Family violence issues seen in welfare reformI agree with...

Family violence issues seen in welfare reform

I agree with state Sen. Martin Madden that Marylanders should be proud to be among the 15 states to adopt the family violence option, which is part of the federal welfare reform bill.

Shamefully, the success of welfare reform may be measured by the increased need for organizations such as the Domestic Violence Center, unless we have more domestic violence training programs under the Violence Against Women Act.

This is not a new issue.

Twenty years ago, a college conducted a study among African-American women working or seeking employment. One of the hypotheses of the study done among African-American women was that "work appears to create some tensions and anxieties between black women and their husbands or close male relationships."

The participants indicated, when asked to list three most significant deterrents preventing a working woman from attaining higher job success, that the role of the male appeared often in the response.

The literature indicated that an overwhelming number of women of all races perceived the attitudes and behavior of the male as one of the important problems with their working, especially in the area of money management and decision-making.

Women often found it necessary to assume a subordinate position in order to maintain harmony in the relationship.

Fifteen percent of those women studied stated that they had to make a special effort not to offend their husbands and male companions with their newfound independence.

If females are employed and their male significant others are not, or if the females make more money than the males, there is often friction.

As more and more women are successful in entering the job market, we can predict that there will be a rise in family and domestic violence. Unfortunately, this is the down side of the success of family independence.

Delroy Cornick

Columbia

The writer is a board member of the Howard County Department of Social Services and associate director of the Center for the Study of Alternative Futures, Inc.

Ode to a cloverleaf

As I travel down beautiful Route 99 in Howard County

What to my wondering eyes do I see

A few small animals dead, where there use to be a tree.

A mile or so ahead, a larger animal lying dead

I think it was once a graceful deer

What the heck, there'll will be more next year.

Could it be happening because we all need more houses and roads faster

That's what the County Council votes, they should know what's best

Because they speak for all the rest.

I have to keep silent for what I think or what I want.

We don't need trees, farms or land

It's asphalt the County Council thinks is grand.

I hope when I am dead I will be on a hill with a few small animals.

A deer and a tree and not a skyscraper built next to me.

Barbara Brookhart

Ellicott City

Give Elvis a break

I found myself reading Kevin Cowherd's diary (August 14) of Elvin Presley's final days twice. I am still at a loss as to the purpose of the piece. It has been 20 years since the king of rock and roll has passed away.

Judging from Mr. Cowherd's photo, I would guess that Mr.

Presley's fruitful years were in my era, not his.

While, I was not a huge fan of Elvis -- James Dean's poster was the one on the wall of my bedroom -- I was mature enough to appreciate Elvis' talents then, even more so now.

No one can deny the sadness and emotional problems that unfortunately Elvis' greatness caused. However, after all these years, isn't it time to show a little sensitivity to his personal downfall and focus our thoughts of him in a more positive light?

Elvis Presley does live on, in the magic of his songs.

Jo Ann Samels

Columbia

Pub Date: 8/24/97