrect since my flap with the militant feminists over the motives of the Promise Keepers. With hindsight, perhaps our leader of the free world might benefit from a membership in that group. Then along came the feminist barrage of criticism about the potency pill Viagra and I bit my pen on that one. Criticism was finally muted when Bob Dole revealed he had participated in the test group and both he and Elizabeth were happy with the results.

Obviously, the pill was primarily targeted to assist aging men with prostate problems, a common affliction in this group. Next, we move to the vexing question in the May 26 Topics: "What advice would you give to someone who is considering marriage?" The respondents were three women and two men. One woman said, "Go for it. Find a good man, such as I have morally straight, loving, bright and supportive of women. My husband supported me in my career." Except for the gender, the statement above fits my wife of 47 years to a Vivacious, personable and gender-neutral, she flirts with men, teases them and jokes with them.

They love and respect her for it, as do their wives. Mostly I merely listen to this interplay in respectful admiration for her. One male respondent said it simply: "Make sure you have the right partner." Charter schools, vouchers level field By Bob Brewster Cocoa Florida Today's recent front page article on Brevard's charter schools does not tell the whole story. Florida does not have a conversion Charter School. A conversion is an existing public school electing to operate without bureaucratic regulations.

School boards throughout the state have resisted giving up complete control of alternative public-supported school systems. The only charters granted are for special start-up and exceptional education schools. A few years ago "inclusion," exceptional education students attending regular classes, was encouraged and the Brevard superintendent closed Brevard's exceptional education schools, nn Ctato Pnari 59(1 Lives of relatives and friends were laKen, anu many years 01 their lives were given, so that nennle like repent letter-writer. I 1 Mike Smith could drive east on State Road 520. Thirty minutes is a small price to pay for that freedom.

Those' -veterans should be saluted, in- Police honor their fallen like no others By Kevin L. Fain Melbourne I had the opportunity to attend the funerals of the fallen Tampa detectives. As always, there is tremendous sadness, but the same tremendous pride in knowing that police departments honor their fallen like no other profession. Officers have lost their lives, willing to protect citizens from the evils that many people choose not to face. One cannot help but to feel some weakness, some vulnerability, when an officer is killed.

As the funeral procession slowly paraded down the streets of Tampa, I observed the many citizens of Hillsborough County lining the streets showing love and respect for their fallen officers. I couldn't help but feel something I hadn't felt in quite some time proud proud to be one of the few chosen to protect the many American citizens that each officer in this country is entrusted to do. Merritt Island always has Memorial parade By Fred DlFrancesco Cocoa Beach So recent letter-writer Mike Smith had to wait 30 minutes until he saw the "approaching flags." Gee, I know many veterans who are waiting months and years for these "approaching flags." Many (who are still alive) are wearing Purple Hearts. They even still wait to see these "approaching flags," and having someone help them from their wheelchairs so they can salute those red, white and blue, ''approaching flags." I seem to remember that on even though the Brevard County School Board voted to keep them open. All schools were modified to accept these students.

Now school boards are segregating these students again by granting charters. Each charter is negotiated with the school board. The process can be lengthy and difficult. Florida's first charter school conversion application was rejected by the Brevard School board. The state Cabinet recommended approval.

Florida legislators are voting on school vouchers for some students. Florida school administrators and teacher unions are resisting because they will not have any control of these funds. If the voucher program is approved, you will soon see school boards approving conversion charters to retain control of funding. Both charter schools and vouchers are a mechanism to force school districts to provide an equal education for all students. The Brevard district has unequal schools at all levels.

Viagra really is working wonders By Barbara Kreher Palm Bay One of the positive side effects of Viagra seems to be that finally heterosexual males have come out of the closet to talk about something that, up to now, was not talked about. Next on the medical horizon: A drug that cures the part of the brain refusing to use the turn signal in a car. jivuu vt v.i tiiviLvu. juaiu vu 111111 for complaining. Ulfhu io'HQA niifinn aid to India? The specter of nuclear war inched closer on Thursday as Pakistan responded to India's nuclear tests with trials of its own.

Two blasts rang out Thursday in the Chagai Hills of western Pakistan, which bore out former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's comments earlier this week that the Pakistani government implemented a plan in 1995 that would prepare the nation for a quick response to any Indian testing. Here we go again. It's the same game, just with different players. The United States and the Soviet Union threatened the world with nuclear annihilation for decades; now it's time for another standoff. Of course, there is another way.

As far as nuclear weapons go, America is older and wiser. President Clinton and the rest of the government need to respond to the severity of this situation. Now that Pakistan has gone through with its own test, the escalation can only get worse. The only solution is to exert enough pressure on the Pakistanis and Indians to get them to back down. This will not get done with the economic sanctions currently in place.

The United States has cut off all non-humanitarian aid to India and will do the same to Pakistan. Also, Washington is trying to block the lending of money to the nations by the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and other international financial agencies. If the government does succeed in blocking the loans, the economies of the upstart nuclear nations might be hurt enough to make their governments back down. If not, President Clinton needs to join leaders of the other nations that signed the Test Ban Treaty of 1996 to deliver an ultimatum: Disarm or all aid will be cut off. Either Pakistan and India comply, or their economies go down the drain.

This face-off is a threat to every person on this planet, and the U.S. government needs to treat it that way. By U. Lu LBKin Viera When I was growing up, my folks were some of those unfortu- nates who couldn't put a bumper sticker nn their car nrnrlaimino their son a genius. It no wonder I can figure out why my tax dollars are being used j.

a ior Toreisn aid in cnunirips mar -t i as it turns out, have the financial means to develop a nuclear mili-tary capability. I'm hoping our State Depart- ment is smart enough to clear this up for me. Far be it from me to -know the reason. HOW TO REACH US LrfJCi t.rHt$ 'SKm I t'-w vl Uv 1 I TOPICS What's the biggest waste ot our tax dollars? To join the Topics bunch, send a clear, close-up photo of yourself with your name, occupation, city and daytime phone number to Your Views. We'll call you! Florida Today welcomes letters from our readers.

You must include your address and a phone number where you can be reached in the daytime. If you would like us to consider printing your picture with your letter, please enclose a black and white or color photo (no PHONE: Please direct your calls to: PamPlatt Audie Murphy Ralph Bates Editorial Assistant Assistant page editor editor editor 242-3605 242-3604 242-3606 MAIL: Send letters to Your Views, Florida Today, P.O. Box 419000, Melbourne, FL, 32941-9000. FAX: Send faxes to 407-255-9550. E-MAIL: Send your letters via the Internet to lettersbrevard.gannett.com.

LETTERS: Maximum length for letters is 150 words. We reserve the right to edit all letters. GUEST COLUMNS: Maximum length for guest columns is 450 words. We reserve the right to edit all guest columns. Kevin Blanchard Assembler Melbourne The road system is terrible.

It takes so long just to repavea road. Keith Caldwell Engineering Technician Melbourne Our friendships with other countries. The Cold War is over, but we are still trying to buy friendships. Pat Bettice Retired West Melbourne Spending money for checking out things before using them. For example, bombers are tested, but they are never used.

Cathy Evans Store Manager Palm Bay The biggest waste is the number of government agencies that require duplicate documents of everything, from the federal government Jo local government. Randolph Lee Assistant Principal Melbourne Lack of oversight in certain government agencies. Money is wasted by people A who act according to their whims. If there was oversight, then -money would not be wasted. f.

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