A Tribe at Bay

To the Editors:

Asking the republic of South Africa to abandon apartheid [Nov. 21] is exactly like asking Holland to blow up its dikes.

James Thompson Minneapolis

You say, "Black Africa is determined that majority rule must come to the country." Since when has majority rule been an African concern? Black Africa is half a continent of military juntas, lifetime presidents and coconut kingdoms.

No, what the blacks want for Pretoria is not majority rule, but black rule. They're not against dictatorship; they just want to get in on it.

Robert Mounts Rochester, Mich.

In the campaign against South Africa and her internal policy, the principle of "one man, one vote" is used. I would like to point out that amongst the states in Africa, only a few are even a little democratic. In the great majority there is one man, one vote. But the dictator has the only vote.

Jonathan Batnitzky Johannesburg

As a concerned South African citizen, I would like to record my protest against the recent spate of bannings and detentions. I would also like to protest, however, against foreign interference in our affairs. Because of its double standards, it is more destructive than constructive and will only serve to extend this government further.

Paul Wisenberg Kalk Bay, South Africa

For centuries the white man has had it all his own way, and the only justice was "white makes right." Now that the Third World peoples are asserting their rights to the powers so long reserved for the white minority, there is suddenly concern that change be peaceful and orderly and that solutions be just.

It is ludicrous to expect that black Africans should willingly accept a hostile, racially alien nation on their continent, regardless of "historic rights." After all, would we tolerate such an entity in our own midst? In light of our own history of racial repression, not to mention the attempted eradication of native Americans and the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II, I would have to think not.

Terry J. Saunders Boston

When Ambassador Andrew Young and his friends in the Eastern intellectual Establishment begin to raise as much hell about present inhuman conditions for young blacks in our own country, and only then will I buy their sincerity about being concerned for the rights of blacks in South Africa. Economic and political conditions for blacks in South Africa are more humane than in most of the black-ruled states of that continent.

Adam A. Kozminski-Bleiberg Los Angeles

I Nominate...

Hubert Humphrey for Man of the Year! Because he is the American spirit: indomitable, enthusiastic, always sure that something interesting lies ahead.

Ann R. Hutton Boca Raton, Fla.

Freddie Laker. He hath slain the bureaucratic cartel-breathing dragon.

Richard J. Leonhardt Norfolk

Surely it is Egypt's President Anwar Sadat. His being the first Arab leader to visit Israel--and thereby recognizing its existence--is the boldest move toward peace in the Middle East since the days of the Kissinger shuttle diplomacy.

Larry A. Etkin Minneapolis

The man who saved democracy in Sri Lanka, Junius Richard Jayawardine, our Prime Minister.

Naga Wickremasinghe Colombo, Sri Lanka

Elvis Presley. The King is dead. Long live the King!

Carol Bachelder Boise, Idaho

The courageous dissidents and their families in the Soviet Union.

Joseph Fujiki Salt Lake City

Considering this year's flood in Johnstown, drought in California, blackout in New York and the bitter winter followed by the extreme heat of the past summer, I believe the nomination should go to that unlovable old lady--Mother Nature.

Roy Kaatz Chicago

My nomination: Allan Bakke.

Steven Reese State College, Pa.

Praying and Preying

Anita Bryant says, "I don't hate homosexuals. I pray for them ' [Nov. 21]. The word should be prey, not pray.

Bennett Bade Denver

Please stop assuming that Anita Bryant's foes are "radical gay activists" and "homosexual militants." I am straight and nonmilitant. But I am one of many who are proud to join any march, boycott or movement against one who would deny an American his or her civil rights.

Martin A. Goldberg Stamford, Conn.

Thank God for Anita Bryant. The Bible so clearly states that homosexuality is wrong. The gays say that God loves everybody. That's true. But he loves murderers too, and should they teach little kids that to murder is all right?

Mike Hulme Rancho Mirage, Calif.

All I can say is, "Up against the wall, gays, or go back in the closet."

Matt Boyer Sacramento

The U.S. survived McCarthyism. It will probably get through Bryantism.

John B. Stauff Sarasota, Fla.

That New Morality

Your article on "The New Morality" [Nov. 21] really hit an alltime conversation peak in my sociology class. Though it might be true that more people are sleeping together for love, there is still a strong belief in having sex for the fun of it. Most people in my class concluded that it wouldn't be so bad to have a mistress or to be one. Just be sure to get the fringe benefits without any strings attached.

Marjorie Tananbaum Washington, D.C.

Could it be that America is still the "one nation under God" that it was meant to be?

Mike Hood Baton Rouge, La.

Suppose TIME'S poll showed that 95% of the people favored living together, extramarital affairs and homosexuality. Would that justify the acts? Children are being taught at home that there is such a thing as morals, while almost everywhere else in society they are learning "anything goes"--with TV being the big culprit.

Joseph F. Quinn Owego, N. Y.

Immoralities like political corruption, cheating insurance companies, income tax evasion, discrimination and prejudice are far more readily accepted by our society, even though they are more damaging to us than illicit sex.

Great amounts of energy are used to combat supposed sexual immorality, while we tolerate other immoralities with a shrug of the shoulders.

J. David Leach Boston

Dealing with Realities

It is not so much out of optimism as out of fear that Americans refuse to deal with the energy crisis [Nov. 21]. We are just not willing to acknowledge scarcity. The frontier is gone. Abundance and economic growth do not reflect current realities. Let us face those realities, rather than continue an illusion.

William K. Baxter Beaver Dam, Wis.

Not Only Brooklyn

Your article "Going ... Going ... Gone?" [Nov. 7] citing isolated incidents of crime in Brooklyn is grossly unfair. By inference it condemns an entire borough for events that are commonplace daily throughout the nation.

Your reporter states that the reluctance for four days of Bensonhurst residents to become involved in a recent murder investigation "might be seen by outsiders as evidence of the area's deterioration." The FBI reports hundreds of thousands of crimes annually in which information is not forthcoming for weeks --not days--after crimes are committed.

Would your Nostradamus confine fear of reprisal--or any other reaction to violence--exclusively to Brooklyn?

Why not report on how Brooklyn's billions of tax dollars are used by the Federal Government to transfer Brooklyn industry to the South and Southwest, which will use your denigrating article as a lure to attract more of our business?

Howard Golden, President Borough of Brooklyn New York City

Double Standard

Your article on Cambodia [Nov. 21] made me wonder what happened to all of the people who screamed "genocide" at American activities in Southeast Asia designed to prevent the type of atrocities currently being committed by the Pol Pot regime. Our human rights campaign has to date been highly selective, directed primarily against governments of the right while leaving left-leaning regimes almost completely alone. Talk about the old double standard!

Tom Reidy Tacoma, Wash.

Overstayed Welcome

We are fortunate indeed to have the treasure of early Irish art [Nov. 14] on a U.S. tour. What is unfortunate is the fact that the English invaded Ireland in 1169, and after 808 years don't seem to realize they've overextended their visit.

Karen Clark Fortuna, Calif.

One More Course

Your story on "High Schools Under Fire" [Nov. 14] missed one of the most important aspects of learning--motivation. Maybe one more course ought to be added to the schools' curriculums: "How to teach parents to motivate their children."

Stephen A. Koinis Durham, N.C.

One harrowing prospect: the students who are products of this period of lowered standards, chronic absenteeism and general apathy will be tomorrow's teachers.

Christopher Anderson Fowler, Ind.

What's wrong with teachers dealing through unions? I am a plumber, and I work hard but get paid plenty for it. My wife is a teacher who is paid half as much as I but works twice as hard. She brings work home every evening, grades, corrects and evaluates all of her kids, but she earns less than some of the custodians that work in her elementary school.

Maybe our kids should wise up: don't be a teacher if you want to get paid well. Blue collar has more class.

George Nolton Salem, Ore.

I had a most unusual conversation recently with a professor from a U.S. teachers' college who was visiting the Orient with a group of educators.

Here are some of the gems from the mouth of this pedagogue:

"I never read newspapers, so I am not up on current events!"

"Did ancient Sparta participate in the war against Troy?"

"One kilometer is one-third of a mile."

"Yes, I'd like to see this Kabu--what do you call it? The Japanese theater."

Alas for the American student, the recipient of cumulative ignorance!

Artemis Onuma Chofu City, Japan

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