When Silence Isn't Golden
Your editorial, "When Silence Isn't Golden" (Dec. 15), touches on the very essence on how the community at large should act and react where unbridled hatred raises its ugly head. . . . Professor Raul Hilberg, author and scholar on the subject of the Nazi period and the Holocaust, expounds in his latest book, "Perpetrators, Victims, Bystanders," on the problems and pitfalls remaining silent in the face of hatred. One cannot assign guilt to anyone who remains silent, but the failure to show a collective responsibility is a grave omission in the exercise of civic duty.
It is encouraging to know that the law enforcement agencies and the community are dealing with the happenings in Anne Arundel County in the most serious terms. It is incumbent on all of us to serve notice to those who are plying their hate trade that their actions will not be tolerated in our midst.
In a quote attributed to Edmund Burke, he stated, "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." We would do well, all of us, to heed those words.
Leo Bretholz
Baltimore
Sunset Vision
The new (old) Right is emerging. They promise to undo everything the people have accomplished in the past 62 years.
President Clinton was wrong when he said they were going back "Reaganism." They want to go clear back to the Harding-Coolidge-Hoover era, where Reagan got his ideas from.
First there was Harding and "Teapot Dome." Then, "Silent Cal" sitting for five years in the White House; his philosophy: "Give to big business and big money, and let it trickle down, the common people are not capable of taking care of it or themselves." Then there was "Herbert" -- the crash of '29 was not his fault but what he did afterward was. . . .
Henry Ford later in the '30s hired scabs and goons to crack the skulls of his workers because they wanted $5 for an eight-hour day and time and a half for over 40 hours a week.
Newt Gingrich and his cohorts want to return all orphans and welfare children to orphanages and work farms, circa 1920s, where they depend on charity to sustain them and work every day instead of school. This is not surprising about Newt Gingrich; when he no longer needed his wife and daughter for a military deferment from the Vietnam war and his wife had cancer, he abandoned them.
Then the Republicans want to give back the capital gains and income tax that the top 5 or 6 percent of the people pay, which means that the deficit, which is finally coming down, will go back up or be paid by the middle- to low-income. . . . They want to go back to the $1,000 toilet seats, $500 coffee pots, $50 bolts and vacations in all the exotic places in the world for defense business chief executive officers and the high brass that caters to them.
However, this is not the worst thing that is happening. It is not the people who vote Democrat or Republican or Independent. It is the 40 percent of the people who do not register to vote and 22 percent of the people who registered, then were too lazy to vote, saying what difference will one vote make? They are letting less than 25 percent of the people run the country. I'll bet you can't find more than 5 percent of the people who make $100,000 per year or more who don't vote in every election that comes along.
I am in the sunset of my years here, but my heart cries out for my grandchildren and great-grandchildren and all of their generations. . . . I am proud to have been an active part of my generation. I was privileged to fight for my country and was fortunate to return with only minor physical problems. I am proud of the life my two children are living and of the 14 grandchildren and the many great-grandchildren that are here or will come. I am certain there is another life after this where families will be together.
Walter F. Hay
Annapolis
Animal Rights
As a so-called "animal rights fanatic," I take exception to Lawrence D. Lease's letter to the editor, which appeared in your paper on Dec. 11.
The vast majority of animal rights activists are peaceful, law-abiding citizens -- not "criminals" who engage in violent activities as Lease implies. One of Lease's accusations -- poisoning and maiming hunting dogs -- does not even make sense since animal rights activists work to end animal suffering, not cause it. . . . If Lease is going to point a finger, perhaps he should start with those who have injured or killed activists -- such as George Adamson and Dian Fossey -- working to protect animals and the environment. Even hunters, who promote themselves as law-abiding sportsmen, have done their share to kill innocent people. . . . Because People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA )is the most visible animal rights organization in the country, we are also the first target of people who want to discredit the animal rights movement.
Here's the real scoop on PETA, from an "insider": PETA strictly maintains a creed of non-violence and does not advocate actions in which anyone, human or non-human, is injured. . . . Though our position may sometimes be unpopular, we will continue to do whatever we can to end animal suffering.
Paula Moore
Washington, D.C.
Contract's Flaws
I wish to discuss some points in the "Contract With America" that are not constitutionally based.
First is a "balanced budget amendment." This is not a solution for deficit spending. The problem is not a deficient Constitution, it is a deficient Congress (deficient of the backbone needed to vote against unconstitutional spending). . . . A simple majority of 218 congressmen can begin the significant spending cuts now that will result in a balanced budget.
The second is "welfare reform." There is no constitutional authorization for any federal welfare, period. Cut, cut, cut.
Next is "congressional term limits." . . . We already have term limits and it is called voting. We already proved this in November.
Then we have "national security." The way to upgrade our defense capability is to bring our troops home from around the world and to restrict their future use to the constitutionally
prescribed defense of the United States and its citizens. . . . Last is "crime control." The Republican plan is to cut some pork (to pay for more prisons) and toughen federal penalties in the 1994 "crime control" bill instead of moving to repeal this costly and intrusive legislation. The constitutional issues of federalizing the police (by subsidizing hiring), the continued federal involvement in local and state crime issues and the restrictions on the Second Amendment should be the targets.
John M. Mullendore
Glen Burnie
Class Act
More than 1,000 people attended the recent Chesapeake High School Theater Group's production of "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever," directed by Victoria Weedon, a parent who stepped in when no teacher was available as a drama adviser.
With two other parents, Walt Glenowicki and Judy Quevedo, Mrs. Weedon has been planning and working since last year not only on the production, but on giving almost 50 teen-age members training and experience in theater arts. Field trips have included an Anne Arundel Community College presentation of "Shakespeare on Wheels"; a visit backstage at the Lyric and a performance of "Rigoletto"; drama and production classes at Shenandoah University, and filling in as extras on the movie set ++ of "Boys," starring Winona Ryder.
Since September, "Pageant" has been the main focus of the group, and Mrs. Weedon included students from the entire Chesapeake feeder system. Children from kindergarten through high school learned to work together, with respect for each other's needs. Pasadena community leaders and businesses threw in their financial and moral support by taking ads in the program book, and The Sun for Anne Arundel County publicized all of our events. Many people without children in school donated items for props and staging.
Most remarkable was the number of parent volunteer hours that went into the three months of rehearsals, fund-raisers, field trips and show nights. Parent volunteers usually drop off after elementary school, but Chesapeake High School parents stepped forward, giving hundreds of hours of their time whenever and however required.
Many thanks to everyone who contributed to the Chesapeake High School Theater Group. Our entire community will benefit from your generosity because you helped young people set goals, shoulder responsibility and feel success. That builds strong adults and responsible members of our Pasadena community.
Maureen L. Agro
Pasadena
The writer is a parent with the Chesapeake High School Theater Group.
Schaefer's Legacy
Gov. William Donald Schaefer just cut the ribbon for the expanded and renovated Harundale Youth and Family Service Center, Inc. Thanks to the governor, this tremendously worthwhile, non-profit organization will be able to do even more for the citizens of Anne Arundel County.
William Donald Schaefer is certainly at his best when he is encouraging the private sector to work with the public sector and make projects, such as this, a reality.
Over the past eight years, he has persuaded many individuals and corporations to contribute time, talent and money back into their communities.
Most of the citizens of Maryland are not aware of the several hundred projects that would not be serving the citizens of Maryland today without his encouragement and support.
He also takes the time to show up at the ground-breakings and ribbon cuttings to congratulate those involved and encourage them to do more in the future.
His legacy will continue long after he is gone for our needy citizens who have benefited from his truly caring nature. He has made a tremendous difference in the state of Maryland and all of our citizens should thank him for his extraordinary and Herculean efforts.
J. P. Blase Cooke
Silver Spring
The writer is president of Harkins Builders, Inc.