Our need for dignity has not been filled by this president
In the editorial "Panel forges ahead despite peoples will" (Oct. 6), former President Ford's solution of having President Clinton stand in the well of the House of Representatives to be rebuked is reviewed.
The editorial appears to approve of the solution, stating, "Mr. Ford appreciates the nation's desperate need for dignity."
Because some people involved with this issue have an interest in precise definitions, I thought I would look up the definition of dignity. "Webster's New College Dictionary" defines dignity as the respect and honor associated with an important position.
My question is: How do you define dignity? Is it a married man who has admitted to engaging in oral sex in his office with someone not his wife? Or maybe it is someone who has admitted to lying to his family, friends and nation. (Well, actually the president said he only misled them.) Is that dignity?
Should we as a nation require our leaders to have a level of dignity? Should a leader be someone who is one of the best persons our country can produce with a high level of respect and honor for the position he or she holds and for the people?
David C. Hill
Baltimore
I have always thought The Sun was truthful. Your editorial ("Panel forges ahead, despite people's will," Oct. 6) really hit the nail right on the head.
This is a vendetta against President Clinton that has been going on for four years. I don't think he committed a crime against the people of America. After it was out, he told the truth like anyone would.
Mr. Clinton did nothing that was impeachable.
Rocco Rotondo Jr.
Baltimore
Your editorials have been as partisan as members of Congress, but the last statement Oct. 6 is surprising.
You stated that Gerald Ford appreciates the nation's need for dignity and that members of Congress need to learn from him. More so than Congress, it is Mr. Clinton who should learn about dignity -- personal as well as the nation's need for it -- and resign.
John M. Dennis
Towson
Clinton's punishment more than that of worst offenders
For those who wish to punish the president, consider this: The worst convicted criminals in this country don't have to face the humiliation of having the American public read intimate details of their transgressions in newspapers.
Even the video of President Clinton's testimony is now being hawked on TV for $19.95. In a utopian society, we might have the luxury of spending all of this time, money and effort to explore these "crimes," but this is the real world and we cannot afford this insanity.
There are real issues facing real people and to ignore them, in favor of partisan inquisitions, is the true crime.
As for the cry of moral leadership, since when do we look to our politicians for moral guidance? Poverty in a land of plenty is immoral. Racism is immoral. The hypocrisy surrounding this Clinton mess is also immoral.
Donna Sherman
Baltimore
Give Clinton a trial and then convict him
Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch predicts that President Clinton will not be convicted if impeached because Democratic senators will vote "not guilty." The presaged assumption being that Republican senators will vote "guilty."
The public should take comfort in knowing that most of the judges who may hear and decide the trial have already reached a verdict. Sort of reminds me of Josef Stalin's show trials of the 1930s.
Quentin D. Davis
Aberdeen
Hillary Clinton's mirror reflects stand-by woman
"Backward, turn backward, O Time, in thy flight: make me a child again just for tonight." No, not a child, but a cartoonist. I would do a cartoon of Hillary Clinton looking into a mirror, and caption it: "Mirror, mirror on the wall, I am Tammy Wynette after all."
Mary F. Peterson
Ellicott City
Starr Chamber of the 1900s hasn't changed name much
The Star Chamber existed in England during the 1500s and 1600s. Its members were appointed by the king and drawn from among his advisers. Its primary purpose was to bring to justice persons too powerful or too highly placed to be tried by common law.
While righteous at first, it rapidly became corrupt. King Charles I was notorious for using it to punish or dispose of his enemies. It used no jury and obtained its convictions by duress and torture. Finally, England had enough, and it was terminated by the Long Parliament.
It is ironic that in its existence today; not even the name has changed. The transition occurred more rapidly, but otherwise it remains identical in every detail. This proves, once again, if we do not learn from history, we will be condemned to repeat it.
Lawrence A. Battaglia
Edgewood
Republicans and counsel undermine fair process
The chief investigative counsel for the Republicans lists 15 accusatory points against the president but makes no reference to credible assertions that some of the evidence may have been illegally obtained. He bursts into a tirade condemning the president but does not earn a spontaneous rebuke from the Republican chairman of the committee. Can it still be maintained that the process is fair and the president is not held below the law?
G. G. Pinter
Ellicott City
Lower taxes, more schools adds up to slots at track
What Ellen R. Sauerbrey is proposing to aid education takes money, and a lot of it. How is she going to cut state taxes by an additional 14 percent and also put more money into schools? Maryland law forbids deficit financing.
Is Ms. Sauerbrey going to make up the shortfall by letting slots into the state?
Some Democrats who are flocking to her are involved with slots in some way. Should we be asking what's in it for them personally? Don't tell me the average voter will benefit, even if as many as the 500 jobs projected from proposed legislation materialize, they won't be great jobs. And they won't compensate for the social damage from gambling addiction or the demise of small businesses in the neighborhoods of the racetracks.
The Maryland Jockey Club is running television ads pushing the idea that $100 million being lost to Delaware will be reclaimed for Maryland if we allow slots at our racetracks. I don't think it will be reclaimed for Maryland. It will make track owner Joe DeFrancis a lot richer.
If you cut the tax rate and turn to serious gambling as a revenue source, the cost of government will fall more heavily on those less able to bear it.
It's not painless to play on people's weaknesses to fund government services, even one so worthy as better schools.
Every politician says what he or she thinks will get votes. Once in office, promises are forgotten. Ms. Sauerbrey has a record, and so does Gov. Parris N. Glendening. The record is a better predictor of what Ms. Sauerbrey will do in office than anything she says.
Elinor H. Kerpelman
Baltimore
'Desmond Pfeiffer' protests for Redskins, Indians, too
The article "Activists locally join protest of UPN show" (Oct. 2) states that the show "The Secret Diary of Desmond Pfeiffer" pokes fun at a traumatic African-American experience: slavery.
Who protests when the Cleveland Indians come to town? A team whose Indian head logo reminds Native Americans of a time when similar images were posted on town walls informing its citizens of the bounty they would collect for bringing in the severed head of an Indian. (Heads of women and children brought less money).
Who protests when the Washington Redskins come to town? A team whose disgraceful name reminds Native Americans of the many times when the skins of their fallen dead, men, women or children were cut from their bodies to be used as trophies or sometimes handy pouches.
The experience of slavery was surely traumatic. Native Americans were targeted for extermination. That, too, was traumatic.
Ellen Stone
Owings Mills
Pub Date: 10/12/98