Reese believes that our policies are predicated on "greed, arrogance, indifference to human suffering and hegemony." Once again, I do not deny for a moment that we have made mistakes or that we have (as any nation must) operated in our own self-interest. However, I defy Reese to identify any other people in the history of the world who have spent so much of their private and national wealth to try to help others in the world.
I would hope that in the future your editorial staff is more discerning in what it chooses to print.
Frank Carden
Hagerstown
Bus schedule is unfair
To the editor:
I am writing in regard to the school bus situation at Hancock Elementary. Unlike other elementary schools in Washington County, our kids are being transported to and from school on the same buses with the Middle/High School students.
Hancock has a full-day pre-kindergarten program, so we have children 4 years old riding with high school kids. As a parent, I don't think that this arrangement is suitable for our young children.
Hancock Elementary and Middle/High schools operate on the same schedule. Other elementary schools open one hour earlier to accommodate their younger children being bused separately.
Our bus drivers make two bus runs. The first load of kids is taken to school, then they make a second run and then that load of kids is taken to school. This causes a long, unproductive wait time for the first group of children being dropped off.
These kids must sit at lunchroom tables for up to 30 minutes before their school day begins and then again another 30 minutes in the afternoon before their bus takes them home. This arrangement is unfair to these children.
We need strong support from School Board members and Washington County Commissioners to get this transportation arrangement changed. Whether it is to change the school opening time or to provide more school buses, something needs to be done now about this problem.
Sandi Myers
Hancock
Rude parents ignore friendly word of advice
To the editor:
The incident was shocking and scary, as at 3:35 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 3, I was approaching the Little Pool parking area from Md. 615. As I was turning under the Interstate 70 underpass, I saw an adult woman in her 30s and a middle-school-age girl frantically waving their arms.
I immediately thought there was an accident. As my vehicle, a 1999 Nissan Frontier black truck, got under the underpass, I saw a little girl on a bicycle with her helmet on. This scared me, as she was out in the lane that goes to Interstate 70. The parking area is off from the lane that goes to Interstate 70.
The little girl saw me and went back into the parking area and she stopped as there was very little room. I was going extremely slow doing my best not to hit her.
As I got into the parking area and parked, I went towards the towpath. The lady and the girl were nearby and I said to her, "Ma'am, that was irresponsible of you allowing the girl to be there on her bike." The lady said she was not being irresponsible and lost it by saying, "shut your (expletive) mouth."
I said, "Ma'am, there is no need to cuss," and went on my way.
Somehow, I knew there was a possibility someone would be waiting for me when I got back. I only went for a short 4.5 mile walk as was getting dark. A park ranger about a half mile from the end was on the towpath and I mentioned this incident to him and told him, I wondered if someone would be there when I got back.
He thanked me and we both went on our way. Sure enough, when I was walking over the Rails-to-Trails path, as that path parallels the towpath for several miles, there was a man in hunting clothes with a small kitten waiting. He asked me if I was the person with the black truck who talked to his wife, and I said I was.
