Letter: Why we still need Equal Rights Amendment

Bruce Simmons' series on the U.S. Constitution has been educational and badly needed. I want to make one point about the 14th Amendment on equal protection and due process for "all citizens."

It was not, and is not, all citizens, as women were specifically excluded in the debates preceding its passage. The 19th Amendment gave women the right to vote in national elections, after many states had already done so. To this day, there is no other gender equity guarantee in the federal constitution, although it exists in many state constitutions.

That is why we still need the Equal Rights Amendment, ratified by the requisite 38 states, to be certified by the U.S. Archivist as we mark its centennial this year.

Marti J. Sladek Downers Grove

First picks don't always turn out to be best

History suggests the Bears emerging with the first selection in the NFL draft rather than the second may be much ado about nothing.

Back in 1980 the Blackhawks had the third pick in the NHL draft. Management desperately wanted the consensus first pick, Regina Junior hockey superstar center Doug Wickenheiser, and if they couldn't get him they coveted the consensus second pick, and David Babych, an outstanding defenseman who'd played junior hockey in Portland.

But the Montreal Canadiens, who had the first choice, picked Wickenheiser, and Winnipeg, which had the second selection, picked Babych.

So, the Blackhawks had to settle for the consensus third choice, a Montreal Junior sensation named Denis Savard.

Savard went on to be selected one of the "100 best players in NHL history," was inducted into the Hall of Fame and remains one of the most popular players the Hawks ever had.

Babych turned out to be the second best of the three but wasn't nearly as accomplished as Savard. Wickenheiser was a decent NHL player but wasn't a standout and spent the last two years of his pro career playing in the minors.

Neil Milbert

Wilmette