Morgan State projects will benefit baseball, culture in 0) Baltimore
In the story "Morgan, Little League fight over fields" (Sept. 12), some organizers of the Northwood Little League expressed fear that they might be put out of business by the university's plans for expansion.
It is important to emphasize that Morgan State University has no such intention of causing that to happen. On the contrary, the university's proposal to build three new and better baseball diamonds on the same parcel of land and a softball field offers a win-win opportunity for the entire Northeast Baltimore community.
The proposal is part of the university's plan to build a new $38 million fine arts center on Argonne Drive that would serve as an important cultural resource for the city, particularly for the northeast quadrant. We envision a beautifully landscaped facility, enhanced lighting and off-street parking.
To accommodate parking for the new fine arts center, we have proposed shifting the location of the existing ball fields a few hundred yards to the west, assisting in the construction of new bleachers and lighting, if necessary, and possibly even contributing to the construction of a new field house.
In the end, the children of Northwood would have a new, state-of-the-art facility on which to play, and the entire community will have access to uplifting cultural activities.
Cynthia Graves
Baltimore
The writer is a planner at Morgan State University.
Keeping Clinton president would dishonor the nation
After hours of watching presidential testimony replay, I can only conclude that should the president remain in office, we will have chosen a path that dishonors this nation's founders and sets an unbelievably low standard of behavior for those who follow him in office. It would undermine the values we teach our children and grandchildren.
Edward J. Naumann Jr.
Towson
Starr report wastes money and wreaks havoc on us
President Clinton has admitted stupid and tawdry sexual offenses for which he has begged forgiveness of the American people. We can never forget that.
But in the years ahead, it will be remembered that Kenneth Starr has humiliated our president, and out of personal vindictiveness brought grievous injury upon our country.
True, Mr. Starr has had many frustrations in more than four years and more than $40 million dollars wasted trying to nail the Clintons for Whitewater, Travelgate and other charges. Now he has gotten abundant revenge.
But even a first-year law student should have the good judgment never to commit 453 pages with scarce mention of economic or governmental issues and more than 500 mentions of "sex."
But the president is not the one attacked. This vindictiveness not only has weakened our president in crucial domestic and foreign affairs, it also has destabilized our government and our economy and helped bring our stock market down.
Millions of people have seen the loss of a total of billions of dollars in savings. But what lies ahead?
For weeks, maybe months ahead, Mr. Starr has the power to continue to wreak havoc on the president and the country. It is time to recognize the will of the great majority of the American people.
Don Tobey
Washington
Story on minimum-wage was bigger news than ruble
The Sun reports inside the Business section that a $1 increase in the hourly minimum wage was defeated in the Republican-led U.S. Senate ("Higher minimum wage rejected," Sept. 23).
Yet the front page contains another business story, "Ruble's crisis generates feast for the eyes only."
Are The Sun's priorities skewed? According to Catholic Charities, about 156,200 Baltimore City residents live in poverty, 27.9 percent of city blacks live in poverty, 35.1 percent of all female-headed families in the city live in poverty and 54.4 percent of all female-headed households with children under five in the city live in poverty.
Isn't the rejection of a $1 hourly raise for poor city residents bigger news than a currency crisis in a country 5,000 miles away?
Joe Surkiewicz
Baltimore
Polling places, school bells are not a good combination
Your editorial "School's out for the wrong reason" (Sept. 14) was poorly thought out. The logistics of handling 500 to 2,000 students per school as well as electioneers, voters and judges is mind-boggling.
You must take into consideration that breakfast and lunch must be served, many unfamiliar people would be walking through the building during the school day, arrival and dismissal would be more difficult and parking would be a nightmare.
If you want students to see democracy in action, let them go to the polling place with their parents. That would be a much more effective way to teach democracy than having students share the school building with voters.
And please don't blame the school systems and General Assembly for students missing the first day or any day of school. That's their parents' responsibility.
Catherine B. Knight
Perry Hall
Remember Skinner's role in Star-Spangled banner
This letter is in response to the article by Fred Rasmussen "Anthem writer prayed flag still flew" (Sept. 12).
Mr. Rasmussen left a very important part of the story of the National Anthem untold and a very important person in the story still unrecognized. That person was a young lawyer from Annapolis named John Stuart Skinner.
Mr. Skinner had been sent down the bay on an official visit to Admiral Cockburn to negotiate for the exchange of Dr. William Beanes.
He was accompanied by Francis Scott Key, and they sailed under a flag of truce. Upon reaching the British squadron, they found the enemy on the point of sailing to attack Baltimore and were politely informed that they could not return "until the city was taken."
The British did not succeed in the attempt, and with apologies the gentlemen were permitted to return to Baltimore.
Immediately upon landing, they went to the old Fountain Inn on High Street, where Key wrote the "Star-Spangled Banner." Skinner saw its beauties, obtained Key's permission to have it published and took copies of it to the printing offices of the morning papers.
In 1816, President James Madison appointed Skinner postmaster Baltimore, then the third largest city in the union. He held this position for 23 years. Afterward, Skinner became one of the most famous names in agriculture with the publication of the "American Farmer."
It was through his efforts in agriculture that he became a lifelong friend of Gen. Lafayette, the French war hero.
Robert E. Lyons
Baltimore
Bitterness has drawn Steinberg to Sauerbrey
Could Maryland voters be seeing the effects of bitterness over election losses that have been carried for four years?
The record of Melvin A. "Mickey" Steinberg's votes, his statements and principles have been the antithesis of Ellen R. Sauerbrey's right-wing, anti-environmental record. The list could go on and on -- abortion rights, gun control and, most of all, concern about protecting and restoring the Chesapeake Bay.
Only by compromising most of his principles could a reasonable, liberal-leaning Democrat such as Mr. Steinberg ally himself with a far-right, conservative Republican such as Ms. Sauerbrey.
Whatever could have motivated him other than bitterness over his defeat by Gov. Parris N. Glendening? His statements about the candidates are hard for anybody with a clear memory to believe. I am embarrassed for Mr. Steinberg; I can't believe what he is saying.
Carleton W. Brown
Elkton
Olympics could celebrate War of 1812 bicentennial
Another justification for Baltimore-Washington to be the host for the 2012 Olympic Games would be to celebrate the bicentennial of the War of 1812, that conflict in which Washington burned, and Baltimore saved the young republic.
Gary F. Suggars
Baltimore
Pub Date: 9/28/98