Welcome to a new, weekly column in which a topic of interest, piece of news, relevant opinion, or general request for feedback is presented. We’ll offer the topic du jour and accompanying question, and you have the opportunity to respond with your thoughts.
Simply fill out the form below. A collection of each week’s responses will appear in the following week’s column. To read last week’s responses, scroll below this week’s topic.
Publisher reserves the right to edit responses for clarity and publish online and/or in our print publications.
Please let us know your thoughts!
This week’s topic is:
Preakness Stakes, Fair Competition & Medina Spirit
Shortly after the Kentucky Derby was run, it was revealed that the winning horse, Medina Spirit, tested positive for betamethasone—an anti-inflammatory corticosteroid sometimes used to relieve joint pain in horses—which jeopardizes the 3-year-old colt's Derby win.
Medina Spirit is now undergoing three-rounds of testing—of which all must come back clean—in order to race in tomorrow’s Preakness Stakes at Pimlico race course. It appears the horse is on track to race.
Our questions to you:
Should Medina Spirit race in the Preakness Stakes?
Do you see this situation as emblematic of a larger issue or problem with horse racing in general? If so, what is the problem in your opinion?
Please share your thoughts by filling out this form.
Last week, we asked you about Maryland’s State Song and you responded! Here is a sampling of reader responses. To read more, click here.
You cannot change history so best to know history and learn from it. Our Maryland state song (and monuments etc.) has meaning to many and should not be changed at the whim of a few. Anything can be offensive to anyone so where does it stop? Our country has come so far from civil war days that we elected a black president, President Obama. Apparently that bit of history is ignored as there is now a big push to say we are a racist country! All citizens need to push back against this narrative as we know that the vast majority of us treat our fellow citizens with equality and respect.
Julia Simpson-Jones, Edgewater
I am so over all of this nonsense. I couldn't care less what our state song is, and I'm guessing many others feel the same, yet our lawmakers have been spending countless hours arguing over this for over a decade now, instead of focusing on things that are actually important to the state. Seriously, who cares?! Make the Maryland state song "The Thong Song" for all I care, Sisqo was from Baltimore! There you go, it's perfect! But seriously, don't you guys have more important things to focus on? Awesome usage of our tax dollars and resources guys. Really, top notch!
It would seem that people nowadays are more concerned with "being the most woke," than being the most productive. Since everything is apparently racist now, incidences of ACTUAL racism are starting to look like a joke. No one can seem to tell the difference anymore, and I feel horrible for the people who have been victims of true racism, because they're never going to be taken as seriously when you have everyone consistently crying wolf.
Makes me wonder which overpaid white lawmaker is going to tell us which "racist" thing we should all "feel offended by" next though. They're probably going to tell us we should get rid of all trees because they're reminiscent of lynching's, like that one high school in Oregon is arguing about currently with their Evergreen Tree mascot. Yup. That's where we're at guys! People are now offended by trees. God help us.
Talia Grover, Annapolis
Here's my candidate for the new state song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rbns0vkIt30
Jeff Holland, Annapolis
Drop the song, it is borderline racist and definitely creepy. It's time that we remove distasteful reminders of the civil war. The lyrics in this song are not something we want to associate with the good people that live in this state. I am a lifelong Marylander and this song does not represent me.
Joseph Cox, Annapolis
