Redistricting costs the state power, money

Following the 2000 Census, Maryland Democrats set out to redraw Maryland's congressional districts to elect more Democrats to Congress. The good news for them is that they succeeded, with Democrats Chris Van Hollen and C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger picking up seats in Maryland's 2nd and 8th Congressional Districts.

But in a classic case of "be careful what you wish for," the success of the Democrats' redistricting plan, combined with the party's overall failure in the Nov. 5 election, means Marylanders will now have considerably less power and influence in Washington.

The reason is simple. Before the election, six of Maryland's 10 members of Congress -- two Democratic senators and four Republican representatives -- were members of the majority party in their house.

But with the Republican takeover of the Senate and the inability of the Democrats to take control of the House despite the two-seat pick-up in this state, Marylanders now find themselves with only two of their 10 representatives in the majority.

And one of those two, Rep. Wayne T. Gilchrest, is hardly a favorite of the White House and the House Republican leadership.

For Marylanders this means less influence in Congress over issues and projects that are important to the state. Some say money equals power, but in Washington, the opposite is also true. The party with the power controls the money.

With fewer representatives in the majority party, Marylanders can expect that fewer federal dollars will find their way to the state.

We also should not be surprised to see that money flowing to our more conservative and Republican-friendly neighbor, Virginia.

Mark W. Carmean

Chesapeake Beach

Rejecting Morella hurts Maryland

Congratulations to the voters of Montgomery County and the 8th Congressional District for shooting themselves in their political feet.

Putting party above person and the slim chance of the Democrats regaining a majority in the House of Representatives ahead of 16 years of outstanding constituent service, the voters turned Rep. Constance A. Morella out of office ("Morella reflects on 16 years in House," Nov. 7).

Despite her Republican Party tag, Ms. Morella knew and served her liberal constituency exceedingly well, even at times earning the wrath of her own party. She was a House committee chair and took a back seat to no one when it came to serving her district. She did not deserve the shameful treatment she received from her constituents.

So what happened? The Republicans not only retained control of the House, but increased their majority. And the voters of the 8th District are left to be represented in the House by a newcomer in a minority party who carries no seniority and little influence.

Much was written before the election about the political savvy of 8th District voters. After Nov. 5 that argument is certainly lost on me.

Thanks should also go to Gov. Parris N. Glendening, whose outrageous gerrymandering of the state's congressional districts contributed to Ms. Morella's defeat.

Francis M. Vojik

Glen Burnie

Balto. County tilts toward Democrats

Even though Rep. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. carried the county with more than 60 percent of the vote, most Democrats in Baltimore County did quite well. Clearly, Mr. Ehrlich did not have coattails.

James T. Smith handily beat Douglas B. Riley for county executive. Vince Gardina beat Jim Ports for a hard-fought County Council seat. County Executive C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger trounced Helen Bentley for Congress. And state Sen. Jim Brochin beat entrenched Martha Klima in her backyard.

All of these defeated Republican candidates tried in vain to associate themselves with Mr. Ehrlich.

And most incumbent Democrats easily won around the county. In Mr. Ehrlich's hometown, state Sen. Edward J. Kasemeyer and Del. James E. Malone Jr. won, as did Del. Steven J. DeBoy. And the Baltimore County Council now is all Democratic, except for T. Bryan McIntire, who represents the conservatives in northern Baltimore County.

Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend could never gain traction in the county because her campaign ignored it too long.

But look for Baltimore County -- the state's third-largest county in population -- to emerge as a must-win for statewide candidates. And fortunately for Democrats, it is heading their way.

Thomas E. Quirk

Catonsville

The poor, children are the real losers

Although it may seem that the Democrats were the losers in this year's election, the real losers are those who had no voice in the election.

Children cannot vote, and they will suffer under Republican rule. The most impoverished schools in the nation will continue to rot away.

A handful of middle-class children will receive vouchers for private schools, but the poorest will sink deeper into economic despair.

And the Republican philosophy of taking from the poor and giving to the rich will have devastating consequences for our nation. The wealthy will enjoy huge tax breaks while the poor will continue to suffer.

And thousands of innocent people have died and will die in Iraq because of the Republicans' pro-war mentality.

Do they deserve this? No more than the victims of the Sept. 11 attacks deserved their fate.

Mariam J. Gregorian

Silver Spring

Bellicose tactics only extend terror

While beating the drums of war against Iraq for developing weapons of mass destruction, including biological and chemical weapons, the Bush administration last year refused to support an inspection agreement that was hammered out over many years by members of the 1972 Biological Weapons Convention.

That's why "negotiators hoping to protect the world against germ warfare are trying to pick up the pieces a year after the United States shocked other countries by backing out of an enforcement system" ("Enforcement of germ-warfare pact considered," Nov. 11).

Add to this the fact that the Bush administration almost single-handedly thwarted a special U.N. conference's call to limit the weapons trade to unstable regions, has unilaterally withdrawn from international agreements limiting the proliferation of nuclear weapons and is preparing to resume testing nuclear weapons.

In choosing violence as the principal means for getting its own way in the world and fighting a "war on terror," the Bush administration is making terror endless.

Susan Norris Rose

Columbia

Housing Authority supports new starts

I agree with the writer of the letter "Housing agency lacks belief in second chances" (Nov. 11) that the Rev. Lonnie J. Davis Sr.'s transformation from homeless addict to key advocate for the homeless in Baltimore is truly an inspiration to us all. But the writer's assertion that the Housing Authority of Baltimore City (HABC) doesn't believe in second chances couldn't be further from the truth.

HABC doesn't offer housing to ex-offenders because it is directed not to do this by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, not because it is uncaring.

In fact, HABC's Division of Resident Services assists many of Baltimore's neediest citizens with literacy programs, computer and job training, GED preparation, youth development and day care services -- which provide residents a chance to move from poverty to self-sufficiency.

And HABC's sister agency, Baltimore City's Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), was so inspired by Pastor Davis that it helped fund his nonprofit organization, I Can Inc., which currently operates three city shelters.

Pastor Davis was also recently asked to serve on the Mayor's Commission on Homelessness.

HABC and HCD believe in second chances not only in theory but also in practice. We rely on our many partners, including Pastor Davis, to utilize available public and private resources to assist the needy in Baltimore when we cannot.

And we salute them.

Paul T. Graziano

Baltimore

The writer is Baltimore's housing commissioner.

Losing faith in city's mayor

I take exception to The Sun consistently printing letters from people outside Baltimore praising Mayor Martin O'Malley for a job well done. If people in Glen Burnie, Towson, Perry Hall, Severn, etc. think he is so great, they should elect him as their county executive.

I am a native Baltimorean who has have lived here for 48 years. Without a doubt, the present mayor is the worst I have seen.

Although his campaign promise was that we should let him follow his clear vision on crime, he seems to change his game plan on murder and crime every month.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out how to stop crime in East and West Baltimore: Take the cops out of the cars and put them on every corner.

My block has been advertised in the Washington papers as a model for commuters to move to.

But so far this year we have had four break-ins, I have been robbed of $5 with a gun held to my head, there are rats the size of cats in my back alley, standing water (for mosquitoes to breed in) sits near the nearby train tunnels and two sewage breaks have occurred within two miles of my house.

And I live in one of the city's better neighborhoods, where I must pay an additional $125 for a "benefits district."

Many people in the city are losing faith in Mr. O'Malley.

James T. Aguirre

Baltimore

Even abusive priests deserve care, mercy

The Catholic Church has come under fire because of the scandal concerning sexual abuse by priests.

American bishops, in their desire to remedy the situation, drafted a document that is alarming to many because its severity seems to contradict the Christian ethic of love and forgiveness, which is the foremost teaching of Jesus Christ ("Bishops to revisit policy on sex abuse," Nov. 11).

Jesus commands us to "Love thy neighbor." Who is our neighbor? Everyone -- saints and sinners alike, even those priests who have abused our children and brought shame to our church.

This teaching of Jesus puts us in a challenging position. Yet it is what we are called to uphold.

Yes, these priests committed heinous acts; yes, we should be concerned about the innocent victims; yes, we should prevent further abuse by reporting them to the police. But should we reject these men? I'm afraid this may be what is happening.

Let us leave the legal judgment of these men to the civil authorities. My concern is for their reconciliation and healing, for they are still beloved children of God, as we all are.

I am pleased that the Vatican, in its review of the sexual abuse policy drafted by the U.S. bishops, has showed that it shares my concern for these men.

The Gospel preaches the merciful bounty of God; we can be made new when we seek the mercy of God and call on the transforming power of Jesus.

Is this message not also for those who have committed sexual abuse?

Susan Crowley

Westminster

Making religion a force for good

As religious conflicts divide neighbors and nations and terrorism shapes our lives, many people see religion as a force of divisiveness and violence, rather than unity and peace.

But this weekend in Baltimore, the North American Forum on the Catechumenate is hosting its Fourth International Convocation, which is dedicated to building bridges of understanding across all faiths.

Rabbis, priests, imams and other religious leaders from around the world will come together to explore the many religious and cultural traditions that are part of our shared experience and identify ways we can work together.

This year's convocation underscores the fact that what unites us is greater than what divides us. Jews, Catholics and Muslims are united by a fundamental belief in the dignity of human life and the call to social responsibility. All three religions believe human beings are created by God and therefore that each person has an intrinsic dignity and sacredness that must be respected.

Embracing the value and dignity of human life is our best chance to stand against the bullets and bombs of those who twist religious belief to serve their own selfish purposes.

We also share a commitment to taking social action to improve the world. Our traditions teach us that we become like God only by living a life of compassion, kindness, patience and love.

Our challenge today is to turn these common values into positive action.

By acting on our common religious beliefs, we can bring people of all faiths together -- and transform religion into a force for good.

Rabbi Jack Bemporad

Secaucus, N.J.

The writer directs the Center for Inter-religious Understanding.