Your editorial "Why Freddie Gray ran" (April 25) did an exceptional job of capturing the problem facing not only Sandtown-Winchester but much of black America. I lived in Sandtown-Winchester for 35 years and taught in the Baltimore City Public Schools for 40 years. My experiences tell me that changing the social conditions in poor and minority communities, not policing, is the answer to our crime problem. If we end the war on drugs and work to address the problems that it caused we can make our state and nation better, safer places for us all. [continues 117 words]
"Are you high?" It's a phrase commonly used to indicate that the person you're talking to has just said something less than rational. I'm going to invest all my money in ostrich farming! "Are you high?" The guy I just started dating is scheduled to make parole in 2017! "Are you high?" I'm going to punish my boss's political opponents by shutting down two lanes of traffic on ... You get the point. We don't associate being stoned, roasted or buzzed with having good ideas. So what to make of the Democrats' latest proposal to reach out to young voters? [continues 507 words]
Fame Buys a Free Pass While Others Bear Brunt of Harsh Laws To the Editor: A celebrity is arrested and charged with fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a Class C felony. If you pick up People magazine, watch "E.T." or have friends who follow celebrity gossip, you know how this story is going to end. Steven Page will, according to the band's Web site, be "heading into the studio later this year to record a new album." [continues 179 words]
When it comes to Boston politics, I live by a simple rule that has served me well. If you're not sure what the city should do, watch what Tom Menino does. Then do the opposite. He is, after all, the brilliant economic theorist who opposes medical mini-clinics in local CVS stores because "allowing retailers to make money off sick people is wrong!" Gee, Mr. Mayor, who do you think is buying all that aspirin and hemorrhoid cream? Healthy people? [continues 543 words]
Nicholas Otis's article "Smoking Ballots" quotes opponents of Proposition 7 as stating "marijuana contains 50 to 70 percent more carcinogenic hydrocarbons than tobacco smoke". And yet, marijuana smoke, unlike tobacco smoke, does NOT cause cancer. Do a Google search on "marijuana smoke cancer" to see a list of research By: for example, this article: http://www.counterpunch.org/gardner07022005.html Note that in that article, a researcher who had identified carcinogens in marijuana smoke found, to his surprise, no evidence at all that smoking marijuana will cause cancer and, indeed, the possibility that marijuana smoking may protect against cancer. Sincerely, By: Michael Ham [end]
"I'll utilize whatever forces I deem necessary to keep this campus safe and clean ... I'm sure it was an inconvenience to those individuals who were in the hallway, but there is a valuable experience there." - --George McCrackin, principal of Stratford High School in Goose Creek When I saw the videotape of armed police officers waving their loaded guns at the heads of cowering high schoolers at Stratford High School in Goose Creek, my first thought was, 'George McCrackin must be in heaven right now.' I know 'Goose-Steppin' George' from my days as a talk host on WSC in Charleston. He became part of the Michael Graham Experience by kicking honor students out of school because they didn't have their shirts tucked in. No, that's not a joke ... not an intentional one, anyway. George McCrackin is the kind of bureaucrat who believes that stupidity in the pursuit of order is no vice. In his universe, an exposed shirttail is a flag of rebellion, an ominous sign of impending anarchy, mob violence and the reading of unauthorized literature. [continues 726 words]
"Welcome, Students, To Stalag 13..." "I'll utilize whatever forces I deem necessary to keep this campus safe and clean ... I'm sure it was an inconvenience to those individuals who were in the hallway, but there is a valuable experience there."-Principal George McCrackin of Stratford High School. When I saw the videotape of armed police officers waving their loaded guns at the heads of cowering high schoolers at Stratford High, my first thought was "George McCrackin must be in heaven right now." [continues 838 words]
What would Rush do? As a talk radio host who replies "Damn straight!" whenever I'm called a "Rush wannabe," I frequently ask myself that question. Some politico gets caught with his hand in the till (or his secretary's waistband), a whining special interest group shakes down the taxpayers for yet another handout, and I wonder as I prepare my radio show, "What would Rush say about this?" And that's precisely the question I posed while considering the latest case of jaw-dropping public hypocrisy: A prominent political spokesman, admired by millions for his advocacy of the rule of law and personal responsibility, is caught up in a drug investigation after allegedly buying thousands of prescription drugs from his housekeeper. Worse, this self-proclaimed "genius" with millions of dollars at his disposal apparently sent the housekeeper numerous incriminating emails - how dumb is that? - and reportedly pulled drug deals in the parking lot of Denny's instead of doing what every other rich junkie does: finding his own version of Elvis's Dr. Nick. [continues 744 words]
This may be a sign of my continuing naivete, but I honestly believed that there would be an immediate and unhappy reaction from the people of Richmond when Police Chief Andre Parker told them on my radio show that they didn't deserve safer streets or fewer killings than they have right now. His "Richmond has the law enforcement it deserves" comment is a small rhetorical step from standing over a shooting victim and taunting, "Well, you were asking for it!" [continues 1019 words]
