Disney boycotted for wrong reasons
The boycott against Disney is well deserved -- though not for the bigoted and prejudicial reasons given.
Disney deserves to be boycotted because it ran from American workers to Haiti, where a big 37 cents per hour is paid to Haitian workers.
Savilla Teiger
Baltimore
Socratic method is not discriminatory
As an attorney, I could not let your recent article (`Socratic method still debated,'' June 9) concerning attacks on the Socratic method of teaching law students go without comment.
I can point to no more fitting debate in this time of education crisis. As some fight the notion that the dumbing down of academic standards is good for women and minorities, it is rather disconcerting to read of Prof. Lani Guinier's condemnation of the Socratic method as anti-women (similar to ''ritualized combat`) and unfair in that it keeps women and minorities off balance.
If such a view advanced by a white male colleague, it would no doubt lead to charges of ''racism'' and ''insensitivity.` To me, this would be the logical conclusion to a charge derived from the premise that women and minorities are unfairly intimidated or ill prepared to handle a teaching method that places a premium on daily preparation and the ability to think on one's feet.
I trust your readers can fully differentiate between true discrimination and the obvious need for future attorneys to prepare their cases and think under extreme pressure. Only when such a distinction is lost or muddled do the forces of political correctness win their seemingly unending battle against objective standards of excellence.
Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr.
Washington, D.C.
MA The writer represents Maryland's 2nd congressional district.
Political correctness killing the military
As a retired non-commissioned officer, I get sick when I feel I am watching the slow but sure demise of the U.S. military as an effective fighting organization.
Enemy action hasn't started this downward trend, the adherents of ''political correctness'' have. Most of the individuals following this doctrine, of course, have had little or no military experience and/or service. Under their ''guidance'' our troops are finding out they are just another huge ''social experiment."
After thoroughly fouling-up an effective training system, one which had been a success for more than 50 years, they have changed the whole thing into a battle of the sexes. Now our combat people also have to worry about ''offending'' anyone, sexual harassment (God forbid), uttering ''ethnic'' phrases (tell our Polish folks that one), using ''nasty'' language (well, Gosh Darn), who they last slept with (who cares?), and (heaven forbid) being ''insensitive'' even to the post dog.
Our future wars (and there will be such things) will have to be fought with down-sized forces with the morale to match. Oh, sure, we'll win in the end, but it will cost lives, many lives.
A lot of our sharp, young officers and our older NCOs will be long gone by the time this happens. What's left will do their best but, hamstrung by childish civilian/social laws and with discipline shot, they'll have a rough time indeed.
Robert F. Kennedy
Catonsville
Pit bull dogs not as bad as name
The June 13 column by Dan Rodricks, ''Some dogs pose a threat to civilized society,'' was sensationalized and misleading.
I happen to be a ''woman'' who chooses to own an American pit bull terrier. And I do keep mine unmuzzled. I certainly could not muzzle my male Sampson when we visited nursing-home patients as volunteers with Pets on Wheels.
Mr. Rodricks should have done more thorough research before bashing a whole breed of dog. If he had, he would know people-aggressiveness is not allowed in the breed. It is an undesirable trait that truly responsible breeders won't allow in their blood lines.
American pit bull terriers are very intelligent, agile, clownish and willing to please their owner. Unfortunately, in the mid-'80s the breed became popular with unscrupulous owners who took advantage of these traits and misused them. These individuals bred dogs for aggressiveness and often abused and did not socialize the dog.
The problem with aggressive dogs is not normally a dog problem but a people problem. The popularity of so-called ''bad breeds'' is cyclical. The Doberman pinscher, German shepherd, American pit bull terrier and Akita have either had or are experiencing this popularity.
Mr. Rodricks did a disservice to the majority of owners of American pit bull terriers who are responsible, caring and loving owners. Our breed has been in this country since the 1800s and its reputation has been severely hurt in the last 12 years by reporting such as this.
Maribeth J. Saffron
Pikesville
Betty Shabazz is remembered
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The death of Dr. Betty Shabazz is deeply felt.
Suffering and struggle were no strangers to Dr. Shabazz, but strength was her overcomer. Whatever the circumstances surrounding her death, her life stands as a testimony to perseverance.
McNair Taylor
Baltimore
