No Goodwill

Editor: William Pfaff's column, "Problems Beyond the Reach of Goodwill" (Opinion * Commentary, Feb. 24), suggests by its title the cause of the current trouble in the north of Ireland. That is the lack of goodwill.

It must be remembered that the "troubles" today are a result of the civil rights demonstrations of the late 1960s and early 1970s. At that time the marchers were met by loyalist (Protestant) gunmen as they peaceably demonstrated for equality in housing, employment and education. When the British army arrived in Belfast they were seen as the protectors of the minority Republican (Catholic) population from the militant loyalist. That view soon changed when it became apparent even to the most optimistic that the British had again occupied the north of Ireland for the sole purpose of enforcing the status quo. That is the

systemic denial of the most basic civil rights to the Republican minority.

In the 22 years that have followed the occupation, the British government has failed to address the real issues of discrimination. Once again an opportunity to bring justice to this tragic affair has been missed. To be sure there has been much window dressing but very little substance. The minority is still subjected to discrimination in public housing, employment laws recently put into effect are largely voluntary and do not address the core issue of historic denial of opportunity and the educational system squanders the talent of Irish Republican youth.

The problem it seems is that there has been a lack of goodwill on the part of the British government.

& J. Michael Lehane. Baltimore.

Hell in Haiti

Editor: We wish to applaud The Sun for its Feb. 3 editorial, "Hell in Haiti." We, too, believe that the people of Haiti are experiencing tremendous suffering.

Missionaries living in Haiti have attested to widespread persecution of the people by the military coup after the overthrew of President Aristide. The church-based Washington Office in Haiti receives information daily about killings and beatings and the desperate state of poor people.

It is difficult to understand how the U.S. government can speak so often and so forcefully about democratic elections and about human rights and yet fail to exert more influence to restore the democratically elected Jean Bertrand Aristide to his rightful position. It is likewise difficult to understand how the United States can turn away from massive misery and wholesale human rights violations in Haiti and repatriate those who have fled.

* Sr. Mary Louise Lynch. Sr. Helen Scheel. Baltimore.

Optimistic View

Editor: Thank you for your cautiously optimistic Feb. 20 editorial, "The City That Recycles."

I guess you would say I am recklessly optimistic. I believe Baltimoreans are not as jaded and cynical as New Yorkers. We can see the common sense and positive value of recycling.

Recycling lets each person take an active part in creating raw materials to keep our system of producing food and goods going. I think Baltimoreans will also start to feel that if this lowliest of things, garbage, can be transformed into something of real value, then we can certainly do something to improve our housing stock in the city, our schools and the lives of our poorer citizens.

The city should help people to believe recycling has power by reporting on the tons of waste we divert from the incinerators each week or month. The Sun needs to help by printing this information. The city also needs to tell everyone what is actually happening to the materials -- which companies use them and how?

The paper we are recycling is going to a paper mill right here in Baltimore to make new products. We need more plants like that in Baltimore, if we expect people to get fully behind recycling.

Yes, the ambitious recycling program we have embarked on is risky. It will take luck and caring and many people's talents and perseverance to succeed. I think Baltimore can do it.

Tom Garrison. Baltimore.

Ban Heavy Trucks Downtown

Editor: Your Feb. 22 editorial, "Making Downtown Dynamic," urged implementation of a special assessment district to improve the competitive position of downtown and make it more attractive to shoppers and visitors.

You should be equally supportive of many of the worthwhile recommendations made last May in the report entitled "A Twenty Year Strategy for Downtown Baltimore." Among the more notable and least costly of these was a proposal to make downtown more pleasantly walkable by reducing the amount of heavy truck traffic, slowing all traffic to reasonable speeds and .. improving the pedestrian environment.

The opening of the stadium and the advent of the first phase of light rail make such an objective not only desirable but also imperative.

The numbers of people walking to and from the stadium will increase dramatically. An intense effort should be made now to improve the deplorable state of downtown traffic and pedestrian safety.

The number of heavy trucks, tractor trailers and sea container rigs cutting through the heart of the city increases by the day, apparently because the operators prefer to plow into downtown traffic rather than pay tunnel tolls or use the modern highway systems that were designed primarily for their benefit and to divert them around the denser areas of the city.

Heavy truck and interstate freight traffic should be banned from the downtown segments of Pratt, Lombard, Light, President and Conway streets and those sections of Boston Street and Key Highway which feed into the center city. Such action would improve the flow of traffic throughout downtown, remove a major source of noise, air and visual pollution and go a long way toward achieving a more pleasantly walkable environment.

Downtown also desperately needs more rigorous traffic law enforcement. Thousands of moving violations go ignored every day. Red lights are run as a matter of course; pedestrians be damned. The required stop before making a right turn on red is a joke.

Taxes raised through a special assessment district could certainly help to pay for a more dynamic downtown. Implementation of some common-sense recommendations already on the table could further advance the process -- at virtually no cost -- and the city would be a safer and better place for all.

. Scott Ditch. Baltimore.

Haitians at Home

Editor: I heard on a news report about the Haitian refugees that "American officials estimate that 10 percent of these people are infected with the AIDS virus"-- or something to that effect. First, this is just a guess. Second, even if it were so, what percentage of these 10 percent do the "American officials" expect will have sex with the American people? And, third, what about the other 90 percent who are not infected?

I think that this is a "Willie Horton" tactic to try to influence American public opinion against the refugees and to win general support for their repatriation.

The solution to the refugee problem is not to keep sending them back to Haiti, for they will keep coming back, the same way the Mexican illegal immigrants who are returned to Mexico keep coming back. The solution is to make things better for them at home, a solution that would cost less than what we are now spending to keep the Coast Guard on 24-hour alert and turn them into prison guards and waiters.

' Marlene R. Apollon. Baltimore.

Heart's Best Friend, Too

Editor: I want to thank and congratulate you for featuring Ann Lolordo's refreshing and heart-warming story, "Dog's Best Friend," on The Sun's Feb. 14 front page.

It was a wonderful story of a teen-ager's selfless concern for the less fortunate -- in this case an animal. I also enjoyed the pictures.

I'm sure you could have found a story on murder, drugs or rape to feature.

Instead, you chose something wholesome. Perhaps it was a Valentine's gift to readers.

C7 Thanks again -- and give us more good news stories.

Sandra Robers. Cockeysville.

Editor: How refreshing! When I opened my morning Sun on Feb. 14, 1992, there was not the usual murder, rape or mugging glaring off the front page.

Instead, I was greeted by the heartwarming story of two caring, compassionate teen-agers who rescued a dog. Thank you, Yadira Rodriguez, Kenny Smith and The Sun for making my day.

( Madoline B. Madigan. Baltimore.

Weatherwane Poll

Editor: I disagree with your Feb. 24 editorial opposing House Speaker R. Clayton Mitchell's plan for correcting state fiscal shortfalls.

Your editorial relies heavily on polling which appears to support tax increases. Government by polling is government by weathervane; it may be momentarily popular but it is irresponsible.

The poll you cite leaves many questions: How can we spend a lesser percentage on prisons when our inmate population has surged from 12,000 to 20,000 in five years and is projected to reach 30,000 by the end of this decade? How can we properly spend more on social programs without structural reforms that will bring more equity and fewer cost overruns from the system?

The speaker has not said he will oppose taxes no matter what the cost. He has said -- as have many of our colleagues -- that taxes should be raised only after responsible alternatives have been exhausted. This is proper. Undue reliance on taxes without control of costs will give temporary relief at best.

# D. Bruce Poole. Annapolis.

The writer, who represents Washington County, is the majority leader in the Maryland House of Delegates.