Enrollment decline explained
In response to the article in The Evening Sun Dec. 19 regarding the decline in applications to the Naval Academy, I agree that the six-year commitment could be part of the reason for fewer applicants.
However, I feel that another valid reason for the decline is the fact that beginning with the graduating class of 1997 the graduates will not be commissioned into the Navy or the Marine Corps, but into the Reserves.
Once in the Reserves, these Naval Academy graduates must compete with Reserve Officers Training Corps and Officers Candidate School graduates for billets in the Navy.
Since the same type of commissioning is earned at a regular four-year college without all the restrictions of academy life, I feel more students are opting for ROTC and a four-year commitment.
Perhaps, if Congress would decide to change the length of service to be fulfilled following graduation from the Naval Academy, then the academy would also revert to commissioning in either the Navy or Marine Corps instead of the Reserves.
Students committed enough to the military to spend four years of rigorous academic and military life at the Naval Academy should be guaranteed a position in the service of their choice in which to fulfill their military obligation.
Joyce F. Stahl
Baltimore
Inhumane trapping
Some of the comments made by Catonsville trapper Robert L. Dunker Jr. (letter. Dec. 21) in response to my Dec. 8 letter warrant scrutiny.
Mr. Dunker wrote of "pathetic, diseased foxes," claiming that wildlife starvation and disease can be stemmed by trapping.
The Centers for Disease Control do not advocate trapping to stem wildlife disease. The National Academy of Sciences says trapping campaigns as a means of rabies control should be abolished, because they don't work.
Because sarcoptic mange, the disease most common to foxes, is highly contagious, only selective trapping for mangy foxes could even begin to reduce its incidence.
But that's impossible because trappers catch far more healthy, active animals than diseased ones.
Populations of fur-bearing animals are managed to ensure a surplus. If the goal were to reduce absolute numbers of fur-bearers, trapping would be allowed year round, and populations would not be allowed to rebound each off-season.
Mr. Dunker suggested that death by trapping was less cruel than by natural causes. After languishing for up to 24 hours in a trap where they are wounded, all but immobilized, and in a severe state of fright, trapped animals may be clubbed to death with a shovel or have their chests caved in by a trapper's boot.
The year 1994 saw the European Union implement a ban against leg- hold traps, Alaska halt its wolf-snaring program, Arizona voters ban trapping on public lands and California file cruelty charges against a fur farm.
The goals, motivations and views of the fur industry are increasingly less compatible with prevailing public sentiment.
Dale Bartlett
Washington
The writer represents the Humane Society of the United States.
Thanks be
We've heard thanks expressed to God, President Clinton, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Henry Cisneros, Sen. Barbara Mikulski, Mayor Kurt L. Schmoke, Michael Seipp and all sorts of other folk who have worked long and hard to bring $100 million in federal aid to three of Baltimore's most beleaguered neighborhoods.
Perhaps thanks should also be given to the American taxpayer, without whom none of this would have been possible.
Ted L. Pearson
Baltimore
Random kindness
In the Dec. 2 paper, Dan Rodricks' column, "Mystery man rides Manatee to rescue of stranded foursome," caught my eye.
It shows that there are people who will take time from their daily routines to help fellow travelers in times of trouble.
The column brought to mind an incident that happened to me. I'm sure that there are other persons who will remember being in similar circumstances.
I was involved in an accident during the morning rush hour. Nothing serious, but traffic backed up quickly and things were tense.
A gentleman pulled over and offered those of us involved in the accident the use of his car phone to notify work and spouses of what had happened.
I called work and declined to call home since it was a long distance call. The gentleman assured me it was not a problem and the call was made.
Things got hectic, and when I thought of the gentleman who stopped, he was long gone. I never got to tell him how much I appreciated what he had done or to offer to reimburse him for the calls.
Since that time I have been more aware of people in trouble and take time to offer my assistance when I can.
Dan Rodricks' column is a reminder to us all that there are things we can do to help others.
The Rivelises and their friends are to be commended for taking the time to try and thank the man who helped them.
If each of us were to do more acts of kindness, perhaps the front-pages of our newspapers would be filledwith stories of the good things that happen on a regular basis in our communities, rather than the violence and horrors that have become a way of life.
Doreen R. Chiariello
Baltimore
What a day!
Your article about University of Maryland Professor Paul Herrnson's day ("Routine 11-hour day," Dec. 18) presents some interesting ways of counting a working day.
Examining his schedule shows Professor Herrnson was away from his home 11 hours per day, and that his self-reported work day was nine hours long.
If Professor Herrnson were a classified state employee, he would have been charged a half-hour for lunch even if he worked through, reducing the work time to 8.5 hours.
His certainly was a fair day's work, but it was not an inordinately long day, especially when compared to other professional workers in Maryland.
On the positive side, Professor Herrnson spent much of his day with students, something some scholars disdain.
Also, unlike some professors in the University of Maryland system, Professor Herrnson did not whine about his "long" work day.
Ted Kruse
Baltimore
Fire house show
For the past 30 years, our family has had the annual pleasure of visiting the Baltimore City Fire Department Christmas Garden at the fire house at Cross Country Boulevard and Glen Avenue.
The passing of time never dims our sense of wonder. This series of tableaux takes us to distant places, shows us varied experiences and delights us with scenes that evoke warm memories.
pTC It represents a labor of love, involving hours of work and exceptional skills. And it's free, the firemen's gift to the community.
Members of the community can show their appreciation of this tremendous effort by visiting Engine 45 Fire House, which will be open to the public through Jan. 7.
Rachel S. Levy
Baltimore
Child victims
The tragic death of 10-year-old William Munford is made an even deeper tragedy as the self-righteous justice system tries to blame this crime entirely on the other little victim, the 10-year-old boy who pulled the trigger.
When do we start holding adults responsible for the death of the one and the unspeakable trauma to the other little boy, shackled, led away, crying for his mother?
I will not even address the issue that we adults tolerate laws that make obtaining a gun easier than obtaining a driving license. Why do we not demand regulations to guarantee more gun safety?
It is harder to take a cap off a child-proof bottle of pills than it is to fire a gun left by grown-ups in the alleys where our children play.
Why don't we demand legislation that would require gun manufacturers to make guns as child-proof as medicine bottles?
I grieve for both little boys. We as a society have let our children down.
We worship weapons: big ones, little ones, conventional ones, nuclear ones. We worship power and might.
Our government, its laws and financial resources, are invested in protecting profits especially for weapons production, but we do not invest in our children's future nor pass laws to enhance their safety.
Both boys were victims. We grown-ups should be on trial.
Gwen L. DuBois, M.D.
Baltimore