The Eagle's Angry Scream

To the Editors:

The world has heard the angry scream of the American eagle [May 26]. Every thinking man suddenly realized that the U.S. is still a world power and will not hesitate to use its muscle in defense of its citizens.

Edward Lysek

Chicopee, Mass.

America's immediate reaction confirms that you just don't pull the tiger's tail.

Richard A. Falduto

North Miami, Fla.

I think the Mayaguez incident was contrived to prove we are still a superpower in the Pacific. The political gains from the action outweigh the possible losses, but it is like limburger cheese: it is good, but it smells.

Vincent Morency

Ferndale, Mich.

With the ink of the Pentagon papers barely dry, figuratively speaking, our military mythmakers are back to the brainwashing techniques with which they manipulated American hearts and minds during our interminable Indochina involvement.

It is not until well after the trigger-happy trip that we are told--on the installment plan--how many lives we really paid because we would rather fight than switch to diplomacy.

Harold Willens

Los Angeles

In consideration of the possible courses of action open to President Ford in dealing with the Cambodian piracy of the S.S. Mayaguez, I am convinced he did the right thing.

Piracy and barbaric acts on the part of any government simply do not respond to civilized bargaining and diplomacy. That simple lesson has been relearned numerous times.

The most applicable similarity between the S.S. Mayaguez and the U.S.S. Pueblo is that protection of both ships was an inherent responsibility of our Government. There is no question in my mind that a revitalization of pride at home and confidence among our friends round the world are among the immediate benefits.

Commander Lloyd M. Bucher (ret.)

Poway, Calif.

Captain of the surveillance ship Pueblo when it was seized by the North Koreans in 1968, Commander Bucher is now a lecturer and freelance writer.

Until historians ascertain what additional facts and alternatives, if any, were available to President Ford, they cannot complete their evaluation of the Mayaguez crisis other than to commend the courage of our armed forces. But clearly, they will not compare this incident to the Cuban missile crisis--a potential nuclear confrontation between two superpowers that was ultimately resolved through delicate negotiations without the U.S. firing a single shot or losing more than a single man. J.F.K., unlike Ford, supported by every nation in the affected area and acting with caution and candor, avoided a direct clash, utilized the U.N. and other channels of communication, issued no ultimatum and authorized no acts of punishment or retaliation.

He did not crow about American resolve when the status quo was restored but proceeded to construct on this foundation further peaceful links with the other side (including the nuclear test-ban treaty and hot line). Let us hope that President Ford, who has been admirably restrained in his rhetoric about the Mayaguez, can also convert this experience with confrontation into a new effort for cooperation.

Ted Sorensen

New York City

Mr. Sorensen was special counsel to President Kennedy and author of Decision Making in the White House.

Most Gifted Dancer

A cover story on the dance [May 19] has long been overdue. One of the reasons for the popularity of dance is our mistrust of words.

Baryshnikov's superb execution of movement communicates to us through our emotions. It is his combination of antitheses--vulnerability, strength; youth, control; solo work, partnering; serenity, volatility--that makes him this generation's most gifted dancer.

Roy L. Cowser Jr.

Wharton, Texas

I enjoyed your article on ballet and was especially delighted to see a dancer make the cover. This is solid proof of the growing popularity of dance in America today.

Ballet was less accepted when I came to the U.S. with Ballet Russe in 1934. Strange restrictions were placed on male dancers then: tights were taboo in some parts of the country, and as late as 1950 male dancers had to wear knee-length jackets to appear on TV.

Today almost every large city has a ballet company, and these frequently act as springboards to the major companies.

Unfortunately, there is still a stigma attached to young boys' taking up ballet. A classroom of 30 students may include only one male. We are far behind Russia in this respect, but not in our quality. Your article, revealing the earning power of a top male dancer, will, I hope, coax more parents into sending their young sons to the dance barre.

I greatly admire and heartily welcome Mr. Baryshnikov and am certain he will be an inspiration to both students and balletomanes.

Andre Eglevsky, Artistic Director

Nassau County Ballet Company

Massapequa, N. Y.

Mr. Eglevsky, a soaring danseur noble, performed with all the great ballet companies during the '30s, '40s and '50s.

Whom's in Charge Here?

In your account of Ophuls' problems with The Memory of Justice [May 12], you say, "... the lineup would have to depend ... on whom would be available," which raises the question of whom is in charge of TIME's grammar department and whom is going to fire him.

Paul F. Nagle

North Scituate, Mass.

A Dash of Karate

In "Assignment: Assertion" [May 19], Instructors Phelps and Austin tell their students to apply assertiveness by requesting the demonstration of a product in a department store and then walking away without buying. Let us assume that the store clerk just happens to be a student of the same philosophy. Perhaps the lesson should be revised to include a dash of karate.

Wayne J. Woessner

Riverside, N.J.

Phelps and Austin may be training their students more in obnoxious behavior than in assertive behavior when they tell them to ask for "50 cents' worth of gas at the filling station, then demand that the attendant wash the car windows." What is wrong with a courteous request, whatever the amount of gasoline purchased?

Estelle S. Reisner

Meadville, Pa.

I cannot understand why a woman would object to being a part of the " 'compassion trap'--the need to serve others and provide tenderness and compassion at all times." What this society needs is more emphasis on the need to serve others and provide tenderness, compassion, cooperation and love.

Bev Dilley

Derby, Conn.

We have long had a word for people who say no like broken records, fog their speech with boring yes-but-no dissertations and pointlessly hassle shop clerks and service-station attendants.

The folks at George Washington University merely tacked -ertive onto the end of it.

Steve Stinson

Gordonsville, Va.

Costly Journey

In your review of Journey [May 19], you say, "More than half of all hemophiliacs die before the age of five. Even with regular transfusions ... only 11% live to age 21." This derives from a paragraph in which I was describing the situation at the turn of the century. Today almost all hemophiliacs grow to adulthood and, once there, can expect to live a relatively normal life span.

Using the powerful new blood fractions now available, they should also be spared the crippling that has always been so much a part of the disease. Unfortunately, only a few hemophiliacs can use these blood fractions because they are too expensive. This is a situation that we feel is not only medically but also morally wrong.

Robert Massie

Irvington-on-Hudson, N. Y.

Perchance to Sleep

The great thing about transcendental meditation at Maharishi International University [May 12] is that it allows a student to sleep during a video-taped lecture without anyone's noticing.

Bill Turley

St. Paul

Boob Tube Art

I find it hard to understand Robert Hughes' praise of Bridget Riley's Op art [May 1]. Unless I have it serviced regularly, I get pretty much the same pictures on my television set.

Jan Knowlton

Stanton, Calif.

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