baltimoresun.com - Readers Respond

Principals must be instructors, managers

Sun, 8 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Before I was elected to Congress, I served for seven years in the Maryland State Department of Education as a liaison to the Baltimore City Public Schools. During that time, I came to appreciate that a key component for creating a successful school was having a principal who is a strong instructional leader. So I was very pleased to see the discussion that played out over the last week in The Baltimore Sun regarding the role of principals in our schools ("Power to the principals," Oct. 28, and "Principals need more support," Readers respond, Oct. 30).

Nuclear is clean power

Sun, 8 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Allison Fisher's letter to the editor arguing that development of nuclear power "thwarts efforts to develop a clean energy sector" almost made me spit out my morning coffee (Readers respond, Nov. 6).

No matter how you drink, you shouldn't drive

Sun, 8 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

I could not disagree more with Sarah Longwell's op-ed "MADD's ignition interlock proposal goes too far" (Nov. 4).

Pregnancy centers deserve support, not harassment

Fri, 6 Nov 2009 13:03:00 -0500

We at Priests for Life agree with Archbishop O'Brien on the City Council's misguided attempt to impede the work of pregnancy resource centers ("Don't punish pro-lifers," Nov. 5). One of the most encouraging facts about the pro-life effort in our country is that there are far more pregnancy resource centers (over 2,300) than there are abortion mills (about 740). The centers used to be called "crisis pregnancy centers" and were often advertised with the promise of free pregnancy tests. Now, the more common term is "pregnancy resource centers," and the range of services provided goes far beyond pregnancy testing and includes the services of fully licensed medical clinics.

Gays must endure civil rights by popular vote

Fri, 6 Nov 2009 00:58:00 -0500

Thanks to Gerry Jones for showing Baltimore the true face of bigotry ("Maine rejects 'deviant lifestyle,'" Readers respond, Nov. 6). I have a clue for Mr. Jones since he so desperately needs it: We gay and lesbian Americans are tax-paying citizens and will not tolerate being second-class citizens in our own country. We are the only minority whose rights are subject to a popular vote. To those who think that is a great idea I have a question: How many people think the Civil Rights Act of 1964 or the Voting Rights Act of 1965 would have passed a popular vote in states like Maryland in the mid-'60s?

Letter shows heart of prejudice against gay community

Fri, 6 Nov 2009 10:50:00 -0500

I was disturbed Friday morning after reading Gerry Jones' letter to the editor about the Maine voters' decision to repeal their Marriage Equality law ("Vote rejects 'deviant lifestyle,'" Readers respond, Nov. 6).

To win, GOP must look beyond its base

Fri, 6 Nov 2009 10:46:00 -0500

As a an independent voter in Harford County I was interested to read Chris Meekins op-ed in which he blamed the Republican Party's trouble on moderates and liberals in the party ("Republican moderates to blame for party's troubles," Nov. 5).

Interlock could kill more than it saves

Fri, 6 Nov 2009 10:35:00 -0500

I could not disagree more with Elizabeth Petro's letter titled "It doesn't matter how you drink, you shouldn't drive" (Readers respond, Nov. 5).

City Council harassment

Thu, 5 Nov 2009 00:07:00 -0500

The Baltimore City Council should reject its bill to require crisis pregnancy centers to post signs saying they do not provide abortions. These centers provide help for women seeking it. This legislation is just another attempt at harassment by organizations that provide abortion services.

It doesn't matter how you drink, you shouldn't drive

Thu, 5 Nov 2009 11:15:00 -0500

I could not disagree more with Sarah Longwell's op-ed "MADD's ignition interlock proposal goes to far" (November 4).