Susan
L. Burke’s letter that links Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler to enabling
the culture leading to the horrible proliferation of rapes and sexual assaults
in our society is a cheap shot if I ever saw one (“Gansler’s comments
reflect ‘boys will be boys’ culture, Nov. 12).
Moreover she also
besmirched the reputation of the Landon school solely because convicted murder George
Huguely had attended it and a few morons maintained a “fantasy sex
league”. And by extension because Gansler’s son attended that school,
she implied he should be associated with those rotten apples.
It is outrageous that an attorney such as Ms. Burke, who understandably feels
compassion towards the victims she represents and animus towards the
assailants, would paint with such broad strokes on a “guilt by association”
canvas.
I
have viewed a video from the point in
that much-publicized party when Mr. Gansler entered the room. From my
perspective there was no definitive evidence of underage drinking going on at
that particular instance; all I can determine was a bunch of kids dancing and
having a good time. It certainly wasn’t “blatant” as Ms. Burke states.
Granted ,some of those present acknowledged that drinking did occur prior to Mr. Gansler’s entrance. But
there were at least two adult chaperones present prior to Mr. Gansler’s arrival,
so it would be their responsibility to exercise adult authority if such
offenses occurred in front of them.
Ms.
Burke is correct in that there is a “boys will be boys” culture. It is
quite evident when parents of pre-teens and teens resist stronger measures that
would curtail, if not eliminate, bullying in schools.
As we have observed,
bullying whether in person, in social media or by text, has led to tragic
consequences. Don’t blame that on Mr. Gansler, too; in fact, he has made
concerted efforts to stop bullying.
Steve Charing
Ckarkvissle, Md.
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