Sun’s opinion writers and cartoonist skewer the obnoxious

High kudos to your outstanding social and political commentators but particularly to David Zurawik, Dan Rodricks, and KAL for continuing to shine a bright light on the obnoxious behavior, dubious morals, and lack of basic ethics of public figures such as President Donald Trump, Rep. Jim Jordan and our very own Rep. Andy Harris (“Congressman Jim Jordan is the snarling TV face of the GOP in Trump’s impeachment hearings,” Nov. 19).

Holidays a good time to check on older loved ones

In the holiday season, many will struggle with increased feelings of loneliness — especially seniors who spend more time alone than the average adult. According to Meals on Wheels America, one in four U.S. seniors live alone. Isolation can cause detrimental health issues including heightened risk of heart disease, dementia and premature death.

The holidays also bring their own challenges for isolated seniors, as they may struggle with increased lack of mobility and grief over lost loved ones. In September, the Jean Griswold Foundation partnered with Meals on Wheels America to tackle the senior isolation epidemic. We at Griswold Home Care have seen first-hand how companionship improves one’s well-being and we’re proud to support an organization that shares our mission of helping people live fulfilling lives at home.

This season, we encourage you to join our efforts by checking on your aging loved ones often.

Adeola Busari, Ellicott City The writer is director of Griswold Home Care of Baltimore and Howard County. The impact teachers can have on young lives is extraordinary

Jacqueline Campbell Hayman, affectionately known as Jackie, died Nov. 9 of this year. Baltimore born and bred, Jackie received her formal education in the Baltimore Public School system. She graduated from Frederick Douglass High school in 1952 at 16 years of age and from Coppin State College (now University) in 1956. She began her teaching career at Cherry Hill elementary school (#159).

At her homegoing service, it was incredibly heartwarming and moving to hear one of her third grade students speak with such genuine love and affection for “Ms Hayman.” Raised on tiny Stockton Street in Sandtown during the Jim Crow era, Jackie had a solid family foundation. That nurturing produced a brilliantly competent, accomplished and committed educator. She had a profound and lasting impact upon her students at every level.

In a recent article about Cherry Hill, it was specifically noted how well-behaved her students were, their eagerness to learn and the admiration, respect and support she got from parents.

I couldn’t help but wonder how often today’s committed Baltimore teachers — and there are hundreds — face these encouraging conditions in a classroom setting. What percentage of kids are well-behaved, eager to learn and to what extent is there parental partnering with teachers? I would guess the vast majority are well-behaved and eager to learn. My overwhelming concern, however, is with the quality and depth of parenting and at what point does the lack thereof derail the best intentions of those same kids?

Jackie’s upbringing and God’s teachings shepherded her through the daunting challenges she faced during that contentious time including blatant racism, segregated schools, poverty, job discrimination (last hired, first fired), housing discrimination, police brutality and denied public accommodations. Yet she, like many others trapped in those inhumane and hostile conditions, did not succumb to the streets and a destructive wayward life.

Be it simple assault by band of roving teens, carjacking, home invasions, I always think about the first-line teachers — and the parents.

There’s no confusion about vaping; it’s bad for health

Interesting choice of words by Taylor DeVille relating vaping to illnesses (“‘We’re being killed’: Maryland vape shops see sales fall due amid ‘confusion’ over related illness,” Nov. 11).Illnesses indeed — so bad that people are dying. And because of the high rate of deaths related to vaping, there is now a rush to find out why. Ever see how much smoke (or vapor) is exhaled by the user — much, much more than smoking a cigarette.

Are people being harmed by that “secondhand” smoke? Wake up people.