While I totally agree with The Sun's concern about politicians using taxpayer-funded programs to promote themselves, I think using Baltimore County State's Attorney Scott Shellenberger and the state's attorney's office's anti-drug poster contest as an example of this is way off base ("Just say Shellenberger," editorial, June 16).
I've had the good fortune to be involved with this program for nearly 20 years and I can honestly say it is one of the most successful and positive programs Baltimore County has ever conducted. Thousands of middle-school students have participated in this poster contest and put into poster form their anti-drug messages to their peers.
This is exactly the type of program we need to help reinforce our message that kids should be alcohol-, tobacco- and drug-free.
This program started under former Baltimore County State's Attorney Sandra A. O'Connor. And to his credit, it has continued under the current state's attorney, Mr. Shellenberger.
If Mr. Shellenberger were one of the politicians looking for free press, he would have started his own program. But he cared enough about the kids to support a program that works.
Mike Gimbel, Timonium
The writer is a former director of Baltimore County's Office of Substance Abuse.
Courts must check power to imprison
The writers of the letters "Justices usurp president's power" and "Need one more conservative judge" (June 17) seem to overlook that the prisoners in question are suspects.
The men held on U.S. property at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, are suspected of being terrorists or "illegal enemy combatants."
The Bush administration's circular logic is that anyone it deems an illegal enemy combatant is therefore not eligible to question the legality of his or her own detention.
President Bush has reserved for the executive branch the authority to determine who is an illegal enemy combatant, and that includes U.S. citizens.
The basic protection of habeas corpus rights assures us that the president must operate within the law. We lose our moral bearings if he is allowed to imprison people without charge at his whim.
David Schwartz, Baltimore
Old doors open new era at BMA
My check is literally in the mail to the Baltimore Museum of Art now that it has announced its intention to reopen the original entrance ("BMA announces fundraising campaign," June 16).
Just as years ago I honored my vow to restore my membership when the original frames were reinstalled on the Cone Collection treasures, I once again, joyfully, will become a museum member in celebration of this reopening.
I clearly remember the first time I visited the museum, more than 40 years ago, climbing the grand stairs and being awed as I crossed the threshold into this breathtaking John Russell Pope-designed masterpiece.
And I very much look forward to making a brand new memory.
Donna Beth Joy Shapiro, Baltimore
