Women

Regarding Susan Reimer 's column on contraceptives and politics ("Women will remember in November," March 12), I'm sad to say but yes, women will remember. Even more sad is that the women have reacted to a disguised cause. Women's health is not the real issue here. Why did President Barack Obama choose to proclaim 100 percent coverage for just women's contraceptive? Why did he insist that the Catholic Church cover women's contraceptives in their affiliated institutions? Why not cover all women's medications at a rate of 100 percent?

Women 18 and older who are interested in participating in tackle football can give the sport a try in Harford County where a team is forming. No experience is necessary. and the team is also seeking coaches, male or female. Those interested in playing or coaching can call Debra Miller at 443-858-0156 or Sandra Hawthorne at 443-616-8186.

Jessica Valenti's op-ed "A war on women" (March 5) would have been better titled "A war on Republicans. " Abortion is not for women, it is for men! Men who engage in sexual acts forced or consensual and take no responsibility for the intercourse that could result in pregnancy. Abortion is not a choice, it is a consequence. The slogan "A woman's right to choose" is erroneous. Many women do not show up at abortion clinics because they choose. Most women did not willingly plan an unwanted pregnancy, did they?

I guess I'm not a part of the diverse voter bloc that delivered for President Barack Obama ("Diverse voter bloc delivers for Obama," Nov. 8). I am a woman but I'm past middle age, Jewish and not swayed by negative campaigning. I voted for Mitt Romney. Mignon Rosenthal, Pikesville

I found it very interesting that a reader wrote in about birth control and the economy and chastised Susan Reimer for making an issue of birth control ("Reimer wrong on birth control flap," March 13). The GOP is the one who was brought up the issues related to birth control at a time when the economy should be the topic on the news! It is ludicrous and completely demoralizing how the issue of health care for women has devolved into an argument about the rights of women to control their health, their bodies, their sexuality, etc. These men who hate women and want them to have no rights at all in this country are the ones the reader should be angry at, not Ms. Reimer.

In a recent op-ed, columnist Marta H. Mossburg tried to make a paradox out of liberals labeling the conservative effort to restrict reproductive health care for women as a "war on women" while at the same time condemning stay-at-home mothers ("Biology really is destiny," April 25). She is referring, of course, to a single comment by Hilary Rosen about Ann Romney, who happens to be extremely wealthy and, consequently, most likely to have had as much paid help raising her children as she wanted.

Letter writer Ron Wiring seeks to minimize the fallout from Rep. Todd Akin's "legitimate rape" comment by equating it with former Rep. Anthony Weiner sending pictures to admirers of his more-than-adequate abs swathed in a towel ("Neither party is defined by its lunatic fringe," Aug 25). I've run to work shirtless for years. I get the occasional shout and smile and have never had to resign from anything because there's nothing wrong with it. Mr. Akin, on the other hand, reveals the typical Republican thinking that you just can't trust a woman, even if she's claiming to be raped.

I greatly enjoyed the informative letter about "hon" and trademark law by Robert Borotkanics. However Mr. Borotkanics evidently hasn't been in Baltimore long enough or moved in wide enough circles, as he is under the false impression that the use of the word is purely feminine, handed down, as he said, from mother to daughter. To the contrary, one of the most wonderful aspects of "hon" is that it is not gender-specific. Truck drivers and construction workers (of either sex) as well as office workers and store clerks, use the word casually and kindly, and people who came from somewhere else know beyond question they have become Baltimoreans when they find themselves saying it. Granted not everybody says hon, anybody can. Katharine W. Rylaarsdam, Baltimore

Women continue to mix cocktails and pregnancy despite the dangers it can pose to unborn babies. New government data found that 7.6 percent of women drank while pregnant and 1.4 percent of those moms binged on alcochol and beer. Binge drinking involves four or more drinks on one occasion. The Centers for Disease Control and Preventiion used data from a telephone survey of more than 345,000 women aged 18 to 44 to come up with its analysis. Of those, 13,880, or 4 percent, were pregnant.

Host Marist held the Loyola women's basketball team to 11 points in the first half en route to a 67-38 victory Friday night. Elizabeth Beynnon led the way for the Red Foxes (8-6, 3-0 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) with 17 points and outscored the entire Loyola team for the first 30 minutes. The Greyhounds fell to 6-8 and 1-2. With the game tied at four after the first four minutes, Marist went on a 20-4 run over the next 13 minutes to open up a 24-8 lead. The defense held Loyola with just one field goal during that stretch and did not allow the Greyhounds into double digits until they hit a 3-pointer with 1:13 left to bring the score to 24-11.