I hope more can be done to force students to take school seriously with negative consequences when they won't even try. Allowing them all to pass just encourages the next group to take the same path to easy success - take the bridge project so you don't have to worry about passing the HSA test.
Irwin Neil, Baltimore County
What would parents think?
As the parent of a University of Maryland College Park graduate, I certainly understand the rousing response President Obama received from the students as he promoted his health care plan ("Obama stirs UM," Sept. 18). The majority of these students are enjoying the college life courtesy of their parents' wallets. A more telling venue would be a Comast Center filled with the parents of these students. These would be the parents who foot the bill for tuition, health care and expenses. Don't forget to throw in the part about the dependent children being covered by their parents' health care plan until they are 26 years of age. I doubt the reaction to President Obama's speech would be quite so enthusiastic.
Ellen Kearney, Elkridge
Race, Obama and the sword
I agree with President Jimmy Carter's statements that racism is an undercurrent of the vehement protests against President Obama.
In Baltimore we see it in the reaction to the killing of a burglar by a Johns Hopkins student. Envision this: A white man from Highlandtown intrudes into the backyard of a house rented by Morgan State University students. A student races out with a samurai sword and slashes the intruder, who bleeds to death.
Would Fox News report immediately afterward that a poll showed 100 percent of respondents believed the killing was justified? Would follow-up commentary focus on the burglar's prior convictions? Or would there be more attention given to the Morgan student's violent reaction?
It is the same question as "Would the protests against Obama be the same if his father, as well as his mother, had been white?"
Barbara Cutko
What's wrong with criticizing the president?
When one votes for and elects a president, one does not surrender all rights to object to any of the president's proposals. It does not mean the objector is a racist. While some racists certainly do exist in the group, it can't be said that the tag applies to all. There are many well read and well informed citizens and voters who express concerns on issues and deserve respect for their views.
Richard L. Lelonek, Baltimore
