Woes of War

To the Editors:

The Israelis and Palestinians have an inherent right to homelands in the Middle East [June 28]. Now that Israel has removed the military threat from its northern border, however, it must negotiate with moderates to establish a Palestinian state.

Andy Higgins

Morgantown, W. Va,

The fact that Presidential Advisers Meese, Baker and Deaver were angry and bitter about Prime Minister Begin's refusal to reveal his plans or to "hold off on everything until after Reagan returned to Washington" illustrates the arrogance of the present Administration. Who do they think they are. requesting that another country delay a military operation deemed crucial to its security?

Katie MacLeod

Dunwoody, Ga.

Israel is not a delinquent child of the U.S. requiring reprimands. It is an orphaned yet strong country that has long struggled for survival. No wonder its main objective is the security of its people, regardless of whom it may offend.

Marianne Knue

Cincinnati

Ironically, it is the American taxpayer who is indirectly financing the destruction in Lebanon and the killing of thousands of people there, with the more than $6 million a day in aid the U.S. gives to Israel. If we are to be thought of as humane, just people, money should be channeled to the victims of this brutal rampage.

Andy Vulcz

Phoenix

Your issue "The Spoils of War" did a good job of elucidating what a tragic story a world at war creates. One realizes what a fragile bond it is that makes us humans first and nations second. It seems that nationalism bolstered by propaganda outweighs our natural instinct for survival. One can only hope that out of the ashes of war will rise a phoenix of peace.

Burt Lehman

Austin

Falklands and Peace

Now that the war in the Falklands is over, the State Department is wondering whether the Argentines and the rest of Latin America are going to love us or not [June 28]. Nobody really likes a rich uncle. U.S. support of the British in the Falklands needs no apology. We were on the side of justice in opposing aggression.

Argentina is basically a rich country, but mismanagement by an inept government brought on economic chaos. Capital, lent in a businesslike manner, can put Argentina back on its feet.

Edgar W. Riebe

Edison, N.J.

What do you call it when a country with 130% inflation illegally "takes control" of territory it does not own, prepares to fight to the finish to hold it, leads its citizens to believe they are winning and, when it loses, blames the U.S.? I call it the most common occurrence of our times.

Scott E. Grant

Bakersfield, Calif.

The U.S. image used to be that of a wealthy country, a model of democracy, an example of the highest ideals--in spite of racial discrimination. Now all of this is tarnished. By taking sides in the Falklands dispute, the U.S. has supported a tradition of evil and stupid pride. The U.S. is a betrayer of justice.

Beatriz O. Allocati

Buenos Aires

Nuclear Challenge

Leonid Brezhnev should be applauded for wanting to talk about nuclear disarmament [June 28]. He is very serious about avoiding a nuclear catastrophe and should not be met with jeering insults and sarcastic guffaws.

Kim Houghton

Lloydminster, Alta.

It does not seem inconsistent to me that President Reagan should protect U.S. freedom by flexing the country's military muscles against the Soviet Union, which has no respect for its neighbors.

Janice Wintergrass

Newton, Mass.

Preppie Clones

Garry Trudeau states in his commencement address that "handbooks on living preppies . . . are books for minds at rest" [June 21]. He should have understood that the handbook is as satirical as his own comic strip. In the guise of a "how-to," the handbook openly lambastes the smug, anti-intellectual attitudes of a group of people whose only concern is their own pleasure and security. To the careful reader, The Preppy Handbook subtly explains why it's better to think, act, dress and talk for yourself.

Mason Wiley, Co-Author,

The Official Preppy Handbook

Los Angeles

Graduates of '82

Your article on college graduates of '82 [June 28] illustrates the movement away from traditional liberal arts education. Yet you fail to point out that this change is largely caused by the failure of American business to appreciate the skills that liberal arts graduates have to offer, even though they may possess no job-related expertise. It is a shame that the "adventure of learning" has instead been turned into a race for a specialized degree.

Raymond Frey

West Paterson, N.J.

Color It Plaid

Reagan's flashy gambler's plaid suit [June 28], Nancy's borrowed jewels and her satin-cuffed knickers smacked more of Hollywood than of America almost to the point that their scripts showed.

LaReine Clayton

Knoxville, Tenn.

No fair! England's Prime Minister can get away with prints, why can't Reagan make it plaid?

Lisa Hair

Anaheim, Calif.

Sour on Salaries

As an educator, I find it painfully ironic to see from your story "Take-Home Pay" [June 28] that society values doctors and lawyers more than those who train them. Perhaps teachers should demand a percentage of students' salaries instead of the paltry amounts begrudgingly paid from taxes.

Peggy Herbert

Meridian, Idaho

In America, entertainment is ahead of health, if we judge by the incomes of entertainers, including professional athletes. Why else would a boxer get $8 million to climb into the ring for the purpose of brutalizing another man, and a TV actor receive more money for playing the role of a coroner in one episode than many physicians make in a year of medical practice?

Lois DeBakey

Houston

Artful Subtleties

Where is the joy in being a writer for TIME if you can't play with a quote, but your book reviewer Stefan Kanfer may abuse the privilege. I excerpt from his review of my new collection, Pieces and Pontifications [June 28]: "[Mailer's] long-projected novel of ancient Egypt [is] here described [by Mailer] as 'amazing . .. chapter by chapter there's extraordinary stuff in it.' "

The quote in context goes as follows: "Lennon: I've heard a few people say it's an amazing work. Mailer: Well, it's amazing. I mean, chapter by chapter, there's extraordinary stuff in it. The question is whether it will hold up." (Italics mine.)

Whether it does hold up or doesn't, I hope the next reviewer TIME picks for me doesn't bite the tender tip off my intent like toothsome Stevie Kanfer.

Norman Mailer

New York City

Congratulations on the best review I have seen of anything that Norman Mailer ever wrote. You have succeeded in putting him where he belongs by quoting A.E. Housman: "[His] besetting sin is the use of words too forcible for his thoughts." How true. He won't know he's dead until he tries to move.

Vrest Orton

Weston, Vt.

Call for Protectionism

TIME'S story "A Glimmer of Hope in Detroit" [June 14] says that U.S. auto-workers average about $20 an hour in wages and benefits, which is nearly $8 more than their Japanese counterparts. In addition, faulty management techniques, including poor systems of inventory control, give Japanese manufacturers a cost advantage of around $1,500 a car.

This does not tell the whole story. A car made and sold in the U.S. contributes an average of $2,500 in taxes to local, state and federal governments, while one made in Japan and sold in America generates only $750, causing a tax-revenue loss of $1,750. The taxpayer has to make up that money. Without some protection, we will be driving around in our Toyotas looking for jobs that are not there.

Leo-Arthur Kelmenson

Chief Executive Officer

Kenyan & Eckhardt Inc.

New York City

Floating Fantasies

Lance Morrow's Essay on daydreams [June 28] illustrates a sad fact of modern life. Often we deny our most basic needs and desires by settling for second best. The antiself represents our true instincts before they are crushed by society and forced to retreat to the background.

Dan O'Neill

Los Angeles

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