Letter to the Editor: Student endorsement deserves an A+
Dear Mr. Gainous:
Because you are widely regarded as the finest principal at our finest high school, I feel compelled to write about the recent dust-up over the Silver Chips editorial.
The editorial was well reasoned, well documented and very well written. This old English teacher would rate it A+++.
Silver Chips has endorsed many candidates in the past. I live in Potomac, have no students at Blair, but because of my political activities, I often hear about these editorials. I certainly do not agree with all of them, but I have a deep respect for the students who labor on the endorsements. They will become active, informed citizens. And isn’t that the primary goal of our democracy?
I do not understand your lack of accolades for the students. If the quotations attributed to you in the Post are correct, Senator Ruben forced you to apologize: “It may be inappropriate.” Trust me, if they had endorsed her, it would never be inappropriate in her eyes. And no previous endorsement has been declared inappropriate.
You should know that the senator’s method of operation has always been to create a huge fuss to get her way. The Gazette recently pointed that out, listing her as one of the state’s worst senators.
At a recent event, Senator Ruben accosted our esteemed U.S. Senator Paul Sarbanes, berating him because his son went to a Raskin party. Senator Sarbanes tried to explain that his son is over 40, has been a close friend of Raskin since college, and that he does not tell his son with whom to associate. Senator Ruben demanded that he control his family members.
At the same event, the guest speaker, the noted civil rights leader, Professor Charles J. Ogletree of Harvard Law School, recognized a few members of the audience. He was delighted to see “my brilliant student and great civil rights activist, Jamie Raskin.”
Hearing those words, Ruben caused such a ruckus that several tables of attendees had to insist she quiet down. During the last session, Ruben submitted legislation under a misleading sponsor—the Montgomery County Delegation—who had never seen the bill. The purpose was to take control of the Central Committee, which was not following her dictates. The bill was unanimously defeated.
Perhaps editorial writer Isaac Arndorf will join the long list of persons to whom Ruben does not speak: Congressman Chris Van Hollen, State’s Attorney Doug Gansler, and until recently County Executive Doug Duncan. Dozens of political activists are on the list—anyone who does not blindly follow her demands.
— Esther P. Gelman
Potomac, Md
Ms. Gelman was a Montgomery County Councilwoman from 1974 to 1986.