Zoo members also support 'animal rights'
Brian Rutledge, executive director of the Baltimore Zoo, warns that some groups that appear "moderate" may actually want to shut down all zoos and aquariums (Mar. 8). The article stated that some officials urged journalists to investigate animal rights groups that exist mainly to generate publicity and donations.
During a members' picnic a few years ago, Mr. Rutledge told me (I'm sure he has forgotten) that he would "prefer" to let all the zoo animals go free, but that it was obvious they wouldn't survive for long.
This sounds like he once understood why some would like to close down zoos and aquariums. As a supporting member of the zoo, I'd like to remind him that a number of zoo supporters also belong to the animal rights movement and that by supporting the zoo we are helping the animals that reside there.
As far as animal rights groups and aquariums, anyone reading The Evening Sun has had many opportunities to learn all viewpoints on whether watching dolphins jump through hoops is "educational."
If aquariums must keep dolphins penned up to display them, they could at least quit calling such money-generating attractions "educational," and instead call them "entertainment." As a former biology teacher, I never taught my students anything about "dolphin basketball" but I did discuss and show films about wild dolphins' behavior and intelligence.
Perhaps your reporters should investigate how certain pro-animal organizations handle financial affairs. Possibly they could unveil the fate of new-born zoo animals after they get beyond the "cute" state and are too old to attract publicity.
James G. Clark
Baltimore
Helmet law
No matter what side of the aisle you stood on in the motorcycle helmet law debate, it is interesting that for 20 years the boys of Annapolis considered it an individual freedom of choice, until this year.
Israel bashing
The Bush administration heard a rumor that Israel had sold Patriot missiles to the Chinese. Instead of discounting this as vicious gossip, Bush spokespersons focused on the administration's concern and the need for an in-depth investigation.
Next, President Bush and Secretary of State Baker took a stance on the loan guarantee which made it abundantly clear that no Palestinian need take the risk of negotiating with Israel because the United States will do it instead. Talk about changing the balance of power!
Then, a bunch of emboldened terrorists blew up a synagogue in Argentina. People were killed and several buildings were destroyed.
Are you reminded of the deluge of truly anti-Semitic mail George Bush received after the September 1991 press conference at which he chastised Jewish Americans for coming to Washington to lobby their elected representatives on the loan guarantee issue? I am.
Frank Kanterman
Baltimore
America's health care tragedy
Robin Miller's straight-talking op-ed pieces have always attracted my attention. However, his commentary on the state of health care (March 13) hit me where I live as a public health/preventive medicine physician.
The real tragedy in Mr. Miller's situation is not that he'd have to rob a bank to get access to health care if he gets sick; it's that as a self-confessed nicotine addict, he doesn't have access right now to a primary care physician who can help him quit smoking before he gets sick.
Without timely access to proven preventive measures, Mr. Miller and others are at significant risk of serious smoking-related health problems -- lung cancer, emphysema, heart disease, etc. if he doesn't get help quitting now, and if our nation doesn't do something about the dismal state of access to both curative and preventive health care, it's pretty sure that he'll have to rob that bank.
It's a shame someone should go to federal prison for smoking -- unless, of course, it's the tobacco industry.
Cynthia M. Lipsitz, M.D., M.P.H.
Catonsville
Cheating on us
I cannot get excited or concerned about members of the Congress writing checks or a private bank for amounts that their colleagues make good.
I am, though, concerned and angry about the excellent free health care that the White House and staff, the senators and representatives get. Yet these groups are doing precious little to make good health care accessible and affordable for all Americans. They don't worry about the cost of their mammograms, flu shots, doctor visits, hospital stays. They don't get notices that say: "This service is not covered under your contract." "The balance of this claim has been referred to a special unit." "The reduction of billed charges amount exceeds the amount eligible for benefits." "If this bill is not paid within 30 days . . ."
I expect members of Congress to attend to the public's interest, including health care. Let them cheat on their colleagues, if they must, not on us.
Mary Klarman
Baltimore
Air pollution
Maryland has the number one rate of cancer in the nation. Maryland has the fourth dirtiest air in the nation. And the EPA has threatened to impose drastic controls on our industries if we here in Maryland don't do something about it.
The California Emissions Standard for automobiles affords Maryland an unique chance to solve these problems. By joining the 50 percent of the country on these standards, we will make our air much cleaner.
By passing these standards into law, the legislature will be voting to keep the citizens of Maryland healthier. They will be voting for cleaner air.
And they will be casting a pro-industry vote. If they vote against the California Standard, the EPA will impose onerous controls on industry and, mark my words, many of them will simply leave rather than spend huge sums of money to implement the mandated controls.
Someone really ought to tell Senators Walter Baker and Ralph Hughes that voting against the solution does not solve the problem.
T. Herbert Dimmock
Baltimore
Howard school cuts
The information contained in the March 10 piece, "School cuts that hurt," is incorrect.
On Feb. 25, the Board of Education in Howard County voted unanimously to restore all funds to the Black Student Achievement Program citing those very reasons your editorial writer cited, i.e., test scores and Gifted and Talented program participation, on a motion made by Mr. Dana Hanna.
The board discussed in particular the program's successes at the elementary level and urged the staff to correct the program's weaknesses.
Deborah G. Kendig
Ellicott City
The writer chairs the Howard County Board of Education.
Schools for disruptive students
Many students are desperately trying to learn but their learning is being impeded by disruptive students. How can they concentrate in the classroom if they are afraid of being stabbed or shot, afraid of saying the wrong things to the wrong people, afraid of wearing the wrong clothes, etc.?
Why not establish special schools throughout the city for disruptive students? That would provide a better environment for students who want to learn, and if the schools were set up properly it would give disruptive students the special attention they need.
As it is now, disruptive students are pulled out of one school and thrown into another. Ironically, this is the ideal situation for these "professional troublemakers." They leave one "fed up" audience only to be given the opportunity to perform for a fresh one full of new faces and new lives to meddle with.
Let's establish learning institutions to deal with these students. Not only would this deal with the problem of disrupted classrooms but it might even serve as a deterrent. If students realize that they must pay a price for unacceptable behavior, they might shape up a bit. After problem students have been given special attention, we might even discover some very gifted children who were very capable of learning but had never been given special attention.
When education deteriorates so does the world in which we live. Education is the basis for survival in daily life. If we cannot provide our children with a good education what will become of their futures?
Denise M. Scott
Baltimore