Respect

Editor: My heart just broke when I read the letter from Barbara Meadows about the total lack of respect that was shown to her family during the funeral procession for her father. As I was reading the letter, I was reminded of my fathers' funeral procession in 2003. As the procession made its way the 12 miles from the funeral home to his burial in my hometown, Fancy Farm, Kentucky, vehicles pulled off onto the shoulder of the road going in both directions on the two lane highway and some men even got out of their vehicles, took off their hats and put their hands over their hearts.

Sunday's NCAA Division III tournament final at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia will be the biggest stage for No. 4 Stevenson and No. 3 Rochester Institute of Technology as both programs will make their first appearance in a national title game. To get there, both teams had to get through their greatest enemies. The Mustangs (21-2) waylaid No. 12 Salisbury, 12-6, handing the reigning national champion its worst loss since an 11-5 setback to SUNY-Cortland on March 16, 2002.

As I entered the Mars grocery store parking lot in Aberdeen, I observed a gentleman having a very difficult time managing the flag because of the wind and the size of the flag. He was attempting to raise the flag. As a Veteran of Desert Storm and Patriot, I was disconcerted as I saw the flag touch the ground on three different occasions. I went to the customer service desk and requested to speak to a manager. I was so angry and almost in tears as I relayed the situation to him. I explained to the manager that there should have been two people raising the flag because of the wind.

Del. Jon Cardin's recent comment on bullying suggesting that "kids were hurting kids" while "parents and teachers hadn't a clue" was remarkable ("Journey in grief leads to new curbs on bullying," May 2). Where has Mr. Cardin been? As a mother of three since 1980, my children and I can attest to the escalation and prevalence of bullying over the past 30 years. Teacher training on bullying in all its forms, including cyber-bullying, is provided at the start of every school year. Anti-bullying assemblies are held annually.

If not for the tone of the answer from Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz, I would not have taken time to write. However, during a recent interview on WBAL radio, Mr. Kamenetz was questioned about his conversation with Constellation Energy Group Chief Executive OfficerMayo Shattuck. He was asked by the interviewer, "What did Mr. Shattuck tell you?" Mr. Kamenetz responded, "It's not what he told me, it is what I told him. " So now we have another elected official trying to call the shots for restoring electrical service.

Buzz won't last long Grahame L. Jones Los Angeles Times Consider the koi, a suitable comparison because Japan won the Women's World Cup. It now and then rises to the surface for a gulp of air, then sinks again into the depths. So it is with women's soccer every four years. The buzz of Germany 2011 will not be felt again until Canada 2015. By then, Women's Professional Soccer might have joined the dodo and WUSA, the previous attempt to make women's soccer fly in the U.S. So is there more respect than four weeks ago?

It looks like even The Sun has caught the Orioles malaise. When the Ravens win, they make the front page. When the Orioles win, they're only covered at the bottom of the Sports page, under the bold headlines about the latest Ravens draft acquisition. This is a team that shows a lot of promise, and it is baseball season. Come on guys, show a little respect! Jim Apgar

I read about state Sen. Andy Harris' decision to oppose the construction of the mosque in New York. Mr. Harris is simply siding with the American public, who seem to have been silenced recently on issues such as this and the Arizona immigration law. This country lacks leadership; the president continually takes positions that are the opposite of the citizens of the United States and expects us to follow suit. The Muslims do have the right to build the mosque. However, in defense of the families who lost their loved ones on 9/11, is it really a good idea to place a mosque, a religious space in which many of the terrorists held meetings before that horrible morning in 2001, so close to that graveyard?

I am not a big football fan and certainly not a Baltimore Ravens fan, but I did notice, during both playoff and Super Bowl performances, how Ray Lewis would have his hand over his heart and sing along with the national anthem. He was also, unashamedly, crying. From reading, I understand Mr. Lewis is deeply religious. I can't help but think that Mr. Lewis is very thankful that he was born and raised in the greatest country in the world, was able to attend free public schools, and excel at his chosen line of work!

Joe Flacco strolled into the cramped media room at the Under Armour Performance Center in Owings Mills looking like he had just signed a scorecard after a round of 18 holes, not the richest contract in league history. In the moment, he forgot to thank his agent, who was standing at his side, for negotiating his six-year extension and thank the Ravens for agreeing to give him $120.6 million. In between the several quality jokes he cracked, Flacco quipped that this was never about the money.

The Kentucky Derby, arriving seasonally as the mint is springing up, provides an excellent occasion for preparing and savoring a mint julep. So I offer you my recipe again this year. Do keep in mind that the julep is not some genteel lady's drink but a serious beverage that commands respect.  First, make sure to have decent bourbon in the house. Cheap stuff is too raw, and you probably don't want to use Booker's for this. Maker's Mark answers nicely, or Woodford Reserve if you're feeling particularly flush.  On no account use any ersatz bourbon from Tennessee.

Our nation has laid to rest another hero. Officer Sean Collier, police officer at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, was tragically killed in the events that led to the capture of the Boston Marathon bombers ("Slain MIT police officer remembered," April 25). At the young age of 27, Officer Collier had always wanted to be a police officer and chose to do so protecting the campus of MIT. At the Maryland Classified Employees Association, Inc., we have the honor of representing university police officers across the state from Salisbury University to Bowie State University and Frostburg State University.

Dr. Paul S. Lietman, a retired Johns Hopkins professor of medicine, pharmacology, molecular sciences and pediatrics, died of congestive heart failure April 20 at his Ruxton home. He was 79. "He was a gifted educator and was beloved by generations of Hopkins medical students," said Dr. Myron L. Weisfeldt, the medical school's chair and director of the Department Of Medicine. "He relished mentoring young colleagues and single-handedly recruited numerous young physicians. " He worked on drug development for HIV infections and herpes and was a pioneer in antiviral treatments, his medical colleagues said.

Voters in this week's election between Julia McCready and Alex Hekimian to represent Oakland Mills on the CA Board need to know a very important fact: a clear majority of the current OM Village Board members support Julia McCready, as do three former Board chairs. The reason is a matter of trust. Julia McCready is honest, upfront, and respectful. She works toward consensus and cooperative problem-solving. She is a creative, hardworking person who supports her community with her positive outreach and hands-on work.

Gov. Martin O'Malley has ordered the Maryland flag to be flown at half staff in memory of the victims of “the senseless acts of violence” at the Boston Marathon on Monday. The announcement follows a proclamation Tuesday from President Barack Obama, who ordered the U.S. flag flown at half-staff at federal buildings, military bases and embassies throughout the world “as a mark of respect” for the victims. The flags are to remain at half staff each day until sunset on Saturday.

There is much we don't know about Dr. Ben Carson's decision to withdraw as a commencement speaker for the Johns Hopkins schools of medicine and education. His recent comments in opposition to gay marriage, in which he compared homosexuality to pedophilia and bestiality, prompted a petition from some Hopkins students for him to be removed as a speaker. The dean of the Hopkins med school wrote a letter condemning the remarks, and Dr. Carson apologized. What happened between that series of events and his decision to step down - whether he faced additional pressure, by whom and how - will likely remain a mystery.

The furor over replacement officials gained strength Monday night when Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo had to instruct the crew working the preseason contest against the Oakland Raiders on where to spot the football. That came on the heels of a referee botching the coin toss of the Hall of Fame game between the Arizona Cardinals and New Orleans Saints and several officials failing to review turnovers, which is what they are supposed to do. The Ravens had their own encounter when the referee calling their preseason opener against the Atlanta Falcons called Atlanta “Arizona” over the microphone.

I do wonder how accepting and understanding the media, and especially the sports-going public, would be if instead of a white Christian, Tim Tebow was a black Muslim. ("Tebow wars: Give it a rest," Jan. 11.) Jim Jagielski

For an intense workout that requires strength, flexibility, technique and discipline, consider the Columbia Association's new mixed martial arts (MMA) classes. Classes in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and Muay Thai kickboxing began in February. Trainer Alvin Chan, who has a purple belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and is a former member of the World Kickboxing Association's U.S. Thai Boxing team, describes CA's foray into MMA as a “fun workout in a safe environment.” “It's the fastest growing sport in the world,” says Chan, a certified personal trainer who's worked for CA for 13 years and studied martial arts for 26 years.

In New York, where he was to be honored at Thursday night's Straight for Equality Gala, Brendon Ayanbadejo suggested to a local newspaper reporter that one of the reasons that he was cut by the Ravens was his outspoken advocacy for same-sex marriage - a suggestion he later distanced himself from on Twitter. “My bark is louder than my bite,” Ayanbadejo told Newsday. “I make a lot of noise and garner a lot of attention for various things off the football field. When that starts happening, why do you have that player around?