War's Children

To the Editors:

"Children of War" [Jan. 11] made me want to scream at the arrogance and inhumanity of world leaders who use their children to feed their twisted ambitions.

Boye De Mente

Paradise Valley, Ariz.

If tragedy is truly ennobling, then these children are the aristocrats of the human soul. We can cry for them, feel for them, hope for them--but will we ever learn from them?

David Wolpe

Philadelphia

Children are the planet's most important natural resource. Congratulations to TIME for confronting the side of war most people pretend does not exist.

Patricia Schroeder

Representative, First District, Colo.

Washington, D.C.

In our safe haven in the U.S., it is hard to imagine the horrors, the sorrow and bitterness that have been the lot of so many of the world's children. It is a miracle that most of these youngsters still possess some of the wonder of childhood, along with compassion and understanding.

Katherine F. Knudsen

New Hope, Pa.

I was impressed with the children's strength in the face of terror, heartened by their desire to reject hatred and vengeance, and sickened by the bigotry that has been inculcated in them.

J. Mark Tapson

Daly City, Calif.

The time has come for adults to stop using the excuse that they are fighting to improve life for their children. Only the young know that the answer to a better existence is peace and love, not killing and destruction.

Michael Friedman

New York City

I spent three months in 1976 studying the personalities of children in Dublin and Belfast. My research among more than 1,000 Belfast children indicated that they were less friendly and more aggressive and hostile than youngsters in either Dublin or the American Midwest. The bigotry found in Belfast's youth will probably lead future generations of Northern Irish children into further "Troubles."

Peter R. Burzynski

Vincennes, Ind.

I find it sad, and unsettling, that there are so many countries Roger Rosenblatt had to choose from.

Cindy Wallach

New York City

The pictures of Palestinian youngsters in the Lebanese town of Damur are misleading. Christian Damur was sacked by the Palestinians. What happened to the real children of Damur--the Lebanese?

Becky Samra

Opelika, Ala.

Rah-Rah Clemson

In your story "First Last, but Maybe Not Always" [Jan. 11], it was not necessary to dwell so extensively on the fact that Clemson is under investigation for recruiting violations. The article should have emphasized that an able coach and a dedicated football team made it to the No. 1 spot in the nation. Clemson had a great season, and the school deserves to be allowed to enjoy its No. 1 spot.

Maureen Jarvis

Arnold, Md.

A number of years ago, I attended a Clemson homecoming game because they were playing against my alma mater, Duke University. The Clemson band was magnificent, the crowd enthusiastic, the tiger mascot amusing, but, alas, the football team was having a bad season and they lost--even to Duke! On my way out of the stadium, I noticed the usual homecoming banners: BEAT DUKE, BEAT DOOK, BEAT THE DEVILS. Then I saw a large banner stretched across the front of a dorm: BEAT SOMEBODY! I have been a Clemson fan ever since.

Jean F. Smurthwaite

Columbia, S.C.

Tough Standards

Hurray for those state universities that are "Toughening Up on Admissions" [Jan. 11 ]! I taught at a large public university that sponsors an elaborate developmental studies program. I saw countless students so ill-prepared in basic English skills that the idea of their progressing beyond the remedial level to freshman composition was ludicrous.

Beryl T. Odom

Gadsden, Ala.

Raising admissions standards and using SAT scores, as is being done by Florida State University, will do little to help the students from urban communities who frequently receive inferior secondary educations. Colleges will again become segregated and elitist, with the disadvantaged locked out. Remedial courses can and do save lives.

Robert Garfunkel

Associate Professor of Mathematics

Montclair State College

Upper Montclair, N.J.

Digging Up the Past

Reader Anne Plossl, in response to your article "Some Bones of Contention," wrote to ask [Jan. 11], "If white men wanted to learn about their own history, would they dig up Arlington National Cemetery?" The answer is yes--if anything could be learned. White men have been unearthing the bones of their ancestors for decades: in Ireland, in Greece and in Egypt, just to name a few areas.

Martin J. Dellwo

Lynchburg, Va.

Snubbed Cat

I am writing in response to your cover story on cats [Dec. 7]. Nowhere was reference made to the most famous, fabulous feline cartoon character, Heathcliff. A cat as distinguished as he is deserves at least a mention. For Heathcliff lovers, I hope some recognition will be given to this very popular hero.

C. Michael McKeever

Denver

Labor's Pains

We need wonder no longer why organized labor is losing its credibility. Larry Self, who is described as a 16-year veteran of the U.A.W. [Jan. 11], enlightens us in a few truculent words: "Why don't they [management] go to the shareholders, and tell them they are cutting the dividend rather than take it out of the hide of the workers?"

Several million shareholders in companies such as General Motors, International Harvester and Uniroyal could answer Mr. Self: GM has already cut its dividends sharply, and the other two are paying no dividends at all.

Edwin Tetlow

High Falls, N. Y.

I find it difficult to believe that a union member, who earns $8 an hour more than his Japanese counterpart, can blame management for General Motors' inability to compete in the present auto market.

Arnold H. Veldkamp

Sioux Center, Iowa

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