For Turtle's Sake? What About People?
I have read and re-read the editorial entitled "For the Sake of a Turtle" (Nov. 11). It is bizarre. This editorial demonstrates a level of stupidity so profound as to challenge the capabilities of the English language to describe it.
It is environmental activism run totally amok and a prime reason for the Republican landslide in the recent election. The exception is in northern Maryland, where citizens are captive to the Baltimore Sun's monopoly.
People are fighting against this sort of bureaucratic insanity. Did the possibility of catching and moving this creature to one of the 179 remaining swamps even occur to the writer as an alternative to continued strangulation of this section of Carroll County? . . .
Bruce Murdock
Timonium
Lame Brains? Lame Editorials
The name-calling editorial in The Sun for Carroll County entitled, "Lame Ducks and Lame Brains" (Nov. 21) certainly "elevates" the Sunpapers' standards to a new high from its usual muckraking.
For the editors to pontificate that the decision of the Carroll County Board of Commissioners to delay the vote on the proposed Westminster Nurseries school site is "nonsensical, irresponsible and not in the public's greatest interest" forces one to wonder when did these editors become so experienced in such matters. Did they ever hold public office? Are they experienced in land acquisition? Does the Sunpapers do investigative research or just make groundless, opinionated statements which the public has come to expect? Why should we buy 114 acres when only 70 acres are needed? Why buy prime business and residential land at top dollar when the real estate market is going soft due to the Federal Reserve's increases in the prime interest rate?
Despite what you think, land purchases by county governments can be very controversial and school sites should be no exception. In light of the most recent school site acquisitions, which resulted in tremendous cost overruns due to site problems, school site acquisitions should remain closely scrutinized. . . .
Considering how far off the Sunpapers were in their endorsements in the recent elections, I believe the "city slicker" Sunpapers editors do not represent us, whom the editors regard as "country bumpkins," and should not render opinions on matters of concern to this county.
I thank God for such commissioners as Elmer Lippy and Julia Gouge. They are citizens of the county and did the right thing for the citizens of this county.
erry L. Brunst
Westminster
Threat from the Radical Right
We certainly do have reason to be vigilant and concerned about the Religious Right's activities. The people who have written letters-to-the-editor are not crying "wolf" without good reason.
On a fall evening in 1990, I was scanning the radio stations for something interesting. What I heard was rather alarming. I listened as a minister and a commentator on a religious radio station outlined how their listeners could work their way into local school boards, classrooms, civic groups and county and state government positions to get the message of Jesus to everyone.
Listeners were encouraged to use business connections, to write letters to editors, or to become editors of local papers so America would again be a God-fearing nation led by the Bible's truths. Listeners were cautioned that it would not be wise to reveal their true mission until they were firmly in position to carry out policy changes.
The minister indicated that there would be seminars around the country. He also told listeners that they could order a study guide for local use with instructions on how to go about getting Bible-based agendas impressed on local communities. He said that the guide included information on getting books banned and getting prayer into the public schools.
He also talked about how to get Jesus' word into the classroom even though it wasn't in the curriculum. He called on teachers to bravely interject Jesus' loving message into classroom material and to be sure to have a Bible available on their desk. . . .
Some people are waking up to the threat from the religious right. A recent how-to book has been published: "How to Win: A Practical Guide for Defeating the Radical Right in your Community." It can be obtained from the Radical Right Task Force, c/o National Jewish Democratic Council, 711 Second St. NW, Washington, D.C. 2002.
The citizens and children of Carroll County and Maryland have the right to be free of religious instruction if that is their choice. The religious right would take this choice away. One may always obtain religious instruction by attending a place of worship or a religious school.
Nan Nelson
Westminster