Fangs and Horns

To the Editors:

Your article on Mao's wife Chiang Ch'ing [March 21] was fascinating. Her fangs and horns faded away as I read, and a real woman emerged.

She is a woman who has been shaped by her life experiences, and she has done hardly more or less in her own fashion than any American woman would do in a power struggle.

Garland R. Toliver Martinsville, Va.

You might be interested to see how an airbrush can be used to render even an Empress an unperson.

The photograph above is from TIME'S Chiang Ch'ing cover story. The lower one is from a commemorative issue of China Pictorial, November 1976, on Mao Tse-tung.

You'll see that Chiang Ch'ing has been erased from the photo.

Strobe Talbott TIME Correspondent Washington, D.C.

Chairman Hua Kuo-feng might consider making selections from Witke's book required reading for the period of de-Chiang Ch'ingification. Certain descriptions of Mme, Mao's "imperial proletarian style" would serve the new regime well in illustrating just how "bourgeois right" an "ultraleftist" can be.

Timothy A. Gelatt Philadelphia

I must protest your cover blurb --"Mao's wife" indeed! Surely a woman as formidable and powerful as Chiang

Ch'ing was in her own right deserves the dignity of having her proper name appear on your cover.

Linda Hedrick Los Angeles

When one is poor and angry, one is a proletarian revolutionary; when one is in power and contented, one becomes a bourgeois-minded elitist.

Bill Chen Minneapolis

Slaughter of Innocents

I submit that the wave of terrorism, like that of the Hanafi gunmen in Washington [March 21], will stop only when terrorists are met by the one thing they well understand: armed force. Only when the price becomes too high to pay will people like the Hanafi leader stop the senseless slaughter of innocents.

Walter Murdoch Trout dale, Ore.

Appalling! Absolutely appalling to free murderers, assassins and kidnapers without bail!

Paul W. Bodkin Coving ton, Va.

There is a simple and workable solution to dealing with terrorists, one that is unpleasant but that will work. No demands of any kind will be acceded to. Every effort will be made to protect the lives of hostages, but even if all must die, there will be no dealing with their captors.

The situation should be covered in news broadcasts, but without any mention of the terrorists' demands. When there is no glory, no profit, no support for any cause to be gained by the capturing and holding of hostages, this particular symptom will cease to appear.

R. Keith Partlow Tacoma, Wash.

It's early for TIME'S "Man of the Year" nominations, but surely deserving consideration are Pakistani Ambassador Sahabzada Yaqub-Khan, Egyptian Ambassador Ashraf Ghorbal and Iranian Ambassador Ardeshir Zahedi for their crucial role in the release of the hostages held by the Hanafi gunmen.

John Novotney Washington, D.C.

Risking Cancer

How can the FDA possibly get away with banning saccharin [March 21] when they won't ban cigarettes? Just as I can choose whether I want to risk lung cancer, I ought to be able to choose whether I want to risk bladder cancer.

Susan Boucher Menlo Park, Calif.

I suggest that the FDA follow established precedent and allow saccharin to be marketed, but with the following label: WARNING! THE FDA HAS DETER MINED THAT THIS PRODUCT IS DANGEROUS TO THE HEALTH OF RATS.

J.M. Claunch, M.D. Seattle

When 1 learn to drink 800 cans of diet drink each day for the rest of my life, I'll be glad to comply with the laws governing the FDA. Until then, perhaps it is the law and not the sweetener that should be changed.

Hilary M. Taylor Champaign, Ill.

First we were told milk was the perfect food, then that became suspect. The same thing has applied to bread, eggs, salt, frozen foods, sugar and now sugar substitute. Between Nader and the FDA. I am beginning to feel it is just plain dangerous to get out of bed.

(Mrs.) Shirley Mulligan Lake Park, Fla.

Were a visitor from another planet to read about the saccharin ban, he would conclude that earthlings' basic nutritional needs required the consumption of large amounts of soda pop, jelly and chewing gum. We can testify to the inaccuracy of such an assumption. For more than two years we have consumed none of the above products and have used almost no sweetened products of any kind. Diabetics and overweight persons may initially find it difficult to do the same, but we guarantee that such a diet would be less dangerous to their health than continued use of saccharin.

Carol and Douglas Becknell Prophetstown, Ill.

I am very disturbed about the FDA ruling on saccharin. My dad died of diabetes complications, not cancer from saccharin, and he had been using it since he was eleven years old.

Melissa A. Swain Pulaski, Va.

Banning the Concorde

Why come down so hard on the people of New York City for banning the Concorde [March 21]? They are only affirming the judgment of the American people and their Congress, who scrapped plans for an American SST several years ago. If we wanted an SST, we would have built one.

David L. Westerman River Forest, Ill.

I realize that the British and French are our bosom buddies. But they're not very good friends if they insist on subjecting us to their own atmosphere-shredding monstrosity.

R. Alexander Atwood Newton, Mass.

Your article on the Concorde just proves one thing: there is still jealousy about the Anglo-French effort. This airliner is the best in the world today. If it can't land in New York, it will land somewhere else where it is appreciated.

Dirk Sampath Sipana, Trinidad

Even if the Concorde is allowed into New York City, it threatens to be the greatest financial flop in aviation history. If it is denied landing rights at J.F.K., the French and British, who have never been able to view this aircraft rationally, will pin the entire blame for its failure on us. As a transatlantic pilot. I say let them land in New York and go broke doing it.

David O. Hill New York City

Bible Confusion

Reading about John A.T. Robinson's theories of dating the Bible [March 21] reminded me of a story that made the seminary rounds. It seems that the scholars were confused from reading all the latest theories, so one suggested that they read the Bible to see if it might throw some light on the commentaries. (The Rev.)

Richard H. Petersen Portland, Me.

A Word from "Our Mary"

Thank you, Mr. Morrow, for the wonderfully flattering Essay [March 14], which has me breathing rarefied air. It's one I shall read again should my spirits sag (and they will) as I attempt new projects.

You made us all feel quite special. Mary Tyler Moore Studio City, Calif.

Watching the last episode of the Mary Tyler Moore Show proved to be a traumatic experience. It was like losing very close friends. I wore black while 1 watched these friends get the ax.

Ronald A. Pritsch Yeadon, Pa.

Every Saturday night from 8 to 8:30 p.m. I will light a candle and sit in front of a darkened TV set.

Jack Rubin Princeton, N.J.

After reading your Essay on Mary Tyler Moore, a friend telephoned me to ask how I felt about my puppets becoming part of the language. I couldn't be happier (or more flattered) with your choice of "Kuklapolitan" to describe the charm and innocence of MTM. I shall miss those good friends who do bear a resemblance to Kukla's troupe (I've always thought) in their love and respect for each other.

Burr Tillstrom Chicago

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