Letters from Readers
By: Barbara Hollingsworth
Local Opinion Editor
November 5, 2009
Education is more important than friendship
Re: "School reform supporters organize to back Rhee," Nov. 1
This is in response to the comment made by a McKinley Tech parent who said that parents' voices were being "misrepresented by those who were [fired]."
I am the parent of two current students: a senior who has matriculated from the ninth grade, and a freshman. Any objection I may have with Chancellor Michelle Rhee and her administration's handling of the reduction in force, or any disagreement I have with the school's leadership, is not tainted by any alleged friendship. My children's education is enormously more important than any relationship I may have with a school employee.
Though I will be the first to agree that bad teachers must go, a RIF is not the appropriate process. Such housecleaning should be conducted prior to the school year, and certainly not months into the process. A concern for the influence on students should take utmost priority in such matters, regardless of the cost.
Clearly, that did not occur.
Thomas G. Wright
Washington
State criminal laws are not sufficient
Re: "A hateful hate-crime law," Nov. 2
After reading Star Parker's hateful commentary, I am not quite sure what world she lives in. I agree with her that equal protection under the law is what the 14th Amendment is all about, and that being treated differently under the law has been a justifiable obsession of blacks. Well, it is just as justifiable an obsession for the GLBT community and those who love and respect them.
Thankfully, our president and much of the Congress recognize that there are certain individuals who are subject to violence simply because of who they are. Should we not as a nation tell those who would visit violence on people because of the color of their skin or their sexual orientation that we will bring the full force of federal law down on them? All violence is unacceptable, but certain acts need more than state law to deal with them.
Parker purposely misattributes President Obama's statement, which was clearly a comment on the apparent bigotry or homophobia of people like her who can't or won't recognize discrimination, many times violent, against the GLBT community.
Peter D. Rosenstein
Washington
What's in a name? Illusions of grandeur
Why do otherwise serious print and broadcast media indulge the District of Columbia government's fantasies by parroting the grandiose titles the District's rulers have bestowed upon themselves, such as "Attorney General" and "State Board of Education"? Such titles properly designate officers of states, not cities.
Many writers and editors refer to dictator Raul Castro as "the Cuban leader" rather than "president," and some misguided sportswriters call the Washington Redskins just plain "Washington." Similarly, substituting terms such as "D.C.'s corporation counsel" and "the D.C. board of education" might help shrink the District's swelled heads a size or two.
Doug Welty
Arlington
