Speak Out

Flowers are my passion and I grow many varieties. I enjoy browsing through any place that sells plants.

My concern is the abundance of lantana being sold. It is everywhere — in hanging baskets, pots and any place a plant can be displayed.

I think people should be warned of the danger of this plant. It is very poisonous. It can be deadly if ingested.

Symptoms show up within two to five hours of ingestion. In small amounts they include lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea and dilated pupils; in larger quantities the symptoms include labored respiration, circulatory collapse and even death. Even the leaves may cause a rash.

On May 29, 2005, The Star published "A guide to local plants' dangers," by Shawn Ryan. Lantana, monkshood, mountain laurel and oleander were the four most dangerous plants listed. Lantana is the only one of these I've seen in local nurseries.

Lucille Dover
Oxford

Let Jimmy do it

Re "Bush details $70 billion war funding request for 2009" (News article, May 3):

Why are the American taxpayers paying to rebuild homes in Iraq that al-Qaida destroyed? Are we also going to pay for the ones destroyed in Yemen, Africa and Somalia?

Just export Jimmy Carter and Habitat for Humanity and let them do it. The American people did not destroy those homes. We are not responsible for it. If we are not going to annex that country, we should let them destroy it and rebuild it. Our government will not even rebuild some of the homes destroyed by hurricanes and tornadoes in America.

Bob Richards
Anniston

Living off taxpayers

Re "Hall of Shame" (Speak Out, May 8):

I could not agree more that it is a shame a polygamy compound recently was found in Texas, but it has been there for years. Why wasn't it found sooner? They are not the only ones using the tax money, though.

There are so many teens and women who are going on public assistance and Medicaid. Once they find out they are pregnant, they quit their jobs and they know they can get away with this; I personally know a few. They keep having children because they know they are supported by taxpayers. They are not injured or disabled any more than I am a deaf person with low vision and fibromyalgia. Yet, no one will hire me. What has this world come to?

Victoria Austin
Anniston