Poor HeadlineI was appalled by The Sun's choice of...

Poor Headline

I was appalled by The Sun's choice of headline ("Leading The Blind," May 16) for Suzanne Wayson's thoughtful letter about problems at the Maryland School for the Blind.

The full reference is to Matthew 15:14: "They are like blind guides of blind men. But if a blind man guide a blind man, both fall into a pit."

The contemporary phrasing, "the blind leading the blind," whether interpreted literally or metaphorically, has equally derogatory connotations.

I suspect the headline writer thought it witty.

Rather, it is a sophomoric allusion which perpetuates a stereotype -- that blind individuals are inept, unfit, unable. And even comic, groping their way through life.

Such demeaning references are comparable to racial or gender slurs. Remember media's mockery of racial minorities and feminists?

Oh, that clever watermelon wit and boob buffoonery! Heard any "lame" jokes lately? Or "deaf and dumb" stories?

At the risk of appearing "too PC," may I recommend those at The Sun responsible for creating headlines demonstrate a professional respect for all individuals, whatever our physiological characteristics.

Marilynn J. Phillips

Hampstead

The writer is associate professor of English and language arts (retired) at Morgan State University and a researcher in disability studies.

'Rhetoric of Hate'

Tom Horton opened his April 29 column with, "What's it like trying to be a Republican and care about the environment?"

In the same paper, Daniel Berger wrote about "Rush Limbaugh and to a lesser extent such locals as Ron Smith." He accused them both of "slander."

On April 28, Roger Simon wrote these incredible words, "Make no mistake: If Rush Limbaugh could make more money as a liberal New Ager, he would paint his hair purple and get his eyebrows pierced tomorrow." (Pierced eyebrows?)

I don't know if so many cheap shots are a sign of desperation within the liberal community or whether liberals actually believe these wild accusations, which are based on nothing factual.

Mr. Horton would have us believe that Republicans do not care about the environment. He knows perfectly well that every sane person cares about the environment.

What he actually means is that anyone who does not favor extreme legislation to rectify nonexistent environmental problems, therefore, does not care about the environment.

Mr. Berger brings up the usual liberal unsubstantiated charge of slander against Rush Limbaugh. Mr. Limbaugh's record speaks for itself.

If Mr. Berger knows of specific instances of slander, let's hear about them. We, who listen to Mr. Limbaugh, know why Mr. Berger can't be specific any more than other liberal charges against Limbaugh can be specified or substantiated.

Mr. Simon made the cheapest and most disappointing charge of the three. I read his column regularly; and, although I usually disagree with him, I enjoy his humor and have always felt that he was more fair than his liberal counterparts. I now know that this is not true.

His charge that Mr. Limbaugh is working only for the money could easily be made against anyone who makes money. There is not a shred of evidence to support such a statement.

Mr. Limbaugh has been loyal to the conservative cause throughout his career. No one who listens to Mr. Limbaugh could ever, for a moment, believe such trash against him.

Ironically our president, whom Mr. Simon says he is "proud of," has given evidence of doing what Mr. Simon accuses Mr. Limbaugh of. He has, to the dismay of many liberals, switched philosophies on a number of issues -- perhaps not for money but certainly for political expediency.

Let me say to the Messrs. Horton, Berger and Simon: Gentlemen, please, can't we tone down this rhetoric of hate?

James R. Kniss

Aberdeen

MSB: Accountable?

Unless The Sun published two different articles regarding Maryland School for the Blind on April 17, I take serious exception to Ron Goetzke's letter published on May 15.

The article I read may very well have raised some serious questions about MSB and its current administration and finances, but it certainly allowed the president and chairman of the board what seems to have been "equal time" to respond.

In response to Mr. Goetzke's question, "Did the reporter talk to anyone besides laid off or disgruntled employees?," the article I read related interviews with a legislator in Annapolis who was quite angry with an administration that was seemingly playing dodge ball with his inquiries on MSB's finances -- not an unreasonable request on his part in that the state legislature approves funding of approximately 80 percent of MSB's multimillion dollar annual budget.

Education professionals from several counties, responsible for referring students from their respective districts, expressed serious reservations about additional referrals to MSB because of the loss of so many of the school's professionals who were either terminated or left voluntarily because their professionalism would not allow them to continue in a negative and chaotic environment.