Published Letters from Baltimore County Members
August 2008
Reaction to anonymous complaint speaks volume
Date: August 15, 2008
Author: Harry Korrell, Catonsville
At about 10 a.m. on July 11, two friends and I were on the sidewalk at the I-695 overpass on Frederick Road in Catonsville, displaying our national ensign and a sign stating "Remember 9-11."
We have done this from 8:30-10:45 a.m. on the 11th day of every month since September 2001 to commemorate the tragic deaths of thousands at the hands of vicious terrorists and as a reminder that we are a nation at war.
Often passersby will stop and ask what we are about, since the sign can only be read from the southbound lanes of the Beltway.
Over the years, we have received cold drinks on hot days, coffee and doughnuts on bitterly cold mornings.
Once, coffee was brought by a nice Baltimore County police officer.
Thousands of automobile and truck horns plus hands waved from windows and sunroofs cheer us on, boosting our morale.
Very rarely have we received a single-finger salute -- once from a bright red Corvette, which caused me to wonder what they were thinking.
Several years ago, a Baltimore County police cruiser stopped. The officer told us he had been dispatched to investigate a complaint that we were creating a traffic hazard.
He observed the utter nonsense of that notion, bid us farewell and departed.
Today, a state patrol car, with flashing lights, drew up to the curb and told me that a complaint had been filed so we would have to leave.
When I asked why we had to leave simply because someone did not want us there, he asked if I wanted to go to jail.
I told him no but would, if necessary.
When I asked if there were someone to whom I could appeal to explain our situation, the officer kindly gave me a number to call on my cell phone. The person who answered explained that the complaint stated we were creating a traffic hazard.
I answered that, since we have been doing this monthly for nearly seven years, the complaint was nonsense.
Her response was that it was unlikely we were causing a traffic problem.
After she spoke with the investigating officer on his radio, he drove away and we continued as we were until 10:45.
Subsequently, I called the state police to find out if I could ascertain who had filed the spurious complaint.
I was told that a 911 call had been received, complaining that we were in the middle of the road. No name had been given.
Had I not challenged the move-on order or had the officer not given me the number to appeal the complaint, our right to peaceful assembly and freedom of speech would have been destroyed by an anonymous caller with the ability to enlist the power of the state police to achieve her or his nefarious objective.
Was this most recent challenge brought by the same individual who called the county police some while ago?
If so, I wish the simpering coward would step forward and rationally discuss the problem.
If this harassment is not ideologically motivated, we are all in danger of one so visually impaired as to believe us to have been in the middle of the road.
National Pride: Just Wonderful
Date: August 14, 2008
Publication: The Tentacle
Author: , Chairman, Baltimore County Republican Party
Almost everyone who has laid finger to keyboard has written about the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing; however, the story for me is viewing the quadrennial bubbling of national pride and knowing its juxtaposition with local heroes.
The national pride among Americans is unique. You don’t have to watch too many medal ceremonies to realize those representing the USA handle our national anthem just a little differently. Our athletes stand respectfully hand over heart, many singing, some with tears, and all with a smile.
Sure their emotions and self worth are at an “Olympic” high due to well-deserved personal accomplishment, but compared to those of other countries there is something visibly different. We have a rooted pride that extends from the games in Beijing to political venues in Baltimore County, Maryland.
This past week at the Baltimore County Republican Central Committee meeting, Delegate J.B. Jennings stood at the podium, before 45 people in attendance and told us how he recently fulfilled a dream – to serve his country. Mr. Jennings at age 34 had enlisted in the Air National Guard and would be soon leaving for boot camp.
His story was of a lifelong desire to serve his country and to serve in the same Guard Unit as his father. His preparation has been almost two years in the making. He sold his business, sold his prize herd of cattle, lost over 50 pounds and convinced his bride of only three years that additional public service outside of the Maryland General Assembly was his destiny.
I have participated actively with my county’s Republican Central Committee for over 15 years, missing very few meetings. Yet, Monday evening Delegate Jennings became the first person, in that time, or perhaps ever, to receive a standing ovation.
National pride is inbred in "We the People." We’re a scrappy bunch who have banded together from different educational backgrounds, geographic and ethnic diversity to win wars on shear guts and determination.
I’ve had the honor to be with Sen. John McCain, his naval academy buddies and fellow POW’s. It was impossible to stand in a room with those men and not have your eyes well with tears of pride at their collective service to our country – a past duty they view with humility, having been honored to serve.
There are few citizens who have not felt the tug of pride at some point as they have viewed action spawned by love of country. We have felt the joy of those who have returned safely from battle and the distain for those who disgrace our flag or other national symbols.
On the overpass of the Baltimore Beltway at Exit 13 in Catonsville, the flag has been waived every month, on the 11th of the month, since 9-11-2001. Driving rain, snow, heat, crazy drivers heading to work, and even the Maryland State Police have not been able to stop this monthly tribute and reminder of national pride.
From now until the close of the XXIX Olympiad, every time you see a victory lap around the track with our flag, an athlete wrapped in Old Glory, or one who is singing through a few tears on the medal stand, just know that national pride extends everywhere.
I know a young delegate from District 7 and a gray-bearded, retired Navy captain from Catonsville who both understand love of country, too.
Does anyone out there care?
Date: August 12, 2008
Publication: The Jeffersonian
Author: , Chairman, Baltimore County Republican Party
For most of us, summertime means family vacations, everyone executing months of planning, by heading to the beach or other destinations for rest, relaxation and some family time.
The Cavey clan is no different; we rented a giant house in Nags Head and filled it with cousins to celebrate my mother's 79th birthday. It was a house full of Republican voters -- still, to my family, the presidential election is but a distant event.
Seems like "Uncle Chris" is the only one planning and paying attention; everyone else thinks there is plenty of time. As a matter of fact, even though we are of like mind politically, we avoid the discussion.
My travels to North Carolina last week, and to western New York last month, both revealed a phenomenon -- virtually no lawn signs and very few bumper stickers for either major party candidate.
Is this voter apathy or what?
We are 90 days away from a presidential election and few citizens are flying their partisan colors. In Maryland, Democrats have chalked up Sen. Barack Obama as the winner and the Republicans are prioritizing other states ahead of us, but not true with Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York and North Carolina.
Have we, as a people, sunk to the point that we no longer desire to take aggressive political action in support of our candidate of choice? Or are we still on summer vacation?
In about two weeks, the political conventions begin. Each party will have a four-day infomercial promoting its candidate. Will these conventions fire up the general public? Will the local guy and gal be talking politics around the water cooler? Hopefully.
President Bush currently has an approval rating of about 30 percent, and being termed out, we know that there will be a change in the White House.
The Congress has an approval rating of 19.3 percent, yet the biased news media are not screaming for a change in our legislative branch of government.
Not too long ago, my theory was that campaign materials cost plenty and are not as freely distributed as they once were. Plus, given that Maryland is a tiny blue state, I figured neither party was making the expenditure of material that they would in a battleground state.
My trip to the Outer Banks changed that perspective. The problem is public apathy or, perhaps at best, a limited sense of urgency.
Our world is full of instant everything, especially communication. We will participate in the Beijing Olympics practically interactively. That's right, we're talking China and about a dozen time zones -- yet we are taking it for granted.
Who, at that speed of communication, can worry about an election 90 days away? So it could be limited urgency.
On the other hand, polling shows great disgust, in general, with our members of government. Low approval ratings for this Democratic-controlled Congress, people paying limited attention to the long bureaucratic sessions and the lack of progress on any issue.
So I guess apathy wins -- again.
The public wants to start over.
A case in point is the interest and popularity in Sen. Andy Harris and the 1st congressional district race in Maryland. Voters are looking for a fresh start and in this case looking to a homegrown Republican.