The IF Drug
To the Editors:
Cancer may be nature's most devastating army of destruction, but interferon [March 31] may be the untapped defense that the princelings of medicine--health professionals and researchers--need to increase the odds for victory.
George J. Perchak Norwich, Conn.
How can one tell the terminally ill cancer victim he must wait for laboratory testers to decide just how much IF is safe? He doesn't have the time. Just ask any widow. Me, for instance.
Janet Gray Woodleaf, N.C.
I was moved to tears by your article on interferon. As a registered nurse, I have worked with many patients suffering from "the world's most terrifying and psychologically daunting disease." My motivation as I campaign for cancer society funds has been intensified.
Marcia Buehner, R.N. Cleveland
There is an obvious reason why we do not have enough interferon today. The reason was (and partially still is) the National Institutes of Health Guidelines for Recombinant DNA Research, a set of regulations that in the U.S. prevented timely research on the cloning of human DNA for the purpose of making interferon efficiently and cheaply. These regulations still discourage and delay research on and production of future lifesaving medical products because of unfounded and silly fears of hypothetical and highly unlikely scenarios. It is high time to declare a moratorium on the N.I.H. guidelines.
Waclaw Szybalski, Professor of Oncology University of Wisconsin Medical School Madison, Wis.
As exciting as interferon research appears to be, it is, like most modern medicine, on the wrong track. Chemicals in the environment--food preservatives, air pollution, industrial solvents, chlorinated pesticides, radiation, tobacco smoke, etc. --are the causes of many cases of cancer. Why concentrate on the cure when the cause is the problem?
John B. Calhoun Jr. Alpine, Texas
Can Anyone Win?
In your article "But Can Reagan Be Elected?" [March 31] you say that "G.O.P. Front Runner Ronald Reagan relies upon a base of support that is on the far-right wing of the Republican Party." You can't bring yourselves to acknowledge the obvious: he has the broad center, and Kennedy, Carter, Anderson and the other liberals are on the far left of the people of this country.
Jack M. Marshall Lebanon, Ohio
If it is true that Reagan cannot win in a Carter-Reagan race, then it is going to be a very funny election, because Carter cannot conceivably win either.
Robert T. Dick Deerfield Beach, Fla.
Ronald Reagan vs. Jimmy Carter? There's only one word for that possibility: Help!
Steve Joos Havana, III.
I strongly dispute your assertion that "the public has refused to forgive" Kennedy Chappaquiddick. Considering the repeated dark hints in the media, it would be more accurate to say, "The media have refused to allow the public to forgive him Chappaquiddick."
David E. Pearson New Haven, Conn.
Chappaquiddick and his personal problems may have done in Teddy Kennedy. But I believe that the American people also perceive him as the king of the big spenders who have brought this country to the very brink of economic collapse. The aspirations of an arsonist to be fire chief strike many as ludicrous.
Thomas T. Cobb Daytona Beach, Fla.
Though Ted Kennedy may not be endowed with John Kennedy's wit and intelligence or with the heart of Robert Kennedy, he has shown himself to have the guts of a street fighter. He always comes back. A man with the guts, determination and perseverance of a Ted Kennedy would serve the country well in the Oval Office.
Joseph L. Boohaker Birmingham
In 1976, in the wake of Watergate, I was one of those who fell on their knees and prayed for Jimmy Carter to be elected President. But on the issue of the Soviets' threat to world peace, President Carter has been toeing too soft a line. Give Ronald Reagan a chance and retain Zbigniew Brzezinski.
Joshua A. Ladapo Jos, Nigeria
As a resident of Ohio, I am being cheated by the people of New Hampshire, Massachusetts and other states of the chance to vote for certain presidential candidates because they have already been eliminated. By June 3, when I get my chance at the ballot box, the field will be even narrower.
James E. Latham Youngstown, Ohio
Cronkite for President?
Hugh Sidey may have been joking when he suggested Walter Cronkite as a possible President [March 31], but it's no joke. Either party could nominate Cronkite and win. He knows more about national and international problems than any other two candidates put together, and, as a duty, I think he would accept the miserable job.
George A. Kellogg Athens, Ga.
Cronkite for President! I'll vote for that. Younger than Reagan, smarter than Carter and classier than Kennedy, Walter Cronkite outflanks the whole field in all respects.
Connee Merwin Falls Church, Va.
Saving America
When will a President learn that disciplining America is like disciplining a child? It's more effective to reward the good than to punish the bad. Why not reward the child who eats his vegetables? Americans need incentives to save and invest [March 24], like raising interest ceilings for small savers and reducing or eliminating taxes on interest and dividends.
People won't spend if they can make money by saving.
Bill Zvara Lansing, Mich.
Guess Who's Coming to Moscow
The biggest game of all is guessing who will be at the Summer Games in Moscow [March 31].
Warren Abbey Key West, Fla.
A boycott that could destroy the Olympic Games forever would be a tragedy to be remembered long after Afghanistan and the 1980 elections have faded from mind. If the U.S. is going to deny its citizens passports in order to prevent their participation in Moscow, I hope there will be an underground railway to smuggle out American athletes and spectators who want to do their part to keep the Olympic spirit alive.
John E. Ricketts Uxbridge, Ont.
It does credit to your nation that a peanut farmer from Georgia can become President. It is to the world's debit that he should harm the Olympic movement.
David G. Findlay Carleton Place, Ont.
We're not asking the young athletes of the world to fight the Soviet troops. All we're asking is that they not play games with them.
Catherine W. Staneck Gettysburg, Pa.
The Olympic Games are, after all, just that--games. The real world, of which aggression and propaganda sadly are a part, is still too much with us. How can we exchange human lives for laurel leaves? Or betray a people's freedom for a handful of gold? I for one will not weep over the death of the Olympics in their present chauvinistic form.
Stephen A. Weninger Hong Kong
Arabs vs. Israelis
As a former Yeshiva student in Qiryat Arba (Hebron), Israel [March 31], I find it unfortunate that your correspondents hardly made mention of the frequent intimidating and provocative acts of the local Palestinian Arabs toward the residents of Qiryat Arba. I all too well remember my own experiences dodging the rocks and bottles chucked at me.
Jonathan Goldberg Chicago
How the Arabs are persecuted by the Jews in Israel is an important aspect of the Israeli-Arab problem often omitted by the media. As a Bahraini Arab, I have talked with many Palestinians who have left Israel because of such incidents of persecution by the Israeli Jews. There are two sides to the Israeli-Arab problem.
Karim Mansouri Cape Girardeau, Mo.
The U.S. has tried hard to resolve the conflict; yet the Arabs and the Israelis seem to reject every effort to bring about a peaceful solution. The U.S. is wasting its time and money on these people; it should wash its hands of them and let the principals decide their own fate.
Frank Morscher Ridgewood, N. Y.
Divisive Prayers
Unfortunately, those who pray together don't stay together where the schools are concerned. Instead of encouraging a sense of togetherness and solidarity, the voluntary-prayer crusade [March 24] has managed to widen the gap between our school boards, parents and students. No matter how well intended, this issue has resulted in lawsuits, bitter debates and name calling, rather than a feeling of friendship and brotherly love. How many parents or teachers would not object if an Iranian student asked to lead a prayer for the Ayatullah Khomeini?
Heather Stiff Pittsburgh
Kansas and Nebraska
The 1980 census may reveal a population on the move as you report in "Let the Great Head Count Begin" [March 31], but I doubt if it will turn up the relocation of entire states. Kansas is still south of Nebraska, despite the reversal shown on your map.
Janis Paseka Ames, Neb.
I thought I felt the house shake last week. Now I understand. My whole state has been moved north 400 miles.
Kathleen Gaye Shattuck Highland, Kans.
No wonder Kansas had so little population growth. No one can find it.
Melinda A. Correa Kansas City, Mo.
Don't worry about it--we know where we are.
Reid Kenedy, Omaha
Proud of Sadat
Hurrah for Egypt's Anwar Sadat for receiving the Shah [March 31]! At last a courageous public man who really cares for human rights and the dignity of the human being. He gave an extraordinary lesson to the Carters, Kennedys, Portillos and others of the same kind. This is a man with a capital M. The Egyptians and the world should be proud of him.
Maria Alice Leite Sao Paulo, Brazil
Redefining Retirement
Frank Trippett is on target in his Essay on ageism [March 24] when he focuses on persons who have redefined aging and retirement. In fact, one of the original definitions (classified as rare and obsolete by the Oxford dictionary) of the word retire is to rally, to bring back. Trippett's Essay makes a compelling case for reviving this definition and removing it from the rare-and-obsolete category.
Steve Goldberg Madison, Wis.
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