Battered Arafat has no capacity to stop Hamas
The Sun's editorial "Forgotten flashpoint?" (Nov. 26) fails entirely to point out that the Palestinian Authority has for all intents and purposes been destroyed in recent months by Israel's military. It is questionable whether Yasser Arafat can get a toilet to work, much less take on Hamas and Islamic Jihad as The Sun urges.
In fact, Israel's attacks on the Palestinian Authority have helped strengthen Hamas.
Mr. Arafat and his regime are corrupt, but to expect them, in their battered state, to pursue a civil war betrays a fundamental misunderstanding both of what is possible and of the on-the-ground consequences of the recent heavy-handed military actions by Israeli occupation forces.
The Sun is right, however, that the Bush administration should take a more active part in pursuing Palestinian-Israeli peace. Yet President Bush has failed altogether in this respect. And American taxpayers should not stand for billions of dollars in new aid going to the Sharon government to complete its colonization of the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem.
This aid would not advance the cause of peace. But it would help convince Mr. Sharon that the United States is not serious about a political resolution to the conflict.
Michael F. Brown
Baltimore
Push Mideast peace, not GOP candidates
I think our president has his priorities mixed up.
Instead of campaigning ("President leading effort to unseat La. Democrat," Dec. 4), he should be leading the United States in the quest for peace in the Middle East.
Susan Shankroff
Towson
Extremists leave all of us vulnerable
Leonard Pitts Jr.'s column "What in the name of God are they doing?" (Opinion * Commentary, Dec. 1) questioned the rationale of the extremists and fundamentalists of this world who use their intolerance of other beliefs, plus their religion or beliefs, as an excuse for heinous atrocities.
His topic was the recent carnage heaped upon the people of Nigeria by Muslims because of a perceived insult. However, his observations would have been just as on target if he had been talking about anti-abortionists who murder doctors and set clinics on fire.
Or he could have easily been talking about Palestinians who seek to wipe out Israel in the name of Allah. Or all the Osama bin Ladens of the world who send young people out to kill other young people, and themselves, in the name of a religious being.
Zealots are impossible to reform or even educate. And the zealots today are more widespread and dangerous than ever because they are global in nature, well-funded and not always obvious.
We are all, therefore, very vulnerable.
Barbara Blumberg
Baltimore
Bonuses buttress arrogant image
The arrogance of the Bush administration never fails to amaze me. President Bush recently indicated he would not sign off on the salary increase promised to government employees because the money is needed to cover his "war on terror." Then, days later, he approved bonuses to political appointees who do his bidding ("Bonuses for political appointees are restored," Dec. 5). Some war on terror.
Mr. Bush's saber-rattling is simply to serve his rich oil buddies. This makes me ask, and I hope it will make other middle- and lower-class citizens ask, why should we pay for and send our kids to fight a war to make Mr. Bush's rich friends even richer.
I was a "Democrat for Ehrlich." But I will vote for any Democrat the party puts forward for president in 2004, even if it's Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, whom I despise.
Fred Furney
Baltimore
Mayor should be trimming his staff
In these times of austerity in Baltimore and elsewhere in the nation, I find it highly objectionable that Mayor Martin O'Malley has hired yet another person to his bloated staff ("Veteran of Capitol Hill to lead O'Malley's staff," Dec. 5).
We already have too many deputy mayors and other staff members making big salaries. I say enough is enough. The money would be much better spent on citizen safety or education or any number of other worthwhile things.
The mayor should be thinning his staff, not adding to it.
C.D. Wilmer
Baltimore
Jones is committed to students' future
I read with dismay the article "Educators see problem at the top"(Nov. 25). I was particularly concerned about the comments about Cassandra Jones, the city schools' chief academic officer, and her leadership style.
I have had the pleasure of interacting with Ms. Jones on several occasions regarding the curriculum and instructional program of the city schools. And I am highly impressed with her knowledge and commitment to the education of all students in our city.
For years, intellectually inferior students have made academically accelerated students feel awkward by staring them down for raising their hands and ridiculing them for having too many right answers. With our students' sagging test scores and dilapidated self-esteem, Baltimore's schools need a drum major for justice.
For the future of our city and our children, I pray Ms. Jones keeps raising her hand.
The Rev. Jamal-Harrison Bryant
Baltimore
The writer is pastor and founder of the Empowerment Temple.
Single-sex clubs pose no problem
Women should leave Augusta National Golf Club alone ("Par for the course," editorial, Nov. 15).
The International Health and Racquet Sports Association estimates that there are 2,000 women-only fitness centers in the United States serving approximately 2 million women. Why? I believe it's because women sometimes don't feel comfortable around men, especially when exercising.
The same is true for men. And if the club is privately owned, what's the problem?
If Augusta is forced to admit female members, then all those women-only health clubs should be open to men.
Michael Bass
Northeast
GOP subverted electoral process
In response to the writer who is "sickened that some are still crying over the 2000 election" ("Time to get past 2000 election fiasco," letters, Nov. 24), I ask: How can the writer so easily accept the subversion of our electoral process?
Under the 12th Amendment, Congress has the authority to settle electoral disputes - not the Supreme Court. And regardless of who ultimately got more votes in Florida, the fact is that President Bush and members of his party tried to block a recount at every turn and completely disregarded our democratic process.
I am not crying, but I am outraged, as every responsible American should be.
Joanne Backof
Baltimore