Toward Peace

Sir / For Man of the Year: Dr. Henry A. Kissinger [Oct. 30], who realizes that balance-of-power politics and long-range planning is really what it's all about. What diplomacy, sagacity, steadiness, knowledge, eloquence and, with it all, a sense of humor. What a well-chosen man for such a difficult task.

KATHLEEN F. OWEN

Walnut Creek. Calif.

Sir / Peace in Viet Nam. It's amazing what a blockade can do.

RALPH GEORGE GROSS

Durham, N.H.

Sir / It took long-haired kids, campus riots, Gene McCarthy and finally George Mc-Govern to force Richard Nixon to come out and opt for finally ending the war.

WALTER BRENNER

Cherokee, Iowa

Twaddle about Pornography

Sir / As to "California Cleans" [Oct. 23], my first reaction to the article was: What a fantastic country! People write twaddle about pornography as if it could destroy the whole nation, while they accept and defend a system that makes it possible for every potential murderer to carry a gun. I have tried to understand this situation, but I can't.

SOREN LEISVIG

Tastrup, Denmark

Sir / Your report on California's Proposition 18 concerning obscenity made reference to Pat Boone as Mr. Clean because he favored passage of the proposition. For truly unbiased journalism, should you not also have referred to John Wayne as Mr. Dirty because he is opposed? Our country needs more outspoken men with Pat Boone's morals and fewer magazines and entertainers who poke fun at him.

MR. & MRS. KENNETH L. WEBSTER

Liberal, Kans.

Sir / Liberals who cry about the public's apathy toward the immorality of the Watergate affair and the Viet Nam War should realize that their condoning of court decisions allowing pornography to run rampant have contributed greatly to this apathy. Why should a society that tolerates and encourages the immorality of pornography care at all that immorality may exist in our national Government, so long as it has "redeeming social value."

N.A. MASTROPIETRO, M.D.

Lancaster, Pa.

Sir / The founding fathers wrote wisely and well when they said "no law abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press."

"No law" does not mean some law about some things. It does not mean no law except for materials violating community standards. The primary purpose of the First Amendment is to protect materials violating community standards; other materials do not need the First Amendment.

FRANKLIN E. KAMENY

Washington, D.C.

Jackie Robinson's Search

Sir / I met Jackie Robinson [Nov. 6] once. I was hitchhiking and he stopped.

It took me a moment; the gray hair and the business suit were unfamiliar, but the boyish voice was unmistakable. I blurted out, "You're Jackie Robinson! I used to love you."

It was impossible, of course, not to ask this man about baseball and the Dodgers of Ebbets Field. During the 30-minute ride, I tried to get some small idea of the real life in all that.

And then quite abruptly, and strangely, given my initial gush and my baseball questions, our conversation turned to what was on his mind. This was in 1967; his son was home from Viet Nam and having trouble with drugs. It was a situation he didn't understand, a mystery. I remember that his voice wasn't as boyish or incisive as he reasoned with his anxiety.

I almost thought this man, this great man, was asking me for an answer. But I was too exuberant to think of one and launched into an account of my own present situation and accomplishments. It took me a moment to see and regret my stupidity, and the last few miles of pur ride together went by in an uneasy silence. All I could do was say goodbye to Jackie Robinson and thank him for the ride. LISTON POPE JR.

New York City

The First Goal

Sir / As a former teacher, I find it not so unusual that the Holy Angels parochial school [Oct. 30] is both strict and successful. By defying nebulous modern educational theories. Holy Angels has proved that a strict and structured environment can and does lead to successful learning. Its remarkable results speak for themselves. The 1,300 students at Holy Angels may not embark on such cloudy voyages as groping for self-realization (a common goal of our professed modern educators), but they are learning to read and write. And shouldn't that be education's first goal?

(MRS.) KAREN HABRA

Fishkill, N.Y.

Sir / Bravo, Father Clements! You are resurrecting a school system that they can't wait to bury here in the affluent white suburbs. If I were in the Chicago suburbs I swear I'd bus my children to your school.

MARY ZUCCARINI

Boston

Insulted

Sir / On behalf of 20 million gay women and men in America, many of whom-- until now-- have been TIME readers, I take strong objection to your review of the film Heat [Oct. 16], which was described by Jay Cocks as "a faggot rehash of Sunset Boulevard." Your use of such abusive terms as "faggot" cannot be tolerated.

RICH WANDEL

President

Gay Activists Alliance

New York City

Gutlessness?

Sir / I was more than a little discouraged to read in "Rebellious Youth" [Oct. 30] that more than 80% of this year's entries in Who's Who Among American High School Students approve of President Nixon's policies. Those policies have sanctioned the pushbutton killing and maiming of thousands in Indochina. Let's hope these possible future leaders reassess their priorities in the next few years. Our tomorrows must not be manipulated by those who value so-called patriotism more than human life. TINA LUSKEY

Stanford, Calif.

Sir / You people must be joking! Many of the kids selected for Who's Who are chosen by their high school counselors and/or principals. These kids would be outwardly more conservative-- I dare say, out of fear rather than conviction, or as a means of "making friends and influencing people." Harsh words? Well, I was guilty of the same thing, and am not exactly proud of my previous gutlessness.

NANCY SMARTS

Bloomington, Ind.

Sir / In reference to your figures on high school youths' opinions: You suggested that the students might have simply learned how to answer questionnaires. I suggest that the persons choosing Who's Who have simply learned to whom to give the questionnaires.

BRUCE ROSEN

Madison, N.J.

Priority for the Voter

Sir / Have you ever wondered what it is like to be out of the country during an election year? I am a 17-year-old American who is presently studying for ten weeks in Paris along with nine other girls. These girls represent every part of the United States. Many American voters consider it wrong or meaningless to have given 18-year-olds the privilege of voting. Granted, many Americans, including the youth, do not value their vote as they should. But here in France I am proud to say. "I am an American citizen."

Some of the girls were worried about receiving their absentee ballots in time to vote, and Jane went so far as to send a telegram to her town's county clerk's office to make sure they hadn't forgotten her as a new voter. One evening we were going to visit one of France's landmarks, but Karen did not accompany us because she was busy reading so she could be an "informed" voter. If anyone purchased magazines, there was a standing rule that voters had first priority in reading them in the hope that they would include election news.

I am absolutely convinced that the U.S. took a step forward when 18-year-olds were given the vote. SUSAN E. KIVETT

Paris

Strange Implication

Sir / Re the brief character sketch in Milestones, in which the Most Rev. James A. McNulty [Sept. 18] was described as "iron-willed," "hot-tempered" and "conservative." I can understand the use of the term "iron-willed" rather than the more charitable "firm." I can understand the label "conservative." What amazed, angered and grieved me (in that order) was to read of a man who was in reality characterized by gentleness, patience under attack and genuine long-suffering without complaint described as "hot-tempered."

And what a strange implication-- by the use of the word "nonetheless"--that there is something unusual about a conservative who "nonetheless" cares for the poor.

SISTER MARY DOLORES, O.S.F.

Williamsville, N.Y.

A $500 Scream

Sir / Re TIME'S article on New York's law on noise pollution [Oct. 23]: The next time one of you is a victim of a purse snatcher or mugger while walking through Central Park, watch your decibels while screaming, or you may be fined $500. Shape up. New York, and use that $800,000 to help rid the streets and parks of crime.

WILLIAM T. ALVORD

Miami

Shocked and Disgusted

Sir / As an admirer of Neil Diamond, I was shocked and disgusted by the disrespect shown to him when Ethel Kennedy poured beer on his head at the McGovern-Shriver fund-raising picnic [Oct. 30].

Neil Diamond as an artist has earned the respect of millions of people throughout the world, and in my opinion Mrs. Kennedy was way out of line.

VICTOR WISOSKI

La Mesa, Calif.

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