He Seems to Walk on Water

To the Editors:

As you aptly point out in your story on the Black Prince of the Press, Rupert Murdoch [Jan. 17], the only decent newspaper he publishes, The Australian, hardly keeps its head above water. The Sunday Australian, which he used to publish, was even better but, like a lot of other papers that are too good for the public, it went under.

Mr. Murdoch not only keeps his head above water but walks on it because he gives people what they want.

R. Thompson Monte Carlo, Monaco

Digger Murdoch is showing Americans what most of them implicitly believe--that money talks.

G.J. Advani Chicago

Thank you for your coverage on what's happening to the newspaper ownership in New York City. Everyone here in the Midwest waits breathlessly for any news about New York City. It's so relevant to our lives.

The big controversy here is sewer-line annexation. Would you boys like to do a cover story about it?

Tony Williams Xenia, Ohio

I disagree with your labeling the San Antonio News an ignoble fish wrapper. The News would probably make a good bird-cage liner or emergency umbrella. I prefer to confine my reading to the San Antonio Light and, of course, TIME.

Meta Sienkiewicz College Station, Texas

As one who has been associated with Clay Felker and New York magazine since its founding, I would like to correct your story. It was filled with adjectives chosen to portray Felker in as harsh a light as possible. But you missed some that I'd like to add: he is loyal, generous, scrupulously honest and dynamic to the point that his enthusiasms fueled the lives of those who worked for him.

Jane Maxwell, Corporate General

Manager, New West Magazine

Beverly Hills, Calif.

Let Bygones Be Bygones

As a disabled Viet Nam veteran who lost the use of both ankles in Viet Nam, I would like to express my opinion of draft evaders and deserters [Jan. 17]. Let bygones be bygones.

They were concerned with not wanting to hurt anyone. Are these the types of people we are trying to keep out of our society?

Norman Friedman Stone Ridge, N. Y.

I have been in the military for six years. I consider it an honor to serve my country. But if blanket pardon is given to these people who chose to leave America in time of need, I'll keep it in mind for the next war we have. I just won't go. What difference will it make? I'll just be pardoned later, anyway.

(SGT) Ron Jones, U.S.A.F. Tyndall A.F.B., Fla.

Tea for Two

Throughout our society, we tea drinkers have always got the dirty end of the spoon. Coffee breaks, coffee tables, coffee cakes, coffee shops, and now a coffee boycott [Jan. 17].

I only hope that as a result of any coffee boycott, tea for two does not brew into tea for two dollars!

George G. O'Hagan Rutland, Vt.

Two hundred years ago, my ancestors were drinking patriotic coffee instead of tea. Slightly more than one hundred years ago, the family beverage was made from a mixture of parched corn and yams, as the federal blockade kept coffee and tea from the Confederacy. Now we are urged to drink tea instead of coffee. This time, however, come King George, General Grant or frost, my family will drink what it wishes. Still, I am thinking of storing corn and yams.

Matt Dacy Arlington Heights, Ill

Step 'n' Fetch Its

It is about time people began listening to what nurses have to say [Jan. 17] about the sick health-care system the people in this country will tolerate.

Nurses have been treated like ignorant, irresponsible, second-class "Step 'n' Fetch Its" by doctors and the public long enough. I'd like to see how others would feel after being in charge of an intensive-care unit for eight hours and being totally responsible for those critically ill patients' lives, with no doctors around 90% of the time.

If the people who are outraged by nursing care could walk in my shoes for one day, they'd learn a lot more than just what sore feet feel like.

Deborah C. Royalty Lexington, Ky.

I am curious to know why 38% of nurses say they would not want to be hospitalized in their own hospitals, yet they continue to endanger their professional reputations by affiliating themselves with institutions they feel give substandard care. I would insist on being hospitalized where quality care is provided--the hospital where I work!

Patricia Phero, Clinical Coordinator

St. Margaret Memorial Hospital

Pittsburgh

Without a doubt, the results of the nursing survey are going to be a heavy burden for the already heavily burdened nurse. We must remember that she is a product of the society and of the times, like the doctor who steals from Medicare, the immoral politician and the porno pusher.

Mary Y. Popkms Kankakee, Ill

Mourning for France

By allowing Palestinian terrorist Abu Daoud to be freed [Jan. 24], France shows again that it is merely a puppet in the hands of Arab dictators. For the right price of oil, justice can be tossed aside. France should be in mourning --not for the dead Israelis but for the death of justice, liberty and respect.

Susan Miller Evanston, Ill

If countries were people, France would be a whore.

Maurie D. Levme Cincinnati

I'm not proud of my country at all. The decision of French authorities to release the cowardly Palestinian terrorist Abu Daoud is scandalous.

Henry Nove-Josserana Lyon, France

No Partisan Politics

Thank you for your article on me and the ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ [Jan. 3]. In referring to my socalled right-wing political views, however, you are apparently parroting other secular publications which have not secured the facts.

Though I have stated that there is more freedom to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ in South Korea than in the United States, I have never praised or criticized the South Korean political leadership, or the regime, or administration of any other country for that matter, where we are privileged to serve our Lord. In fact, we have a very strict, written policy that no staff member is to become involved in partisan political efforts in any country.

Further, the statement was made that I "got entangled with Third Century Publishers" and, by inference, was therefore opposed to Jimmy Carter. The fact is that Third Century Publishers is little more than a name to me. I neither opposed nor supported either presidential candidate. I spoke well of both candidates and considered them both to be men of God.

Bill Bright San Bernardino, Calif.

Raped Artist

Thank you for finally printing an article on female artists [Jan. 10]. I was surprised, though, that Robert Hughes failed to mention the most important reason why 17th century Italian Painter Artemisia Gentileschi's paintings turned rape "into an image of sexual fear in a way that ... no man could readily have imagined."

The reason she painted this subject with such feeling was due primarily to the fact that she was raped and beaten by a "friend" of her father's during her adolescence. When the rapist was finally brought to trial, his own sister testified against him. Gentileschi herself was cross-examined under torture and her rapist was sentenced to eight months in prison.

Times haven't changed much since the 17th century. Women still don't get the recognition they deserve for their efforts, and rapists still don't get the punishment they deserve for their crimes.

Joanie Mathews San Bernardino, Calif.

Whose Spad?

Sucre bleu! Louis Bechereau will be sure to wreak his Gallic spleen in that Great Aerodrome in the Sky when he spies your caption on the National Air and Space Museum's World War I gallery. An English Spad [Jan. 17]? Egad! Jamais!

Those sleek, elegant lines are French built and French designed.

Robert J. Tobin Ivyland, Pa.

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