21st Century

"All In" is the title of the David Petraeus biography, and no book is more aptly titled. His caree is now in a shambles because he made a big, disasterous bet -- having an affair with co-author Paula Broadwell -- and it led to his resignation as CIA director. The affair also sullies the book by Broadwell and Washington Post editor Vernon Loeb, which was highly praised. The prurient may read it, for clues to the Petraeus/Broadwell relationship. But how can anyone else now believe it is an objective account of his personality and leadership?

The year is 2012. Isn't it about time the state of Maryland came up with some name a bit more 21st century than "Orphan's Court"? What a hillbilly name for a court in a supposedly up to date state! Douglas B. Hermann, Parkville

Dan Rodricks had a great column ("Scary storms in the age of information," Oct. 30) and I could not agree more. When will we begin to have a serious discussion about making the proper investments in improving our infrastructure as it relates to how we receive our power in Maryland? Recent climatic events clearly point to the need for us to do something other than "kick the can down the road. " I agree with Mr. Rodricks when he points out that climate scientists observe, "we have sufficiently damaged the atmosphere in a way that will make such events more common and more deadly.

Both GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney and former governor Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. appear to be totally ignorant of the complexities of the Middle East in the 21st century, and, indeed, of U.S. history in general ("The Obama doctrine: Passivity where leadership is needed," Oct. 14). In the 1980s, pursuing a "contain the USSR at any cost" policy, we armed and trained the Afghan insurgents fighting Soviet occupation. These "freedom fighters," we now know, were the Taliban, who perpetrated some of the most horrific cultural and humanitarian crimes of the late 20th century and enabled the rise of al-Qaeda, which was responsible for the deaths of over 3,000 Americans on 9/11 and continues to kill American soldiers in Afghanistan.

Kemba Smith Pradia went to Tallahassee, Fla., last week to demand the right to vote. Back in the '90s, when she was just Kemba Smith, she became a poster child for the excesses and inanities of the so-called War on Drugs. Ms. Pradia, then a college student in Virginia, became involved with, and terrorized by, a man who choked and punched her regularly and viciously. By the impenetrable logic of battered women, she thought it was her fault. The boyfriend was a drug dealer. Pradia never handled drugs, never used drugs, never sold drugs.

On Oct. 2, two writers to The Sun published articles supporting their position against Question 6, the ballot measure dealing with same-sex marriage ("Catholic on marriage equality: Right sentiment, wrong conclusion" and "Opposing gay marriage: It's not about hate"). As someone who was educated for 16 years in Roman Catholic schools, I feel strongly that the very foundation of their arguments, the definition of traditional marriage, is a myth. First, traditionally marriage was not between one man and one woman.

Charlesmont Elementary in Dundalk chose Sept. 14, the anniversary of the bombardment of Fort McHenry, to launch its War of 1812 interactive learning center. The students held a flag ceremony and demonstrated how they are mastering 19th-century history with an assist from 21st-century technology. The school's one-stop resource center offers materials to engage children and adults in the history of the War of 1812. The computer lab, a project of Maryland Public Television, the National Park Service, Friends of Fort McHenry and the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority, features interactive role-playing games and provides educators with lesson plans and electronic field trips.

A few years ago, it was fashionable for Democratsto describe themselves as "members of the reality-based community. " These days, it seems the foreclosure crisis has hit them so hard they've been forced to move to another neighborhood. Metaphorically, at least, they've set up a refugee camp in Charlotte this week. In this political Brigadoon, things are going well in America, so well in fact that President Barack Obama obviously deserves a second term because Americans are better off than they were four years ago, and that the Republican Party is little more than a haven for old-fashioned robber barons who think like Klansmen but dress like Mr. Monopoly.

Once, years ago, while explaining the art of spiritual healing, a wise woman taught: "You can't speak of the spirit to someone lying in a wet bed. " Before invoking the awesome, the ethereal, the Ultimate, we have to change the sheets. The same holds true on a global scale. How can we speak about things of the spirit, about caring for each other, about peace and kindness and justice and mercy, when the world we are mucking around in is a mess? Healthy bodies and healthy cultures do not thrive in sick environments.

It's apparent that there are many problems in Baltimore's water system as managed by the Department of Public Works. The situation in the field is way out of date, and the entire billing system should be computerized. At most other locations in the country, water districts have interior water meters with electronic exterior readouts and have had them for the past 15 to 20 years. This arrangement is accompanied by a shut-off valve on the water service lateral located at the property line at the street.