The Still-Troubled Air
Sir:
Re your story of Pilot Goodwin [TIME, April 28]: many Air Force officers retained their reserve commissions in order to defend the U.S. in case of war. They have been in the inactive reserves, have received no monthly paycheck, have received no credit towards a "generous Government retirement" plan, and have been called back into service on an involuntary basis. The Air Force offers no security to these officers except a return to an often difficult readjustment in civilian life with always the shadow of a possible recall . . . hanging over their heads . . .
THOMAS H. KELLEY Captain, U.S.A.F. Reserve Winnetka, Ill.
Sir:
Regarding "Trouble in the Air," there's also plenty of it on the ground. Those of us who signed on as "Christmas help" when Korea broke have got stuck with the package-wrapping detail, and we're pretty darned sore.
Most of us . . . went into reserve units that were to be called in case of total war because we felt some sense of responsibility to the country. The completely irresponsible manner in which we have been gobbled up and dumped at random throughout the Western world has deadened that sense of responsibility to a dull ache . . .
THORNTON J. EARLE Lieutenant Wiesbaden, Germany
Sir:
I wish you would arrange for the Air Force to forward my monthly paycheck to me for the past five years that I have been a member of the Air Force Reserve . . .
L. W. SCHNIEDWIND Captain, U.S.A.F. Reserve Chicago
Sir:
. . . When we signed up for the reserve, we expected to be called in the event of another war, not a presidential-inspired "police action." This, we thought, would be the job of the regulars, and if the job became greater than the regulars could handle and the reserves had to be called, then a state of war should be declared by Congress, and not only the reserves would be called, but the whole country would be mobilized . . .
ROLLAND W. PIKE 1st Lieutenant, A.F.R.C. (inactive) Andover, Mass.
Sir:
Re your statement that "flying has become so commonplace that the call of the wild blue yonder has lost some of its appeal to the nation's youth." The problem is not that flying has become commonplace, but rather that it has been made very unattractive. The Air Force has been stolen from the flyers . . .
Pry loose the thousands of healthy young men who are hidden behind [Air Force] desks and give them their choice of flying or joining the other fighting services . . .
EDWARD M. MILLER Englewood, Colo.
"Little Selzer"
Sir:
I am very surprised that . . . you have not dubbed H.S.T. "Little Seizer" . . .
RALPH S. MULLEN
Winchester, Va
Early Man of the Year
SIR:
MAN OF THE YEAR AND PROBABLY MAN OF THE CENTURY: FEDERAL JUDGE DAVID A. PINE.
DAVID W. DEWEY BALTIMORE
Mr. Coudert to the Mines
Sir:
If economizers like Congressman Frederic R. Coudert Jr. get their way, they'll save the American taxpayer $4.7 billion [TIME, April 21] ... just like the fellow living on the edge of a timber plantation who balanced the family budget one hot dry summer by cutting out fire insurance . . .
HERBERT L. SUSLAK Purley, Surrey, England
Sir:
I chose the U.S. 19 months ago for my new country, and I'm watching everything very closely. I am a great admirer of nearly everything, and hate to be critical. But, sir, how in heaven's sake can a man like Congressman Coudert be elected? Can't he see it is a lot better and healthier to fight on somebody else's land than here? It probably would help to send him for three months to an East German or Polish -- to say nothing of Russian -- uranium mine. It would help. EDWARD C. HANZEVACKY Mendota, 111.
Along Candidates' Row
SIR:
THE HANDWRITING IS ON THE WALL NOW, AND MASSACHUSETTS WROTE IT IN BIG LETTERS FOR ALL THE BACKROOM BOYS TO READ AT THE CONVENTION. IF THEY FAIL TO READ IT AND SPIKE IKE, NO AMOUNT OF SOPHISTRY AND HAIR-SPLITTING OR TALK ABOUT PLATFORMS AND POLICIES WILL ERASE THE FACT THAT THE MAJORITY HAVE SPOKEN LOUDLY AND WITH A
HEARTWARMING FAITH IN A MAN WHO HASN'T EVEN CAMPAIGNED YET BECAUSE OF HIS INTEGRITY. LET'S HOPE THE BACKROOM BOYS WILL LOOK UP THE WORD DESTINY IN THE DICTIONARY.
ARTHUR TUCKERMAN NEWPORT, R. I.
Sir:
Senator Kefauver spoke here today. Besides being in favor of motherhood, he looks favorably upon sunshine . . . After the speech, a crowd gathered around, thrusting pieces of paper at him for autographs. I saw one boy hand the Senator his obviously poor report card. He signed (I don't think he even looked at it) right where the boy hoped--in the space for parent's approval signature.
LONNIE BROWN Tallahassee, Fla.
Sir:
After seeing the picture of Mrs. Kefauver in your April 28 edition, my 15-year-old daughter decided that she didn't want Mrs. Kefauver or any other woman who wore such disgusting clothes in the White House. What do you suppose her grandmother thinks?
JOHN MARTIN
Atlanta
P: Grandma didn't say, but Grandpa liked it fine.--ED.
But One Stomach . . .
Sir:
Maybe Michelin should go back to dunkin' doughnuts with Duncan Hines [TIME, April 28] . . . To give a second-rate restaurant like Laperouse three stars, and to demote the Tour d'Argent to two stars, is rank heresy.
All I wish is that I had two stomachs to give to the Tour d'Argent.
LLOYD LIEBES San Francisco
"Stinky" Stanky
Sir:
How my eyes popped as I first glanced at the April 28 TIME and spotted Eddie Stanky in a St. Louis Cardinal cap on the cover! As a former St. Louisan and an avid Cardinal fan, I appreciated your fine article on "The Brat" Stanky. Let's hope he'll be the spark that will ignite the gas in the Gashouse . . .
CARL W. BRETSCHER Guatemala City
Sir:
. . . Stanky is no competitor, but an unsportsmanlike chiseler whose disgusting tactics you have made to appear cute.
Chicago ALEXIUS J. CROWLEY
Minority Rule
Sir:
Mr. L. Lee Layton Jr. [TIME, April 28] speaks of his religious group becoming a "new" minority group when and if the Catholics ever become a majority in this country. Let me remind Mr. Layton that no matter what religious group he belongs to, he is at present in a minority. The U.S. has no religious majority (approximately 32% Protestant, 18% Catholic, 3% Jewish, 1% Orthodox, 1% miscellaneous, 45% no religious affiliation) . . .
J. THEODORE BROWN Dayton, Ohio
Color v. Communism
Sir:
I commend you for the excellent article, "Color Psychology," in the April 28 edition.
It is gratifying to know that the people of the U.S. are being enlightened at long last, and Dr. James H. Robinson has certainly done a marvelous job of laying the groundwork for worldwide Christian relationships.
JAMES E. JONES Lincoln University, Pa.
Sir:
At long last a solution to . . . combat . . . Communism in Asia. Indeed, United States Negroes could very easily put U.S. prestige on firm footing among the Asiatics. Dr. Robinson's proposal should qualify him as candidate for a Nobel Peace award ... I offer myself as one of those "unofficial ambassadors."
M/SGT. THEADORE M. PRYOR Camp Edwards, Mass.
Marked Effect?
Sir:
It is surprising that doctors are uncertain about the effect of castration, which "often has a marked effect upon potency" [TIME, May 5]. Another operation, performed with a guillotine, also has a marked effect upon life expectancy.
ROBERT LEE SWOPE Oak Ridge, Tenn.
"Strangled City"
Sir:
TIME, April 28, stated that all Jerusalem, old and new, is a "strangled city," that both sections have suffered an economic relapse since their separation, and that Communism, "directed from Haifa in Israel (where it is legal)," is making headway in Jerusalem.
May we take exception to these statements ?
The Old City of Jerusalem never had industries or commerce of its own. It lived primarily on tourist revenue . . . The New City . . . has made remarkable progress since the establishment of the State of Israel. When the 1948 siege was lifted, only 70,000 residents were left. Its population now is 154,000 and is still growing . . .
The Communist Party is legal in Israel as indeed it is legal in the U.S., in Britain and other democratic countries . . . Whatever influence Communism has in Jordan is derived from deplorable social conditions which preceded the establishment of Israel and are universal in the entire Arab world . . .
DANIEL A. POLING Chairman
CARL HERMANN Voss Chairman, Executive Council American Christian Palestine Committee New York City
Sir:
. . . Dying city ? Nonsense!
THOMAS MYERS Huntington Park, Calif.
Sir:
Congratulations to your correspondent James Bell who has written more than once from the Arab world with special concern for the most abominable man-made catastrophe--the plight of the Arabs of Palestine --the refugees, and the new race of wanderers.
He seems to have the wisdom and the courage to state the facts antidoting the poison spread in the atmosphere of this country by the strong Israeli propaganda machine . . .
We expect justice, backed by great hearts and open minds, to help the suffering Arabs of Palestine to win the battle against the cancerous Communism (which they fear the most), and bury it in its birthplace within the borders of the so-called Israel.
ADIB F. TABRI Wilmington, Ohio
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