Md. state prosecutor not driven by politics to conduct his probe
The article by William F. Zorzi and Greg Garland "Scandals place Maryland prosecutor in spotlight" (July 9) was both fair and accurate. The Office of Special Prosecutor in Maryland is the one agency within the state government that succeeds in staying out of politics.
Obviously, no one is happy to hear that he or she is the subject of an investigation. Those people or their attorneys will put their own spin on any investigation. Your article gave the reasons why we need the office run by Stephen Montanarelli and his staff. Under some extreme handicaps, this prosecutor's office and its dedicated staff have done a remarkable job over the years.
The office is understaffed and under-funded. The people who must approve such funding are, at various times, the same individuals whom the special prosecutor may eventually have to investigate.
Howard Glashoff
Parkville
It appears that the Republicans quoted in your article have donned the clothing of Democrats. Here we go again with the political name-calling.
Whenever Stephen Montanarelli, a man of impeccable morals and integrity, has tried to do his job and has needed support from state politicians, they sat on their duffs and did nothing.
This is not a political man. Maybe all the politicians should step back and watch how much work can be done when it doesn't matter who gets the credit.
The Howard County state's attorney dropped this hot potato in Mr. Montanarelli's lap, so no one should call this a political vendetta. We asked him to do a job when he was appointed to this office, and now people should stop complaining and let him do it. The complaints are no different from charges that his office was racist because it investigated an African-American former city comptroller and a former African-American state senator.
His office has done an excellent job, considering the lack of support from politicians in this state -- which, by the way was probably by design.
Kenneth Stockwell
Bel Air
Orange Order violence over march is childish
The Orange Order is showing the world that it does not want peace in Northern Ireland as the order and its supporters riot throughout the six counties in the North because they are not being allowed to march in the Catholic section of the town of Portadown.
The voters on both sides of the community overwhelmingly voted for the Good Friday agreement, signaling they are tired of war and ready for peace. Unfortunately, the Orange Order does not care that the majority of Protestants want peace and look at the group's actions as childish.
James McNally
Severna Park
History of black cinema showcased at Roland Park
I was dismayed to read in the editorial "Gems of black cinema" (July 1) of the sentiments regarding "the inadequacy of local endeavors to showcase significant African-American films."
This past year, Roland Park Country School offered "Blacks in Film," a series celebrating the history of African-American filmmaking between 1919 and the late 1940s. The series was offered through the school's Juanita Jackson Mitchell Multicultural Resources Center.
It featured rare films and newsreels as well as discussions after the screenings for all participants.
At the time of the screenings, The Sun chose to feature "Blacks in Film" in the Live section and sent a reporter to attend the showings.
The films and newsreels screened at Roland Park Country School were part of the collection of the Prince George's County library, which houses the largest collection of "race movies" in the country, all of which are available to the public.
Janice Moore
Evelyn McClarry
Baltimore
The writers are co-directors of the Juanita Jackson Mitchell Multi-Cultural Resource Center.
Critic of Israel's Netanyahu ignores Arafat's violations
While in Baltimore as part of a U.S. speaking tour, I was hard-pressed to know whether one should laugh or cry after reading the comments of Rabbi Mark G. Loeb ("There is no defense for Netanyahu's moves," July 4), in which he castigates Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for constantly violating the spirit of the Oslo accords.
Declaring himself to be a "committed defender of Israel's right to live under a secure and just peace" Rabbi Loeb turns a blind eye (as do so many of his "peace now, pay later" compatriots) to the countless violations by Yasser Arafat, Israel's alleged peace partner.
Mr. Arafat has yet to fulfill any of the commitments he signed in Oslo, such as extraditing terrorists who murdered Jews and non-Jews (including 11 Americans), disarming and outlawing terrorist gangs that operate with impunity in the Palestinian Authority, revising the Palestine Liberation Organization covenant that calls for the destruction of Israel and ceasing anti-Israel propaganda.
Shifra Hoffman
Brooklyn, N.Y.
The writer is founder and president of Victims of Arab Terror International.
CNN military gas story flawed but not discredited
The Sun reports that CNN is "creating a new watchdog position to review the accuracy of its reporting" after the television news network retracted a story that the poison gas sarin was used during the Vietnam War against defectors in a Laotian camp ("CNN to pick watchdog after retracting Vietnam report," July 8).
Many readers will assume the nerve gas story is untrue, that the deadly gas wasn't used.
But that's not stated in the article, and it looks as if another major damage control effort is under way as was the case with the San Jose Mercury News reporter who in 1996 revived the Contra-cocaine scandal and took it on the chin when the New York Times and Washington Post mounted a major effort to discredit the story.
All that the July 8 article says is "the report could not support the allegation that the poison gas sarin was used."
The article in The Sun isn't news. It is propaganda designed to squelch a hard look at history that could make the U.S. military -- and U.S. policy-makers -- look bad.
Joe Surkiewicz
Baltimore
Books can demonstrate how things work
My favorite book is "The Random House Book of How Things Work." It talks about all kinds of machines, from nuts and bolts to jumbo jets. It even talks about a hydro-electric power station.
My favorite place to read is my bed.
Michael Mountain
Baltimore
Thomas Jefferson Elementary
'The Purrfect Crime'
My favorite book is titled "Batman: the Purrfect Crime." In the book, Catwoman steals a lot of cats, and Batman tries to get them back.
It's a great book.
My Uncle Bill gave it to me.
Molly Mountain
Baltimore
Thomas Jefferson Elementary
'Mandie' series a favorite
The book I'm reading now is "The British Bear Caper" by Stacy Towle Morgan.
My favorite book series is called "Mandie." They are terrific books. The main character's name is Amanda Shaw. She is about 13 years old in the book I finished recently.
The author's name is Lois Leppard.
Rebecca M. Gibson
Owings Mills
Calvary Chapel Family School
Not clueless about books
Right now, I am reading "The Vesper Holly" books by Lloyd Alexander.
My favorite books are the "Clueless" series, by H.B. Gilmour. They are my favorite because they are pretty funny and aren't childish like some books.
Abigail Gibson
Owings Mills
Calvary Chapel Family School
Pub Date: 7/15/98