Jackson was a major figure
In response to Patricia Schenk's letter concerning Michael Jackson's coverage in the Sunpaper (Readers respond, June 28), I think that she hasn't considered all the facts.
While I enjoyed watching Charlie's Angels, and I thought that Farrah Fawcett's poster was hot for its time, she was mostly a sex symbol. I sympathized with her struggle with cancer, but she was way of out the league when it comes to Mr. Jackson.
Mr. Jackson was a singer, a songwriter, a dancer, a performer. His album Thriller is still the best-selling album of all time. He has given money to charities and entertained children at his ranch. Yet when it came to his personal life off the stage, it seemed he had very low self esteem.
Michael's music got MTV to start playing black artists' music. He was indeed an important national figure who led a tragic off-stage life.
Joseph Kortash, Catonsville
Where's the rest of the news?
I am willing to concede that Michael Jackson was an iconic entertainer to many people. However, I find that the news coverage of his death has gone beyond anything reasonable.
For 48 hours-plus the public had little news of the turmoil in Iran and the impending health care issues, not to mention the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. In addition, the members of the U.S. House of Representatives chose to have a moment of silence in his memory. I find this reprehensible. Where are our elected officials' priorities?
Dovey Kahn
Obama's free ride
Paul West had a page two article last week in which he includes President Obama's comment that his daughter is flying in folks for her birthday pool party ("Obama loves Camp David, but daughters' schedules come 1st," June 25). Wow, since it says that it is the daughter who is flying her friends in, she must get one whopping allowance.
It really is a shame, however, that this didn't happen during the Bush administration. That way Mr. West would have had a front page article. You know, with a headline something like this: "Despite recession, Bush flies in daughter's friends for lavish party."
Kenneth E. Gingery Jr., Millsboro, Del.
How did Marylanders vote?
Your article, "House narrowly OKs energy-climate measure" (June 27) makes no mention of how the Maryland delegation voted on this important matter.
I think most readers want to know how their representatives voted.
I got the broad picture on the Friday night TV news; I read a newspaper for more complete and detailed information.
You let your readers down with your strictly national, generalized report.
Ted Bedford, Towson
