After political ruling on Blount's residency, Giuliani can run here
The Maryland Court of Appeals' ruling on state Sen. Clarence W. Blount reinforces voter disdain for politicians, lawyers and the political system they work hard to maintain.
While no serious, right-minded citizen would have a problem recognizing that Mr. Blount does not live in his district, apparently the system does.
The Court of Appeals judges, who are just lawyers in robes, raced to the side of the politically powerful and destroyed another pillar of integrity in our political system.
Mr. Blount, Maryland politics, the Democratic Party and the judicial system are all guilty, perpetuating this fraud on the citizens of this state.
Maybe Mayor Rudolph Giuliani of New York could buy a rundown tenement in Baltimore City, stay in it when the Yankees come to town and then run for mayor. I know he would make a better mayor than the one who is in office now.
With this unintelligible and indecent ruling, the courts and the political system would have to allow this. Or does this ruling only pertain to old Democratic political leaders?
Alan McAllister
Severna Park
High school's difficulties reflect on headquarters
Last year, the former principal of Northern High School, Alice Morgan Brown, was overwhelmed by problems and, eventually, was nailed to a cross of good intentions.
This year, things would be different. This year, order would replace chaos. This year, scheduling problems would be minimal.
The first day this year seemed to be a reflection of last year. Perhaps, the problem wasn't entirely the former principal's. Maybe mirrors should be placed in school headquarters.
McNair Taylor
Baltimore
Clinton must be punished to restore respect to system
Sixty percent of the American people believe President Clinton committed perjury or obstructed of justice. And yet the same population doesn't believe Mr. Clinton should resign or be impeached. Why?
One Democratic strategist suggested that the American people don't care about Mr. Clinton's sexual liaisons and therefore Congress should overlook the perjury and move on. I contend that the American people simply have no respect for the law because legal institutions aren't enforcing it.
It is the era of courtroom sensationalism, O.J. Simpson and the Menendez brothers. The American people are showing their lack of faith in the justice system. This is what the polls reflect.
If the president escapes punishment for lying under oath and possibly obstructing justice, the American people will continue to view American law as meaningless, and Americans will not respect its legal institutions nor its officials.
It is imperative for Mr. Clinton to resign or be impeached, not just as punishment for his crimes but to restore respect for the law.
David Pinder
Baltimore
Adultery is not a crime, and it shouldn't be
I was appalled that you would print the vile letter to the editor ("Commander in chief needs to pay price, too," Aug. 30) attacking President Clinton.
Having an affair may be a big deal to the writer's spouse, but it isn't illegal nor should it be.
The writer is right about one thing: Every member of the military who has lost his or her career for infidelity should indeed be reinstated and given full back pay. They actually deserve double their back pay for being victims of a puritanical witch-hunt.
As far as someone's morals making anyone sick, the writer has everything backward. What is sickening are the disgusting, twisted Republicans who stick their noses into other people's personal business.
If the letter writer wants to get upset over something, I suggest reading your Perspective section article "The fresh dope on CIA-drug link" (Aug. 30). Smuggling hard drugs into minority communities to support death squads in Central America is a real crime.
William Smith
Baltimore
Freud was not original or empirical with theories
Franklin T. Evans, M.D. writes in his letter to the editor (Aug. 29) that "The fact that we have progressed in understanding since Freud . . . has not undermined Freud's essential notions of the dynamic, irrational and largely unconscious basis of behavior."
As examples of others who recognize the unconscious basis of behavior, he cites great writers, including Tolstoy, Dostoyevsky, and Kierkegaard.
Dr. Evans fails to notice that these three writers preceded Freud and demonstrate that the notion of the unconscious basis of behavior is not originally Freud's. Any educated person today, not just Freudians, accepts the significance of unconscious motivations.
Freud's "signal discoveries," as Dr. Evans calls them, which he cites as including "the Oedipus complex, castration fear and penis envy," had no empirical basis and were offered with a "heads I win, tails you lose" argument.
That is, if you accept them they are right, and if you reject them you are resisting and they are right.
Henry Cohen
Baltimore
Destroying harmful myths on diversity and wealth
Larry Carson shattered two destructive myths in his article "An end-of-summer ritual" (Aug. 27) on Baltimore County schools.
Myth No. 1: Culturally diverse neighborhoods have bad schools.
Actually, 91 percent of Pleasant Plains Elementary School first-graders are reading at or above grade level.
As a Caucasian who adopted a Korean child, I'm fortunate that Pleasant Plains is in Loch Raven Village, a townhouse community that knows good neighbors come in all colors.
Every year America becomes more diverse. What better way to prepare our children for the future than for them to live and learn in a culturally diverse environment with excellent schools?
Myth No. 2: Only wealthy people live in nice neighborhoods with great schools.
For $80,000 to $130,000, Loch Raven Village offers large, attractive, well-built homes with beautiful yards.
Loch Raven Village's location at Loch Raven and Glen Keith boulevards is close to many jobs, shopping and recreation. The village features great amenities such as Pleasant Plains School, Loch Raven Library, parks, playgrounds, tennis courts, day care, recreation council programs, a senior center and more -- all within walking distance.
Maybe Mr. Carson's fine article will slow the suburban sprawl that overcrowds schools and roads -- and destroys wildlife habitat -- in the counties around Baltimore County.
Bruce Smith
Towson
Clean water, clean air, safety are voting concerns
As the mother of two small children, my No. 1 one concern is that they grow up in a state where there is clean air for them to breathe, the water is clean for them to drink and neighbors are safe for them to play with.
I have been following your coverage of the election for governor. It has allowed me to clearly understand the positions of the candidates.
Ellen R. Sauerbrey is more interested in raising money from big business than in protecting the environment or supporting police.
In November, I am going to vote for the ticket that has kept its promises to protect the environment and to reduce crime and make our neighborhoods safer.
I'm voting for Parris N. Glendening and Kathleen Kennedy Townsend.
Lisa Cohen
Darnestown
Scurrilous caricature of Ellen Sauerbrey
Although I am not a fan of Ellen R. Sauerbrey and will not vote for her, I take exception to KAL's scurrilous cartoon of Aug. 25. It is the epitome of vulgarity.
Mike Lane's cartoons achieve the same results with civility.
Ann Marie Devlin
Baltimore
Pub Date: 9/05/98