To the Editors:

Homosexuality [Sept. 8] was once called "the love that dare not speak its name." Now it won't shut up.

Althea L. Hart

Kenosha, Wis.

Disgusting, repulsive, lowbrow, nauseating. I'm no Victorian, but those individuals should crawl into a hole and pull it in after them--and take TIME with them.

(Mrs.) Hila Parsons

Bennington, N.H.

Courageous Sergeant Matlovich has the silent good wishes of millions of us who are unable to fight, afraid to fight, or just too damn tired of fighting for our just liberation. I hope to see him on your cover again--as Man of the Year. "Man"' in every sense of the word.

John Callahan

Norfolk

I was revolted by Matlovich's face proclaiming "I am a homosexual." He is a disgrace to the uniform of an honorable service.

Morton A. Roth

Marietta, Ga.

Only in the armed forces can you be highly decorated for killing thousands of your fellow men and be drummed out of the corps if you dare to love one.

Harry J. Mooney Jr.

Denver

From time immemorial we have recognized yellow fever, malaria, syphilis, leprosy, perversion, degeneracy, garbage and homosexuality in about that order.

There need be no change.

Russel K. Havighorst

Colonel, U.S.A. (ret.)

South Miami, Fla.

Perhaps the harsh reality of our true worth will strike home only when you discover that we are your sons or daughters or dearest friends.

Yes, we are worthy of your love.

You've given it to us all along, not realizing who we are.

Rick Clark

Costa Mesa, Calif.

If we are really to accept this latest linguistic atrocity "gay," as referring to a homosexual or homosexuality, then what is the proper term for us heterosexuals? Morose?

Edwin R. Kammin

Toronto

Being gay, I have to laugh at parents, mine included, who are against having their children taught by homosexuals.

My parents sent me to a Catholic boys' high school--a good college prep school, very strict, excellent teachers. When I turned the legal drinking age right after I graduated from high school, I began going to the gay bars.

What a great feeling to find that many of my old teachers, whom I respected a great deal, were also at the gay bars.

Robert W. Kelleher

Chicago

Studies of animal behavior show that among their reactions to overcrowding are sexual aberrations and destruction of the young. It seems worth considering that the present-day homosexuality and abortion explosions are reactions of the human animal to worldwide overpopulation.

Miriam A. Cabarga

Boynton Beach, Fla.

My husband has to carry a number of keys because of his work. Because of worn-out pockets, sore legs from keys digging into them and unsightly bulges, he decided to carry his keys on a hook on his belt. Now we find out this is a homosexual signal. Needless to say, he will go back to worn-out pockets, sore legs and unsightly bulges.

Mrs. Gordon Burke

San Jose, Calif.

Quadraphonic Quake

The next San Francisco earthquake [Sept. 1] will inevitably be glorious: a Bill Graham production featuring surprise friends and relations and perhaps even Cher Bono Allman, a Columbia soundtrack, a Dick Clark Wide World special with simultaneous quadraphonic FM coverage sponsored by the folks from the Coca-Cola Bottling Co. and T shirts for the quake maniacs on the East Coast. May even start a trend.

Chena Harper

San Francisco

Your article on earthquakes is just wonderful. We are less than half a mile from the San Andreas Fault, on a hill overlooking the blue Pacific Ocean. Why is your article wonderful? Because the presence of earthquakes is one of the factors that encourage a lot of people not to move to California.

How about a scary article on sharks along all the California beaches?

James M. McCraney

Pacifica, Calif.

Parents, Beware

This fall's school openings [Sept. 15] provide further evidence that too many parents have abandoned their responsibilities in the affairs of education to the school professionals. The professionals have somewhat mindlessly followed their leaders. Threats of "we will strike" commit us to further straitjacketing the school systems with more specialization. "Professionalism" is the cry.

Parents, if you don't actively move your public schools from a labor market debate into an organized parent action for educational reform to ensure a better education for every child, you may soon see the end of public education.

Harvey B. Scribner

Amherst, Mass.

Dr. Scribner, co-author of the new book Make Your Schools Work, was school chancellor of New York City, 1970-73.

Castro Caveat

The decision of the U.S. Government to allow foreign subsidiaries of American corporations to trade with Cuba [Sept. 1] constitutes another maneuver within the so-called policy of detente, which so far has meant nothing more than forsaking territories the Soviet Union covets in return for little but Soviet "good will." In this sense, American concessions resemble the classic "protection" payment made by shopkeepers in exchange for nothing but an uneasy respite until the threatening payee chose to renew his demands.

The step-by-step method of lifting sanctions on Cuba is a clever strategy designed to overcome the opposition of American firms with investments in pre-Castro Cuba who have demanded that compensation for the confiscation of property by the Castro dictatorship be made a prerequisite for the re-establishment of relations with it.

What about principles and morality? In matters of detente, they do not even seem to enter into the discussion. No matter the assurances made to defenseless nations, no matter the blood of those who yesterday fought in Viet Nam. But then, Secretary of State Kissinger was never professor of ethics at any university.

Carlos Prio Socarras

Miami

The writer was the last constitutionally elected President of Cuba (1948-52).

The View from Kankakee

Why should we have any more concern for New Yorkers [Sept. 8] than they have for us? Chances are the grain growing around Kankakee puts food on New Yorkers' tables, and the pet food or the Sears appliances they buy were made here. Let New Yorkers be concerned about our weather at harvest time or the labor situations at our factories, and I'll gladly be concerned about their city's economic condition.

Frank Absher

Program Director, WBYG-FM

Kankakee, Ill.

If Professor Andrew Hacker thinks New York City has budget problems, he should come out to Kankakee and other cities in the Midwest. By tightening its belt Kankakee will have a budget within its means for the next year.

Since Kankakee is solvent, there will be at least some Kankakeeans who will be worry-free enough about their local taxes to consider buying New York City's bonds. Besides, Kankakee has more interest in New York City's welfare than some might think. Some of the greatest blue-chip corporations in the country have established plants and divisions here. And after all, New York City is the marketplace for their stocks.

Kankakee can't bail New Yorkers out of their financial dilemma, but it doesn't hurt us to wish them all well.

Tom J. Ryan Jr., Mayor

Kankakee, Ill.

To Bus or Not

I have ceased to regard busing [Sept. 15] in this country as a racial issue.

A middle-class American parent may have spent 15 or more years to jockey himself into a position to provide a particular home and home territory for himself and for his children. Why try, if the Government can arbitrarily cancel it out?

Joyce N. Lewis

Albuquerque

C'mon, Louisville!

Isn't it about time that we of the present generation drop the inbred ignorance of our parents and take this opportunity to better the world?

Frank J. Nolin

Fairfax, Va.

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