Sentence for Crimes Against Child

I find it appalling in your story concerning the 20-year sentence of James McDermott for seven counts of forcible lewd conduct on a child (March 27) that the defense attorney would consider the sentence too harsh because Mr. McDermott “realized what he did was wrong” and “is a better man than to deserve this.”

First of all, realizing something is wrong is not good enough. Spiritual, moral and legal law requires that you refrain from the act, and, if not, that you pay the penalty. (Colossians 3:25: “For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality.”)

Secondly, a better man would have cared enough about the welfare of the child to resist any deviant temptations. (Matthew 12:35: “The good man out of his good treasure brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of his evil treasure brings forth what is evil.”)

I’ve done a lot of reading lately that shows the devastating lifelong effects of such abuse to the child. At the very least, she will have severe personality disorders because children seldom put the anger and guilt properly on the aggressor. Instead, they turn on themselves and are plagued with horrible self-esteem. Among the more common results are chronic depression, inability to make friends with the resulting deep loneliness, suicidal tendencies, abuse of alcohol and drugs and even homosexuality.

Mr. McDermott certainly deserves the punishment he has received. While I hope he gets the proper psychological and spiritual attention he needs before he is cut loose, I remain concerned about what attention is being given to the child’s needs. He may get parole in 10 years, while his helpless victim may be scarred for life.

GERALD ROD

Sun Valley

What a Sportsman Is and Isn’t

It always amazes me how ignorant the press can be. Ignorance in and of itself is not a crime; however, it should be a crime for reporters to report on subjects about which they know nothing. I am referring to the article, “Sportsman Gets Jail for Collection Of Stuffed Birds” (April 6).

My rage is centered around a single word used twice in this article. The word is “sportsman.” The individual concerned in this article is in no sense of the word a sportsman. He is nothing but a sick human being that should be done away with in the same manner as any murderer should be. The word “sportsman” is and rightfully should be reserved for people who have great love and respect for the outdoors and the fellow creatures they share it with.

This article serves to illustrate two serious problems that exist in our society today. First (and not necessarily foremost) is the press. In this case, they make absolutely no distinction between butchers who murder anything that moves and sportsmen who hunt or fish for the many valid reasons that exist. Do they equate the two?

A butcher is not satisfied unless he has killed as many as possible of anything that moves. A true sportsman does not particularly care if he bags any game, as he has had the opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors. Table-fare is only a secondary byproduct of his excursion, and certainly stuffed animals are the least of his concerns.

In closing I would like to make two suggestions. First, I would like to see judges get truly tough with these kind of violations, and I do not mean the slap on the wrist meted out in this case. Secondly, I would like to recommend that reporter Stephen G. Bloom consult Webster’s dictionary regarding the word “sportsman” and compare it with the word “butcher.” Further, I believe that both he and your newspaper owe an apology to all the true sportsmen of the world, as you have done them a great injustice.

RONALD D. McNAY

Canoga Park

West Valley School Board Race

In response to your recent article describing the current West Valley school board race as lacking interest and major issues, I wish to state that I completely disagree.

The Los Angeles Unified School District each year sees over 40% of its students drop out of its schools. Doesn’t it bother you that these same students will somehow have to obtain meaningful employment? Does it interest you that these same students will become future voters? Do you feel that students graduating with a reading level below third grade will even be able to read your newspaper?

I recently attended the school board candidate forum held at Chatsworth High School. To the credit of the candidates, all were in attendance. They all spoke and commented on important issues relating to our school system. It’s unfortunate that the parents, who seem outspoken when it comes to the school problems, could not spend even one evening to express their concern to the candidates in the question-and-answer period. What was even more (disturbing) was the effect on the students, who did a great job in organizing the forum only to see little or no interest by the community. People are willing to die to come to this country for the freedom of expression, and yet the people living here seem uninterested in the future of this country, which I believe was founded on an educated public. Maybe I’m missing something.

Our schools are the very foundation of our democracy and deserve a better treatment than the current school board has given. I fail to see the benefits afforded to the students by the board’s taking a quiet and passive attitude to the major problems of education, especially in the Los Angeles school system, which makes the current board race just that much more meaningful. If the students could truly feel the damage being (inflicted) upon them, being too young and immature to properly defend themselves, they would demand to be properly educated. Name calling and passing blame has shown little effect in helping education. The apathy among parents can best be described as disgraceful.

A chance is being presented on the upcoming election day to voice a opinion regarding the future education of the citizens of Los Angeles. If you really want this city to improve, I think it wise to avail yourselves of the opportunity provided at the voting box. If you don’t, we will have no one to blame but ourselves. The students need your help. Please give it to them.

STEVE FREDRICKSON

Mission Hills