Hispanic History

Editor: Now that another Black History Month has come and gone, isn't it about time that we recognize, just a little, the achievements and contributions to American society and culture the other, so-far ignored, minorities?

How about a month dedicated to our Hispanic-Americans? This ethnicity was here not long after Columbus. Surely their long association with our national history deserves a small line or two.

How about our Far Eastern Americans? Seems to me I recall that they, along with the poor Irish, were a major force in building our transcontinental railroads. Is that all? Why not give them several weeks to make their contributions known.

Last but not least, why not all the time in the world for the American Indian, who has been low man on the ethnic totem-pole for hundreds of years? They must have done something besides beat General Custer!

With blacks now in the voting majority in Baltimore City and rapidly taking over political power, shouldn't the rest of the never-heard-from minorities be given their day in The Sun?

For decades now the term minority has come to mean just one race black. Give all minorities the same recognition. We will all be better off for it.

& Robert F. Kennedy. Baltimore.

Capitalist Nature

Editor: There have been many recent protests about inadequate health care for the poor. But I say that not being able to afford health care is just one of the things that makes being poor intolerable. Therefore, people should not make themselves poor.

Most poor people in this country got that way by dropping out of school, spending all of their money on instant gratification rather than saving it and by having kids that they can't afford. If we make it easy to be poor by giving everyone free health care, free housing and free food, then why on earth would anyone want to work hard so to pay for these things?

The poor will multiply much faster than the ones willing to work, and our country will be nothing but a pile of free-loaders. The wealth of the few hard workers will have to be redistributed and we will wake up one morning as the biggest socialist country on the planet. Let's not forget that socialism in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union did nothing but breed poverty, misery and tyranny.

In nature, if an animal is too weak or too stupid to survive, it dies. But humans nurture their weak and their stupid and will eventually be overcome by them.

The capitalist system is the closest thing to nature's weeding-out process that humans have. Let it do its work.

Chris Ferro.

Lutherville.

Gifted in Howard

Editor: From your March 29 editorial "Gifted and Talented in Howard" I would assume that subjects for editorials were getting thin. Since my daughter is involved in this program, I have a slight interest. As opposed to most of your letter writers, I am against this supposedly wonderful program.

In good times, school boards go off half-cocked with all kinds of new schemes. Of course these are all needed (any increase in anything is always "needed" in education).

For example, in rewriting American history for eighth-graders a huge book costing over $50 was deemed necessary. Also we all know that reducing class size will make geniuses out of our little darlings. This type of screwball mentality goes unchallenged in good times. But in bad times everyone starts whining about cutting anything.

It seems to me that perhaps one percent of all students benefit from gifted and talented classes. My observation is that these courses merely offer various subjects to students at a younger age and many kids exposed to this environment are no more ready for college at age 18 than someone involved in a normal curriculum. Does anyone care about the average student?

As to the priority of gifted and talented classes ahead of teacher salary increases, I can only say that Howard County has its share of mediocrity in teaching. What should be done is to jack up salaries considerably for real teachers and get rid of the deadwood.

This would have the same effect as maintaining gifted and talented programs, since the best teachers would be stimulating all students regardless of the subject. Forget the class-size issue -- the quality of teaching is far more important. The Sun's "compelling imperatives" leave much to be desired.

R. D. Bush.

Columbia.

@

Hyman Pressman

Editor: The mystery concerning Hyman Pressman's current status at City Hall has surfaced as an enigma. One no longer sees the once active "Hymie" participating in local parades, civic affairs and officiating at bar mitzvahs, with his customary whimsical effervescence. Hyman has virtually disappeared from TV and newspaper coverage.

Mr. Pressman, a lawyer at age 19, World War II sergeant, comptroller par excellent and renowned for his humorous rhyming verse has served his constituents faithfully and honorably for many years. If retirement is on the horizon, I wish him well.

& Kelton Carl Ostrander.

Westview.

Sharing the Cost

Editor: Much has recently been written about the effect of the OBRA 1990 legislative package by Sen. David Pryor, D-Ark., which requires pharmaceutical manufacturers to give their "best price" to Medicaid programs. Because the manufacturers are now raising their prices to those who formerly enjoyed incredible discounts, the media is portraying Senator Pryor and pharmacists as the "bad guys" out to get the noble manufacturers.

Is it so bad that the Veterans Administration, hospitals, non-profit health plans and HMOs now have to pay almost the same that the public pays for medications?

Is it so unfair that these groups now can't buy medicines for pennies anymore? Especially when everyone else -- pharmacists and patients -- have been paying dollars for those same products?

Is it so bad that the Maryland Medicaid program, the program that was designed to help provide health care for the poor and needy, can now take advantage of the same discounts that these groups have enjoyed for so long?

After all, every Maryland citizen should have the right to obtain medications from the pharmacy of his or her choice and know that he and the pharmacist aren't helping subsidize the manufacturer's excessive marketing budgets.

# Mark A. Levi, P. D.

Baltimore.

The writer is president of the Maryland Pharmacists Association.

Veteran Treatment

Editor: I agree with World War II veteran Charles M. Queen (letter, April 1) that the celebration given the returning troops from the so-called war in the Middle East is being overdone.

I did not serve in World War II, but Korea. As a rifleman with the 23rd Infantry Regiment from July '52 until July '53, I think I can safely say that I saw more combat than most of these people saw in the Middle East. On my return home, I did not receive the red carpet treatment nor was I ever was called a hero, either then or now.

I see this as an insult to all veterans who fought in our previous wars.

alter Wilhelm.

Baltimore.

Old Baltimore Stadium

Editor: To correct Carol Chesney Meyers' letter (April 15), th name "Baltimore Stadium" was etched clearly in the facade of the original playing field on 33rd St., not "Venable Park."

Venable Park, was just that, a municipal park, later to become home to City College and Eastern High School.

The original stadium, built in 1922, was intended to host municipal events, hence sometimes referred to as "Baltimore Municipal Stadium."

Easter Sunrise services, Fourth of July fireworks, City-Poly football and, on occasion, Navy-Notre Dame games, all took place there.

A vast facility, seating 80,000 on wooden bleachers, soon to become badly in need of repair, the stadium lay empty for much of the time.

For myself, I have fonder memories of days in the sun at quiet, peaceful Oriole Park.

Charles S. DeLuca.

Baltimore.