Masterful articles are latest tribute to civil rights leaders
Your editors and Linell Smith, whose series chronicled so caringly the lifting of Gwynn Oak's racial barriers, are to be commended for a masterfully thorough job ("Justice at Gwynn Oak," Aug. 23-24).
Lest some readers get the impression that the selfless work of this movement's activists went unrecognized before this, it should be known that a memorable tribute was paid to one of them 18 years ago. That day, the Rev. Chester Wickwire was honored by a large group of his friends and supporters for his lifelong contributions to social justice.
At the time, the Johns Hopkins tutorial program was one of Mr. Wickwire's focal efforts.
Representatives of the area's political, cultural, educational and religious leadership were addressed by Arthur S. Fleming, then chairman of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.
Henry W. Eisner
Baltimore
This letter appeared yesterday with the wrong signature. We regret the error.
SEE CORRECT LETTER BELOW
Masterful articles are latest tribute to civil rights leaders
Your editors and Linell Smith, whose series chronicled so caringly the lifting of Gwynn Oak's racial barriers, are to be commended for a masterfully thorough job ("Justice at Gwynn Oak," Aug. 23-24).
Lest some readers get the impression that the selfless work of this movement's activists went unrecognized before this, it should be known that a memorable tribute was paid to one of them 18 years ago. That day, the Rev. Chester Wickwire was honored by a large group of his friends and supporters for his lifelong contributions to social justice.
At the time, the Johns Hopkins tutorial program was one of Mr. Wickwire's focal efforts. Representatives of the area's political, cultural, educational and religious leadership were addressed by Arthur S. Fleming, then chairman of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.
George Goebel
Catonsville
Bombings and strikes grab the headlines; starvation is invisible
The world's attention and that of U.S. policy makers has been riveted in recent weeks on the embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania and subsequent U.S. reprisals in the Sudan and Afghanistan.
Another terror, however, stalks the land in the Sudan with horrendous consequences -- the terror of hunger and starvation.
Recent television reports show pictures of starving children and adults. Those starving children have bloated bellies and flies on their bodies. Sometimes their mothers hold them in thin arms with love but little help or hope.
Such images are documented by many independent agencies. The United Nations World Food Program now targets 2.6 million Sudanese people for famine relief aid, to be distributed through an umbrella arrangement called Operation Lifeline Sudan.
A United States Senate resolution adopted July 31 calls upon the president to "aggressively seek to secure emergency famine relief for the people of Sudan who now face widespread starvation." A July 22 congressional report states that 1.2 million Sudanese people are "on the brink of starvation."
The United States, as well as Sudan's warring factions, must not allow their differences to prevent emergency food aid from reaching starving, innocent people. Our national interest as a nation based on liberty and human decency is not only to oppose terrorism but also to pursue aggressive and determined action to feed the hungry and clothe the naked.
In this way, we continue to act upon our nation's shining creed of liberty, justice and compassion.
Rev. Sidney Daniels
John C. Springer
Baltimore
The writers are, respectively, pastor emeritus of Emmanuel Christian Community Church who serves as secretary to the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance, and the director of the Interfaith Action for Racial Justice Inc.
Howard Stern sends TV down the tubes
Jerry Springer move over, Howard Stern's late night television show has arrived on WJZ ("Batten down the hatches," Aug. 22).
From his degradation of a female body builder to his parody of Jon Benet Ramsey to his Frankenstein makeover contest, Mr. Stern stirs our lowest instincts with a big stick. And the more he stirs, the more it stinks.
Rick Mason
Ellicott City
Lewinsky matter will lead to isolated presidency
We have learned the special grand jury process is neither special or grand, and it certainly isn't secret. When operated by someone with absolute power, that person can void individual rights by abusing the legal system with threats, confinement, power of immunity, public disclosures, hearsay, finger-pointing, false impressions and press leaks.
Because special prosecutors can summon the president's advisers, bodyguards, secretaries, friends, cabinet members and military to divulge the contents of private conversations, who are presidents going to trust?
The views of presidents' spouses will become more important than ever. Spouses will be the only people in whom presidents can confide. Is an isolated president a good thing? Absolutely not.
Alex P. Gross
Owings Mills
Clinton had right to privacy and so did Lewinsky
Like all men and women, the president has a right to his privacy. Many men and women have affairs. They get a divorce or are forgiven by their spouses. Hillary Rodham Clinton has chose to forgive her husband. The people should do the same.
I feel that what Paula Jones and Linda Tripp did was very wrong. The attack from Kenneth Starr was also very wrong. Monica Lewinsky told her friend personal information. Linda Tripp allegedly taped very personal conversations. I know I would not like a friend like her. Where is the trust? President Clinton is a human being, just like you and me. We all make mistakes, so no one has a right to judge this man.
Debbie Ludwig
Owings Mills
Conduct in White House is the public's business
I write in response to President Clinton and his confessed "inappropriate" relationship with Monica Lewinsky. His comments were entirely appropriate for a man whom American voters elected but cannot fire. If Bill Clinton worked for the company I do, he no longer would be collecting a paycheck.
This was not a relationship that developed outside the workplace. In this case, Ms. Lewinsky met the president in their place of business, the White House. It is no different than the president of any company choosing an employee with whom to have an inappropriate relationship.
What makes this different, in many people's eyes, is that this occurred in the private time of the leader of our nation. Since this was a private occurrence, they reason, it should not affect
continuation in his position of president. The fallout is just between the president and his family.
But the public has a right in this case. The relationship was conducted on public time. People involved were paid with our money. That makes it our interest.
Sara Sergent
Essex
The Monica Lewinsky matter is not about President Clinton being forced to lie because he was asked an improper personal question about his private life. Mr. Clinton made it a public matter by choosing to have sexual relations with a subordinate in his office.
He works for the American people. Therefore, he has made it a public matter and should take the responsibility. Next time he chooses to have an affair and wants to keep it a private matter, he should do it outside of the White House on his own time.
Lauren Kingsmore
Annapolis
Tobacco defeat was worse than Clinton's behavior
President Clinton lied about having sexual encounters with a White House intern. The Senate in June torpedoed tobacco-control legislation that could have prevented many premature deaths from smoking and benefited society in other ways. Americans ought to ponder the question: Which was worse?
Mort Paulson
Silver Spring
TC
President leading nation and showed courage
The people elected Bill Clinton to lead our nation in times of trouble and prosperity. He is the one who has caused our growth and the stability we are enjoying. He is doing his job exactly as we asked him to do it.
The president's private matters are just that -- private. The questions should never have been asked of him, making the rest of the grand jury's inquiries moot.
We have become a nation obsessed with gossip. The only thing these hearings mean to the majority of citizens is that it gives them something to talk about. There is nothing people love more than a juicy story involving anyone but themselves.
How many people could have the courage to admit to wrongdoings in front of an entire nation?
Also, I applaud our president for the courage he showed in striking out against our enemies, even while he is under fire here at home.
oris J. Moran
Baltimore
Pub Date: 8/28/98