Some views muffled on Clinton's decision to bomb Iraqi 0) targets
I am quite disappointed in The Sun's coverage of President Clinton's dog-wagging attack on the people of Iraq. Readers are aware of the perspectives of the Clinton administration, Maryland legislators and the Pentagon. How about a dissenting position?
For example, in the article "On U.S. bombing runs, tense nerves turn steely" (Dec. 21), pilots reflected on the success of their bombing runs, ignoring the fact that Iraqi civilians died.
If the United Nations Security Council believed military action against Iraq was warranted in view of Iraqi non-compliance with U.N. resolutions, it would have been necessary to determine that the non-compliance constituted an imminent danger to world peace. But the Security Council was unable to make such a determination. The United States failed to approach the Security Council.
If peaceful protests in Baltimore had been covered by The Sun, this violation of the U.N. Charter would have been raised.
If one argues that opposition to the U.S. bombing campaign was insignificant, I would point out that support for the Tonkin Gulf resolution was close to unanimous -- outside the minority anti-Vietnam War movement.
Max Obuszewski
Baltimore
Clinton deserved support during strike on Iraq
It is ironic that amid the crushing dual burdens of impeachment and a military offensive aimed at Iraq, President Clinton found greater support from America's allies than he did from congressional leaders in his own country.
Your article "Britain lends staunch support to U.S. in airstrikes on Iraq" (Dec. 17) reported strong backing from Britain, Israel, Canada and Germany for the aerial assault on Iraq.
Republican right-wingers leading the charge against Clinton -- Rep. Tom DeLay of Texas and Trent Lott of Mississippi -- are determined to bring down the president at all costs, even in the face of a possibly severe voter backlash against their party.
Statements by hard-liners who questioned the timing of the bombing and insisted that impeachment hearings should have resumed, even when U.S. military forces placed their lives on the line was a slap in the face to Americans. Would Mr. Clinton have impetuously dared to launch an attack against Iraq without the recommendation of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and other military advisers?
The venomous hatred of Mr. Clinton by extremist Republicans in both houses of Congress was never more evident than on the days when when all Americans should have presented a unified face to the world.
Albert E. Denny
Baltimore
Congress must represent, not vote conscience alone
It is clear that these members of Congress forget that they are elected to represent their constituents and districts -- not their own consciences.
Surely the removal of a sitting president requires the input of more than conscience alone. Is that not why ours is a representative democracy?
Because members of Congress are not listening to their constituents, the public is rapidly becoming apathetic to what should be of utmost importance to everyone living in this democracy.
The reversal of an election is one of the most serious actions this government is able to take, and it should not be viewed with
apathy but rather with active participation and full voice.
Tim Brown
Baltimore
Legacy of 105th Congress is one of obsessive anger
The 105th Congress of the United States is a Congress that will indeed live in infamy. Its members allowed their obsessive anger to control them. Is it now vented?
My prayer for the New Year is that the 106th will focus on America, not on retaining their jobs and party affiliations.
Donald D. Villella
Towson
Public officials should heed polls of their constituents
I'm confused.
Politicians are ridiculed by some commentators for taking polls or listening to polls.
Are we not a government by the people and for the people?
Howard Gelzhiser
Catonsville
Concern for dogs and cats greater than for sweatshops
Recent articles about the Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse Co. coats that are trimmed with dog or cat fur raised a great deal of public outrage.
It was reported that Burlington felt so stung by the disclosure that it made a substantial donation to the Humane Society ("Coat seller pledges donation of $100,000 to Humane Society," Dec. 18).
Isn't it strange to see such concern for the cats and dogs, when these coats -- and a great deal of other clothing -- are manufactured here and abroad by workers who labor under sweatshop conditions? These workers are receiving much less than a living wage and often are children.
Wouldn't you think that the numerous and popular brand-name labels sold at local stores that are manufactured under sweatshop and inhumane conditions would at least cause an equal cry of outrage among consumers?
Helene F. Perry
Baltimore
We mistreat stray animals as we do unwanted humans
Linell Smith's article on animal enforcement officer Sam Treasure was a heartwarming reminder that in the midst of calamity, are people with compassion and caring for all humans and creatures ("All God's creatures," Dec. 21). Mr. Treasure is certainly his namesake.
I was haunted by the picture of the innocent, trusting cat that went "behind the blue door" as unwanted the day Ms. Smith accompanied Mr. Treasure.
It is a travesty and a vicious comment on our society that we consign more than 90 percent of the strays and unwanted to death.
In my mind, the face of the cat was replaced by the face of a child. Ms. Smith accurately pointed out that our treatment of animals is a symptom of a much greater sickness in our community.
We will not solve our animal-control issues until we undertake to help the people who have animals in their care.
An unabated homicide rate, homeless dying in the streets, thousands in the criminal justice system and more than 50,000 drug addicts in the city are manifestations of greater ills.
We have consigned many more people to a living purgatory "behind the blue door" by treating them as unwanted and strays. Our school, social service and criminal justice systems have failed us.
We should feel outrage about the thousands of animals that end up abused and euthanized.
We must feel greater outrage at the social pathologies that so abuse and diminish people that they cannot feel empathy for their animals.
Cecilia Campbell-Notar
Baltimore
Photographer and subject trespassed into danger
I am extremely concerned about the photo shown on the front page of the Dec. 22 Maryland section.
The photo shows Hal Sharp walking on the railroad tracks in the Patapsco Valley.
This is an extremely dangerous act. The tracks in the Patapsco Valley, and all railroad tracks, are private property, so this act is trespassing.
But far more important, these tracks have many fast-moving freight trains on them that need from one-half mile to two miles to stop in an emergency. The visibility in this area is such that many pedestrians have been hurt or killed trespassing on railroad property.
From the angle of the photo, it seems that your photographer also was trespassing on railroad property and endangering himself.
I wonder what your headline would have read if either had been hurt on this assignment?
The Sun is, at best, irresponsible for showing this kind of dangerous activity and should be working with the railroads on Operation Lifesaver and other safety campaigns rather than printing examples of dangerous acts.
Remember the first rule of all railroaders: "Expect a train on any track, at any time, in any direction."
Robert Reuter
Baltimore
The writer is a transportation consulting engineer.
Pub Date: 12/28/98