Screen painting is part of Baltimore
For the record, screen painting is neither "long gone" (Philip Brendel, April 20) nor is it experiencing "a revival" (Brenda Buote, April 5). As Ben Richardson observed in the documentary film, "The Screen Painters," "It's not the art that's dying, it's the painters."
Fortunately, a handful of dedicated dabblers have kept screen art alive for more than eight decades. Baltimoreans still demand painted screens and more recently they have been appreciated far afield.
Screens have never been considered "kitsch" in their native Baltimore, but rather a colorful and practical solution to the proximity of sidewalk to home. They continue to be a quintessential folk art -- designed, produced and used within a community, namely the rowhouse neighborhoods of Baltimore.
Aware of vanishing Baltimore traditions, the Painted Screen Society has since 1985 kept screen painting and painters in the public eye through apprenticeships, exhibitions, films, publications and workshops. Each hands-on class aims to encourage at least one student to continue the tradition. A how-to video will be available later this spring.
Our next goal is a permanent home in Canton to house our museum, archives and school.
Elaine Eff
Baltimore
FDR's hiding disability seen as commendable
Thank you for printing Mona Charen's well-phrased April 28 column on FDR.
I have been using a walker for several years now. I hate it because it labels me as disabled.
When cameras come out and flashes pop, I make sure I am far away from the dreaded walker. I do not feel disabled because I can do many things and I keep my brain honed. Because of a spinal problem, my legs refuse to cooperate.
My good friends and family ignore my problem, but, as with FDR, I dislike the fact that others and even my grandchildren identify me with my walker. At times I must use a wheelchair, but I quickly sideline it when I can.
I sympathize with those who have greater disabilities than mine, but I wince when they make outrageous demands. Ms. Charen is right when she says that FDR "can only be understood within the context of his time. We should be lauding him for trying to appear 'normal.' "
The disabled, however serious, are "whole" people who can contribute much to society, if only to make others inspired by their strengths.
C. Hrybyk
Linthicum
No sympathy for Aberdeen sergeant
I am disgusted by those who would support Sgt. Delmar G. Simpson, as if he is the victim who has done nothing wrong.
He is a married man, the father of two children, and yet admits to having had sex with all of these women. This is commonly known as adultery.
For that alone he should be thrown out of the Army, which is supposed to represent honor and character. Sergeant Simpson has neither.
Joanne Backof
Baltimore
New state welfare law fair to drug abusers
We write to set the record straight on the actions we and the General Assembly took on issues affecting Marylanders in need.
Advocates for the poor were invited to testify before the Appropriations Committee on their priority issues at the outset of the legislative session. We were responsive to three of their principal concerns.
The legislation concerning earned income makes more money available to the working poor and people moving from welfare to work by not counting a portion of their earned income when calculating the amount of their welfare benefits. We increased from 20 percent to 26 percent the portion of someone's income that is disregarded.
Second, we made additional operating funds available to non-profit organizations that provide housing for low- and moderate-income citizens with the enactment of House Bill 1037. Third, we did not require that individuals take a drug test as a condition for receiving cash assistance.
Welfare has fundamentally changed with the enactment by Congress of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act.
That law requires the 32,400 Marylanders now receiving welfare benefits to be working or participating in vocational or on-the-job training by Jan. 1, 1999.
Those parents who are substance abusers will not be able to find a job. Nor will they be able to provide proper care for their children.
The Welfare Innovation Act of 1997, adopted by overwhelming margins in both houses of the General Assembly, gives them the opportunity to address their addiction. However, if they do not accept this responsibility and fail to comply with an appropriate drug treatment program, steps will be taken to protect the well-being of their children.
This legislation seeks to stabilize poor families headed by drug-dependent parents and to steer taxpayers' dollars to needy children, rather than to their parents' drug habits. Thus, the first priority when someone applies for assistance is to help them find work.
