Baltimore's Team
Why does The Sun find it necessary to continue to place the slightest NFL rumor on the front page? Have the citizens of Baltimore not had enough sand kicked in our faces?
After lying to us, misleading us, using us again and again to get sweeter deals from the cities they truly wanted in their league -- not to mention humiliating our mayor and governor twice -- the people of Baltimore want nothing to do with an organization that would allow Bob Irsay to be an owner and Paul Tagliabue to be their leader.
Though one might not know it from The Sun's coverage, Baltimore has a football team -- The Baltimore CFL Colts.
Jim Speros has brought professional football back to Baltimore, and it is up to us to support his efforts by outselling the Indianapolis Dolts.
Baltimore can do for the Canadian Football League what it once did for the National Foootball League -- make it a nationwide success.
And I believe I speak for a majority of my fellow CFL season ticket holders when I say we will not buy seats, hats, shirts or anything that has the NFL logo on it.
We are not gluttons for punishment.
For Baltimore, we are a one football team town. That team is the Baltimore CFL Colts.
Edward Scott Michael
Baltimore
Deadly Charade
The article "Israel, PLO set date for autonomy pact" (April 29) left me very frightened and skeptical.
Israel's Foreign Minister Shimon Peres stated: "For us I think it is the end of a long voyage and the beginning of a new chapter in the relations between the Palestinian people and ourselves . . . adding another step toward peace in the Middle East."
This statement may sound very exciting but unfortunately, in reality it's not an end to a long voyage but the beginning of a new chapter that sets Israel up with defenseless borders against a majority of Arabs who still are waging war on Israel, which only adds another step toward disaster in the Middle East.
The peace policy, plain and simple, is a plan to make it easier for militant Arabs to murder Jews. Is this what Yasser Arafat and Shimon Peres have to offer in the name of peace and Palestinian self-rule of Gaza, Jericho, and eventually Syrian control of the Golan Heights?
In reference to the autonomy pact, an Israeli spokesman stated that "the two sides have removed all major obstacles to the agreement."
However, in my opinion they did not remove one of the major obstacles, which is that of the Hamas terrorists who are joining the Palestine Liberation Organization defectors against Israel to undermine the so-called peace efforts.
Sorry Mr. Arafat and Mr. Peres, I don't mean to rain on your parade, because I, too, want peace for both people, but not peace masked as a misleading deadly charade.
This kind of one-sided, rushed-through peace will ultimately be at the expense of many innocent Israeli and moderate Palestinians lives.
I don't buy Yitzhak Rabin's argument that the murdered innocent Jewish civilian victims is the price Israel has to pay for peace.
Numerous Israelis were murdered during this so-called peace process even before the tragic Hebron massacre occurred. These terrorist attacks were an absolute violation of the peace agreement and should have been taken more seriously as to what kind of cooperation Israel can expect.
Mr. Arafat does not have any children, but if he did would he be willing to sacrifice his son or daughter for this kind of shaky peace? Especially if he knew that he was surrounded by enemies that were still declaring war on him?
Be careful Israel, learn your lessons, there is no true peace when you make all the concessions.
Barbara Bloom
Owings Mills
Not A Solution
Michael Kinsley's article "Any Volunteers?" (The Sun, April 28) attempts to assist in making a decision about going to war.
It misses the point on several key areas.
As a nation, our only purpose for becoming involved in a military conflict should be determined by our vital interests. If we have vital interests, then the decision is rather simple -- do it.
Mr. Kinsley is concerned about the dilemma confronting President Clinton. Since he avoided the draft during his youth, how can he, in conscience, send young men off to war?
As a solution, he suggests that only volunteers from our current volunteer forces be asked to go.
On the surface, that may appear to be a viable solution. However, it is obvious that Mr. Kinsley does not understand how the military works.
Cohesion and leadership are the most significant elements of any military organization.
They occurs when a unit operates together for a period of time, and the people learn about each others' strengths and weaknesses. That is why units spend so much time training.
If a group of individuals could be mustered together with the requisite skills and sent off to fight, then it would not be necessary to spend so much time and money on training.
The same is true of a professional athletic team. Most players have superb skills on an individual basis, but they must learn to operate as a team and work together. How often have we seen a team with inferior players defeat a team with much better players?
The exact same thing has happened throughout history on the battlefield. Cohesion and leadership are two of the most significant elements that cause that to occur.
The American people have always rallied behind their president when the case is made for action and the reason for it explained. I am convinced that the same would apply with our current president.
Let's not search for methods to substitute for good judgment and our vital interests.
D.J. Myers
Sparks
The writer is a retired U.S. Marine Corps colonel.
Let Public Employees Treat Mentally Ill
On April 14 you printed an editorial about the proposed closing of one of the Baltimore area state mental hospitals. You suggested that public employee unions opposed the closing of hospitals because of job loss.
This is true, but only part of the picture.
The American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) represents public employees in many states. Our union has played an active role in the restructuring of the service delivery system in order to provide the least restrictive environment for psychiatric patients.
We have assisted in the downsizing of state hospitals and the creation of community facilities which provide a variety of support services for former patients of hospitals.
In Maryland, however, labor in put and employee involvement has been virtually non-existent. AFSCME wasn't even invited to a place on the task force examing these questions.
Also, in Maryland "community" has been defined to mean "private" when it comes to the provision of community-based health services. Over half of the mental hygiene budget now goes to private companies for the provision of "community" services.
Furthermore, core service agencies, which can also be private companies, are being formed in each county to coordinate mental health services and decide where clients can be placed.
Providing public services through private providers has a host of potential problems. Monitoring of the quality of care is nothing close to the rigorous monitoring of state facilities. Standards of care are ambiguous.
Employees are generally low paid and minimally trained; consequently turnover is high and consistency of service questionable. Political patronage and corruption are more likely.
Ironically, the day after your editorial, your business section carried a story about the largest legal settlement ever paid by a health service provider.
National Medical Enterprises Inc., which runs a chain of private -- psychiatric hospitals, agreed to pay $375 million as a result of a government probe of billing practices.
State employees have a wealth of experience, knowledge and concern which can be effectively tapped to assure quality care and treatment.
Instead of turning over the responsibility for treating the mentally ill to the private sector, why not consider recognizing this resource and using it?
William Hudson Jr.
Baltimore
The writer is president, AFSCME Council 92.