Give Moore a break

The flap over whether Gov. Wes Moore was awarded the Bronze Star seems like political opportunism at best.

In Vietnam, I, and to my knowledge, almost every officer who performed his duties satisfactorily was awarded the Bronze Star. If this policy changed, I was never aware of the change.

Moore’s explanation strikes me as entirely probable. Administrative screwups are as prevalent in the military as anywhere else, perhaps more so. The paperwork frequently does not catch up with the intentions of an individual or command.

Let’s give Moore a break on this one and continue to monitor his actual performance in office.

— Thomas K. Farley, Lutherville

Money has made a joke of college sports

On Saturday, a letter from George Hammerbacher (O’s stars will follow the money) criticized my Aug. 24 letter (Let O’s fans buy their favorite player). I agree with Mr. Hammerbacher’s criticism completely.

My editorial was written tongue-in-cheek to parody the Oklahoma State football program for putting a QR code on players’ helmets to raise money for the name, image and likeness (NIL) of college athletes. The NIL money is a mockery. To visualize this, I suggested putting a QR code on each Orioles player’s baseball cap. I realize that Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman, Grayson Rodriguez, Jordan Westburg and Colton Cowser could all be gone in the next few years because small-market teams can’t financially compete. My suggestion that a QR code being put on a player’s cap could solve the problem was just furthering the farce that money has made of college sports and professional sports.

Mr. Hammerbacher made my point clearer than I did, and I appreciate the clarity of his editorial.

— Jim Mundy, Ellicott City

Teaching is tough

Teaching in an American school is rough.

When I was a youngster, I studied severe and profound handicapping conditions at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. It was the highlight of my life.

The purpose of attending the institution was solely to become a private school administrator. But my training program focused primarily on being a classroom teacher. And even though that was the direction of the curriculum, joining the leadership of a specific private school remained in my heart.

Upon completion of the program’s post-baccalaureate studies, I was offered a teaching position to work in a middle school classroom.

I must say my studies had me eager and excited about becoming a special education teacher.

I’d learned in a prescreening interview with the Department of Special Education at George Washington University that some students are hurting inside and often want you to feel the same hurt that they are feeling.

Later in life, I was told by a mentor that hurt people, hurt people.

Many educators have been suspended for their in-class discipline methods. Teachers being that way has become a mainstay because, too often, administrators find it easier to discipline a teacher than a student.

The incident that occurred in Texas was disheartening. The physical severity of what occurred to administrator Candra Rogers doesn’t surprise me.

— Wayne E. Williams, Camden, New Jersey

Don’t politicize Morin’s death

Since when, and for what reason, do a group of trial lawyers get involved in presidential politics? They act as if they and their clients, the Morin family, have been personally harmed and affronted by the “lack of acknowledgment and compassion from President Biden and his administration. This lack of concern serves as a reminder of the apparent disregard by the Biden administration for the victims of preventable crimes committed by illegal immigrants.” The lawyers go on to contrast this hard-heartedness by the Biden administration with former President Donald Trump, who every right-thinking American knows is so much more generous of spirit and compassionate toward his fellow men. Sure, he is! Lawyers should stick to the legal arena and stay out of politics and electioneering. Otherwise, they begin to appear as hypocritical and phony as the former president they so obviously admire.

— Harris Factor, Columbia

Bye, senior bonus

Well, the Maryland high court struck down the Baby Bonus being on the ballot in the coming election (“Maryland high court strikes down Baltimore tax cut, Baby Bonus ballot questions,” Aug. 29). That pretty much kills any chance for my proposed senior citizen monthly bonus of $1,000 (because we have financial difficulties also). Well, I guess we will have to wait until the next election and try again.

— Stas Chrzanowski, Baltimore