ADD skeptics remind of those who denied other health 0) problems
Imagine being so sleepy at work that you are afraid you will fall asleep. You might drink a cup of coffee and get on. Adults with a chronic physical or chemical problem are likely to seek medical attention and may require medication.
Some children have problems of feeling lethargic or sleepy and have trouble focusing on their schoolwork. Of course, they cannot get up from a grade-school desk for coffee. Many respond by acting boisterous or distracting in other ways to stay alert. Often, these children are sent out of class or to special schools.
Some lucky ones are seen for what they are by their parents, teachers or health workers. They will get help to catch up with their peers, and doctors will prescribe Ritalin to those who need it to help them stay alert and focused. Eventually, they will become happy and productive adults.
Unlucky children -- those untreated for attention deficit disorder -- will not learn to read or work productively and will become dispirited citizens who do more harm than good to society.
But in know-nothing, rigid comments in a letter to the editor ("Maryland's low Ritalin use shows discerning parents," Nov. 20), the writer casts Ritalin as an anathema to creating a drug-free society. He asserts that "to maintain a significant percentage of our children in a perpetually drugged state is nightmarish."
The nightmare, however, is that people who know nothing about ADD dare to claim that it does not exist. They resemble people who would have claimed schizophrenia does not exist but assert that some people are possessed by the devil.
Would that more children who have ADD were diagnosed and given Ritalin so they could learn to read, focus and grow up to become good citizens.
Philip L. Marcus
Ellicott City
I am writing in reference to a letter ("Maryland's low Ritalin use shows discerning parents," Nov. 20) that included inaccurate statements such as describing young children who take Ritalin as "children in a perpetually drugged state" and parents are being hypocrites for forcing their kids to take Ritalin while telling them to stay drug-free.
My son receives Ritalin daily for attention deficit disorder, but he is not in a drug-induced state. He is monitored regularly through office visits and checklists from his teachers.
While I don't doubt that the Ritalin and other drugs can be overused, it is wrong and irresponsible for someone to make a blanket statement suggesting that parents of children with ADD are creating drug addicts.
The writer also seems to think some sort of scam is going on with the manufacturers of Ritalin. Isn't that a bit paranoid? Is one supposed to believe that parents blindly give this drug and those like it to our kids?
The writer obviously has no idea what kind of effort goes into deciding whether to put a child on medication. For our family, it has worked and has no ill effects.
Pam Thiess
Perry Hall
Figures, great and small, leaving government service
I found it extremely ironic that in the same issue of The Sun, you reported on the respective retirements from public life of two very visible people -- one a diminished leader, the other a towering figure.
The diminished leader is House Speaker Newt Gingrich, a reprimanded violator of House ethics rules and admitted liar.
The giant is Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan, an intellectual superstar, a major contributor to the nation's conduct of foreign affairs and its social policy and author of 18 books.
It is sad that the retirement of Mr. Gingrich, one of the least popular people in American politics, grabbed most of the headlines and became the cover story of major newsmagazines. The contributions of a great American, Mr. Moynihan, were overlooked in the excitement. I hope, after the dust settles, that people will reflect upon the contributions of one of the last remaining greats after his departure from Washington.
Charles O. Heller
Arnold
Praising subject and idea of The Sun's Bright Lights
I wish to you commend you for your editorial regarding David Blumberg, "Giving to the community" (Nov. 15).
In Roland Park, we know Mr. Blumberg for his leadership of the Roland Park Civic League. Your readers may not realize that Roland Park has an abundance of 1960s liberals. Because Mr. Blumberg comes from the opposite end of the ideological spectrum, one might not have expected him to be able to assume command of this strong-willed community. His humor bridges this gap.
In addition, I also wish to applaud your "Bright Lights" feature. It is a refreshing change from the bleak outlook so often depicted in the news.
M. Elizabeth Murphy
Baltimore
Stories of great legal mind who mentored associates
George White, one of Maryland's great legal minds, has passed to the great courtroom in the sky ("Lawyer George W. White Jr. and wife, Elnor L. White," Nov. 20).
He was always ready to mentor younger associates.
I remember the day when I, a junior accountant, was reconciling the checking account of his firm, Buckmaster, White, Mindel & Clarke. He came into the library the day after Spiro Agnew's first political victory. I asked Mr. White, "What do you advise a young man who is interested in politics?" He replied, "Become a Republican." I asked him, "Are you a Republican?" He answered, "No, but I am not interested in politics."
Another conversation comes to mind when I was reviewing the long list of capital gains and losses on his annual income tax return. There were several large losses and several large gains, and I asked him how he picked these stocks. He chuckled and replied, "This large loss was from a very astute investor who claimed that he had specific knowledge of the company, and the largest gain came from a nodding stranger who gave me the tip as we were crossing Light Street one day."
Mr. White will be remembered and missed.
Charles M. Solomon
Baltimore
Forget about frivolous suit against gun manufacturers
Rumblings out of Baltimore's elite are that the city may join the other frivolous city lawsuits against the gun industries. With the quality of public education at an all-time low in Baltimore, it should come as no surprise that the local intelligentsia is confused to learn that guns are designed to do harm and not to be safe.
A jury recently cleared Beretta U.S.A. of all wrongdoing in the death of a 15-year-old. Despite what most people outside Baltimore know as common knowledge, these people will be surprised to learn that juries repeatedly side with the gun industry in these lawsuits because they understand that guns are designed by the maker to be dangerous.
And they easily figure out that only the user of a gun, not the maker of a gun, can prevent a gun accident. So I would suggest that the mayor save the money needed to pursue a frivolous lawsuit.
Thomas E. Maloney
Bel Air
Restoring Canada geese to their glory days
You have had several articles recently about the recovery of the Canada goose population and the possible reopening of a short season here on the Eastern Shore. As an avid hunter in the glory days of Canada goose seasons here on the shore, I take issue with some of the thoughts about the decline of the birds.
We were obviously delighted when the goose population ballooned in the 1950s. Among the reasons were the shortage of hunters during World War II and the Korean conflict and discovery of field feeding by the birds, particularly in the peanut fields of the South and the cornfields of the Eastern Shore.
When mechanical harvesting of corn became popular, the combines left a great deal of grain on the land. Doves and geese discovered this treat and, well fed, they multiplied in droves.
It was rare for us not to get our limit every time we hunted.
We all knew that when modern combines came out with much cleaner picking that they would leave very little grain on the ground and that the geese would not be properly fed and would diminish in numbers. The wild geese declined with the limits not being lessened until the birds' numbers were very low.
When we learn how to provide food for them, they will come. Until then, they will remain in short supply.
Edward H. Nabb
Cambridge
Pub Date: 11/25/98