Man of the Year

To the Editors:

Congratulations on your choice for Man of the Year [Jan. 5]. Ronald Reagan brings a new philosophy, pride and confidence to our country, and will sweep away the gloom and doom that dominated the '70s.

Cecil Betz Flintridge, Calif.

Having written and chastised you for having "honored" Khomeini as Man of the Year in 1979, I feel it only fair that I now write and compliment you on your choice of Reagan this year.

Esther Braslow Ocean, N.J.

All Reagan actually did in 1980 was make promises. If winning the election was the great victory, then give the award to his campaign manager.

Arthur Camacho Jr. Cisco, Texas

If Ronald Reagan is as successful in imparting "old values" as the life-styles of his four children seem to indicate, we liberals have little to fear. If their lifestyles reflect old values, we are in for some far-out years.

James E. Walter Akron

Your stories on Ronald Reagan give one a new insight on the man and particularly his mode of recharging. No one need ever worry about the inner calm of a man who cherishes such a retreat for himself. But why did Mayor Koch appear in PEOPLE astride the camel with Reagan's living-room rug?

Dawn Bailey Boynton Beach, Fla.

How could TIME choose Ronald Reagan as Man of the Year over Poland's Lech Walesa? Walesa is the only person thus far to challenge successfully totalitarian Communism at its weakest point, human rights and freedom. He is risking his life and the lives of his wife and six small children.

Richard D. Germano Carmel, N. Y.

The real Man of the Year is Robert Mugabe. He brought black majority rule to Zimbabwe in 1980, a feat that should not go unrecognized.

Dan Cuevas Grand Junction, Colo.

The story on Reagan showed his boundless determination and tough tone toward the presidency, and gave me even more confidence in our next President.

Jeffrey Fischer Trenton, N.J.

Images

I was disappointed to see no major cultural event represented in your "Images." Surely the Picasso exhibition at New York City's Museum of Modern Art was at least as important as Bjorn Borg, Genuine Risk or who shot J.R.

Ricardo Pau-Llosa Miami

Although you summed up the events of 1980 fairly well, you failed to include Speed Skater Eric Heiden. With the five gold medals he won at Lake Placid, Heiden is a source of pride for America.

Daniel A. Boris Fairfax, Va.

No single article or photograph has touched me so deeply as the picture of the tiny, shriveled, fragile hand illustrating the food crisis in Africa. The fight against world hunger has only begun.

Richard A. Phelps Clinton, Mich.

Steve McQueen also died during 1980. Why was he omitted?

Lorraine Santora Mastic Beach, N. Y.

"We the People . . ."

In your interview with Mr. Reagan, he says that "the Federal Government was created by the states." The Constitution does not proclaim "We the states," but, "We the People of the United States . . . do ordain and establish this Constitution." While the Reagan thesis had its supporters in the early Republic, the question is generally presumed to have been settled at Appomattox.

Arthur Schlesinger Jr. New York City

Contrary to the claim of Mr. Reagan, Divine Providence is not mentioned in the U.S. Constitution. The authors of that document wisely intended to erect what Thomas Jefferson later called "a wall of separation between church and state." Any attempt by Reagan to penetrate that wall will threaten an enduring principle of our Republic--that of Government's neutrality in religious matters.

David E. Harris Birmingham, Mich.

No Corner on Violence

Reader Graham Morison from Scotland should come off his pedestal [Jan. 5]. The Yorkshire Ripper is a reminder that the U.S. does not have a corner on violence. The murder of John Lennon was senseless, but it is equally senseless to blame it on America.

Stephen DeDecker Appleton, Wis.

Neighborhood Schools

Although the busing controversy is the prime mover in the formation of community schools, as described in your article "Keeping Them Closer to Home" [Jan. 5], the reason these alternative schools are flourishing is that they offer a better education than public schools. Consequently, the fear is well founded that an educational hierarchy may develop, with public education low on the ladder. The only way to avoid elitism in education is for the public schools to achieve as high or higher a level of learning.

Bob Jones Campbell, Calif.

Some of the greatest, most dedicated teachers around are the survivors in the public schools. We have been displaced, disgraced and blamed for all of society's failures. Some day the public will recognize our worth.

Barbara Hopfinger Canoga Park, Ill.

Oriental Cure

Your article "Folk 'Remedy' " [Dec. 29], about the Vietnamese custom of coin rubbing, recalls a similar incident that occurred when I was in South Viet Nam. The two-year-old baby of our Vietnamese housekeeper had a terrible cough, and I urged her to take the child to a doctor. The next day, I was horrified to see deep scratches on the youngster's back.

I then asked the mother to let a visiting American dermatologist examine the child. The doctor was not the least perturbed. Said she: "This baby was treated by a Chinese doctor, and will be well tomorrow." The child was. Since then I have often wondered why the American press never reported on this Oriental medical treatment, called "counterirritant."

Joseph W. Leinweber Grosse Pointe, Mich.

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