Term limits
In your editorial "If Maryland were term-limited" (Nov. 30), you stated that if Maryland passed such a law neither Sen. Paul Sarbanes nor Sen. Barbara Mikulski could run again.
Neither could Rep. Steny Hoyer, Rep. Ben Cardin, Rep. Kweisi Mfume and Rep. Connie Morella.
So how close to heaven can we get?
Malcolm S. Barlow
Parkville
Thoroughbreds
Recently I sat, like millions of other Canadians, glued to my seat watching the annual ritual of the Grey Cup football game.
The old mug has gone through a lot of ups and downs in its 102-year history, but the last match was definitely one of the great ups.
The Baltimore whatchamcalits are a really class act, both on and off the field. They don't need to borrow a name from a lost NFL team. They deserve a name of their own.
Since they have proved themselves to be such thoroughbreds, how about the "Baltimore Thoroughbreds?"
After all, that is something Maryland is well-known for, and to all those on both sides of the border who persist in bringing up the "us versus them" factor, I say vive la difference!
argaret E. Fox
Islington, Ont.
Failed cleanup
Whatever happened to Mayor Schmoke's "Operation Southeast Cleanup" that was heralded with such great fanfare last August?
Having declared Baltimore dirty, he said the city would be cleaned up or supervisors would be fired.
Did any get fired? Did the southeast area get more than a one-day clean up?
My East Baltimore neighborhood looks no different than before the mayor's media event. Many streets still are never swept, trash set out too late for pickup remains until the following collection day, mattresses and other refuse still rot in alleys despite the grand promises made by the mayor and his staff.
I have attempted since August to get the city to repair and paint the exterior of a city-owned house. When the mayor came to our neighborhood picnic and I personally brought it to his attention. He assured me in person and by letter it would be taken care of. It's still not done.
We're pretty active here in Butchers Hill. Our neighborhood association sponsors clean-ups between three and six times a year. We also clean up our parks and do graffiti removal.
But I don't see the city doing its part to help neighborhoods out. I see only the mayor making empty promises about being responsive while the city becomes dirtier than ever.
Madelaine Fletcher
Baltimore
Going Dutch
Your recent editorial "Going Dutch" (Dec. 6) was a reminder that the new Baltimore County executive cannot possibly solve all of citizens' problems by himself and shouldn't be expected to do so.
Dutch Ruppersberger will do his part in dealing with public safety, education, economic development and other needs in Baltimore County, and he will be an effective executive.
But citizens are expected to share in the task as well. If memory serves correctly, "going Dutch" meant that we split the expenses of the date, each doing our share of providing the entertainment or whatever.
That's a wonderful way to deal with our current problems -- government and citizens each doing their share. When the political pundits said "if you go Dutch, you pay," they missed the point. Neither party paid the whole tab; it was divided equally.
If Baltimore County citizens are willing to do their share of the task in the four years ahead, they will find that Dutch Ruppersberger is more than willing to do his share as well.
Seems to me that's the good old American way.
Frederick J. Hanna
Baltimore
Suspensions
The large number of children suspended from public schools is appalling ("Suspension rates trouble schools," Nov. 28).
Is homework not given to the suspended child? If not, why reward them with free time?
There should be an expectation that even disruptive students can learn -- that they will learn -- and that suspension is not a license to goof off and avoid school work.
Missed classes are difficult to make up. But makeup time should be mandatory. We can not afford to let these children slip through the system. They must be educated.
Betty P. Feinberg
Baltimore
Baseball: Bring back the field of dreams
It's taken me a while to come to the point of expressing myself in print, but time is a fleeting and I miss baseball.
Not that I'm an avid fan of the type that goes to a lot of games. It has long since priced itself out of my range.
But I am a fan who grew up loving to play ball, who enjoyed playing catch with my dad, going to the park to play pick-up with friends, playing in high school, playing around with my own kids and still attempting to play some semblance of softball at 51.
I miss baseball. It's fun. And that seems to be what's missing now. I enjoy watching games on TV but more, I enjoy listening to games on the radio.
It's hard for me to believe that grown, mature men on both sides of the issue are willing to "kill the goose that laid the golden egg," to coin a phrase.
From the viewpoint of someone who enjoys the game, makes a decent living while trying to put a couple of kids through college at the same time, I have trouble dealing with the cries of "poormouth" from a bunch of overpaid people who depend on the general public for lining their pockets.
I have little sympathy for either side. The owners have created the problem, and the players are reaping the rewards, while we, the everyday people, are paying the dues.
The players, those of all salary levels who have everything taken care of, want to ensure that those who follow don't lose what they have "worked" for.
I want to ensure that the common person like me and future generations of kids can enjoy baseball the way it used to be.
I missed baseball once it so abruptly stopped in August, but the world didn't end. It actually provided quality time for other things.
But the thought of February and March rolling around and maybe this sham of a strike continuing does not thrill me. And to the owners who wonder if people will support providing minor league players next season if the strike continues, this is one who will not.
Regardless, I will not go to a game next season at Camden Yards and I wish more people would join in on this. And if they try to foist minor leaguers in place of the Cal Ripkens (and in turn end his streak), I will not listen to or watch games either. That would be a travesty.
Am I bitter? Yes. Is it the end of the world? Absolutely not.
It's just a shame where we've come to in sports in general in losing the perspective of what it was originally and still is, a game.
Maybe some of the players will have to get a "real job" for a while, and maybe that will be good in helping them realize just how lucky they are to be talented enough to play a game for all that money, and maybe the owners will come to realize some of the errors of their ways in giving away the bank at the expense of the general public.
Then again . . . Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio? Bring back baseball. Bring back the "field of dreams."
Don Kolb
Aberdeen