Ignoring efforts to stop carnage on city's streets
The Sun's editorial about Baltimore's high murder count incorrectly wrote: "There is virtual silence among other city officials on this subject. No council member, no state senator, no member of the House of Delegates and few ministers dare to speak forcefully against the carnage that robs Baltimore of human potential and quality of life" ("Murder's toll," Sept. 13).
This statement was a direct slap in the face to me, and to the many other city officials and ministers who have long toiled to get at the root of the problems that plague our city.
On Aug. 6, more than 900 people joined me at the War Memorial Building for a "stakeholders solutions summit," and contributed real solutions to get Baltimore on track. The event was widely covered on all of the television news shows that evening. The Sun carried a modest article on it, and Gregory Kane's Aug. 11 column, "Community comes forth with cures for city's ills," was devoted to the effort.
And one day before this outrageous editorial, an article mentioned the 40-page report of recommendations that came out of the summit ("City misses goal of reducing homicides to 175 this year," Sept. 12). Copies of the report, issued on Sept. 4, were delivered to The Sun, including the editorial board.
Either The Sun's editorial board doesn't read the paper's other stories, or it just blatantly disregards the facts for dramatic flair. Both scenarios are troubling.
The Sun should check its facts and do its homework before handing down sweeping indictments that are flat wrong.
Kenneth N. Harris Sr.
Baltimore
The writer is a member of Baltimore's City Council.
Calculators block education in math
I read the article concerning the large number of students requiring remedial math courses at the University of Maryland with interest ("College students brush up on the ABCs of x, y and z," Sept. 15).
I have tutored middle school and high school math students for more than 20 years, the last 19 in Harford County. Over the past 10 years, I have seen a sharp increase in the number of middle school students addicted to calculators -- to the point that they won't attempt to do simple arithmetic, such as 30 divided by six.
Calculators are not a tool; they are a crutch to make math seem easier to the students.
In reality, the more the crutch is used, the harder math will seem as the material becomes more advanced.
It's time for the Maryland public schools to quit cheating our children out of their chance to achieve their full mathematical potential.
Can the calculators.
Larry Wilson
Bel Air
What about a park for Canton's kids?
I wonder: Will the Canton Community Association create a designated "children's park" where no dogs are allowed and toddlers can play safely, avoiding dog waste, dog encounters, and inconsiderate dog owners ("Every dog has its day at new park in Canton," Sept. 16)?
Jennifer H. Tarr
Baltimore
Starvation in Africa is the real menace
There is a threat of unimaginable scale facing the world. Millions of lives are at stake. And the international community has not lined up an adequate response.
However, this threat is not terrorism or Iraq; it is the imminent starvation crisis in southern Africa ("Food crisis worsens in southern Africa," Sept. 17).
If we are concerned about saving lives and preventing disasters, this is the most urgent war we need to fight.
David Nesbitt
Baltimore
Priests can't expect special treatment
Reading the article "Priests upset by release of abuse list" (Sept. 26), I was outraged that anyone could believe that the shame and suffering experienced by child abusers (or their colleagues, families and friends) can take precedence over the psychological and emotional damage suffered by the children who may have been abused by these very sick and broken people.
Although I appreciate the desire of these good priests to foster healing among the members of their flock, I am deeply troubled by the arrogance of clergymen who feel that priests somehow deserve to be treated differently from the average alleged abuser.
Deborah Kohl
Baltimore
The writer chairs the Division of Applied Psychology at the University of Maryland, Baltimore.
Tossing shepherds to the wolves?
I am dismayed by Cardinal William H. Keeler's decision to release the names of priests accused of abuse without corroborating evidence ("Archdiocese's list of clergy accused of child sexual abuse," Sept. 26). These men do not deserve to be lumped in with proven abusers.
Like countless others, I am horrified at the abuse that has taken place and reach out in empathy to those who have been victimized. But I am also deeply saddened at the cardinal's insensitivity and his lack of loyalty to individual priests, whom he has now tarred with the brush of scandal.
It appears that Cardinal Keeler is willing to throw anyone to the wolves to divert attention from the disgraceful leadership of those who have the power but not the courage to address the underlying issues that erode the spirit of the Catholic Church.
Betty Ann Howard
Ruxton
How could the cardinal do such a thing? How could he humiliate such good and dedicated men who, in good faith, gave their lives to the church?
Has he forgotten Jesus and what He stood for? Doesn't he know that the church is a hospital for sinners, not a museum for saints?
I am totally outraged and disillusioned. This was the time for the good shepherd to come to the rescue of his lost sheep. And the cardinal missed his chance. This was also his chance to teach the victims about forgiveness. He missed that chance, too.
Instead, he caved in to the anti-Catholic sentiments that reign in this country.
Edwidge Burke
Columbia
Religious extremism strikes close to home
Events close to home remind us that religious extremism is universal.
According to testimony from co-defendant Kevin L. Hilliard, "God gave Nacoe Ray Brown the idea to rob banks to fund his financially struggling gospel dinner theater" ("Man said he was persuaded to assist in bank robbery by suspect's vision," Sept. 10).
While no church affiliation was indicated, gospel dinner theater as a local form of worship evidently lacks substantial support, for now.
Acts of martyrdom may change that. However, as a student of ecumenicism, I can assure a fearful public that the doctrine of salvation through bank robbery is unknown in the annals of orthodoxy.
Gregory L. Lewis
Baltimore