High-Tech War

To the Editors: President Reagan's star wars approach to national defense [April 4] brings to mind the enormous exertions of the French in protecting themselves against Hitler. The Maginot Line didn't work then, and a Maginot mentality will not work now. It is a false road to peace. Chandler Smith University of Missouri Kansas City, Mo.

President Reagan says, "Let me share with you a vision of the future which offers hope." Then he goes on to dazzle us with a Rube Goldberg scheme that would let him have his war and also survive. It is a tragedy that he could not have envisioned a plan for the peaceful sharing of our tiny planet among all peoples. Ben Lane Sollentuna, Sweden

It is ironic that President Reagan is calling on scientists to develop technological marvels for defense at the same time he is slashing Government programs that help future scientists further their studies. Scientific advancement never occurs magically. It is a product of education, a fact the President ignores. Mark V. Boennighausen John J. Coen University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, Ind.

President Reagan, ever ready to quote Harry Truman, should recall the former President's wise words about defense spending: "All through history it's the nations that have given the most to the generals and the least to the people that have been the first to fall." Andrew H. Schauer Topeka, Kans

In Richard Nixon's book The Real War, the former President says that Soviet military strategy is based on the theory that you "probe with bayonets. If you encounter steel, withdraw. If you encounter mush, continue." In light of this, I do not believe President Reagan is playing a frivolous video game. He is using shrewd military strategy. Richard Jensen Atlanta

They said man would never walk on the moon, but he did. So why should President Reagan's idea of space weapons be considered impossible? Daniel Stabe Rush City, Minn.

For twice the number of years that I have been pleading for defense based on protection rather than retaliation, I have been urging a closer cooperation between the nations of the free world. Not only would this make a great contribution to peace and economic wellbeing, but scientific and technical development would be greatly enhanced. I have often said that the European Common Market, a collaboration of historic enemies in the interest of their common welfare, is one of the most impressive miracles of this century.

Imagine my surprise, then, to read that I said, "We can at least be safe at home, without allies." I appreciate that "with our allies" in a Hungarian accent may sound like "without allies," or that a typographical error could accomplish this reversal. Your kind correction will keep the record straight. Edward Teller Stanford, Calif.

Thank you for your story on Pentagon spending, "Who Says Numbers Never Lie?" Considering these facts, it was appalling to read in your letters column [March 28] Senator Barry Goldwater's denunciation of Franklin Spinney's presentation on runaway defense costs as "talking about history, not about our current situation." Goldwater is in a position to analyze Spinney's charges objectively. Unfortunately, he has chosen to sweep them under the rug instead. John D. Rozendaal Houston

Nicaragua's Insurgents

Although the Sandinista regime in Nicaragua [April 4] deserves to be punished for its support of leftist guerrilla activity in El Salvador, the people of Nicaragua should not be victimized by another civil war. The U.S. and the anti-Sandinista military forces operating out of Honduras are callously disregarding the innocent Nicaraguans. Our action may sooner or later provoke the direct involvement of Cuban forces. Donald H. Monroe Jr. Elmira, N. Y.

It is no great surprise to hear of American involvement in Nicaragua. The U.S. Government has jumped in to aid the opponents of the Sandinistas in order to gain influence and control over events in the nations to our south. I am just as afraid as the next person of growing Soviet involvement in the region. But the U.S has its hands in too many Central American cookie jars, and, as in Viet Nam, we are bound to get caught in one of them. Jamie A. Lopez Los Altos, Calif.

Downtown Fortresses

Re your story "Drawing a Blank Downtown" [April 4], a city's personality and spirit are contained in its past. Its beauty is not in the purity and newness of its members but rather in the continuity of its history, which can only be seen through its older structures. If you eradicate that which relates to an urban center's past, such as its old buildings, you destroy its personality. A city like Rome is beautiful not for its efficiency or cleanliness but for its diversity. Spacious streets, blank walls and giant blocks of steel and concrete may make a pleasing design on paper, but in reality they create a desert of human expression. Marcello Pense Delray Beach, Fla.

No matter what the cities do, they will never get the crowds back until they open their street-level spaces to inviting displays, good merchandising, color and lights. America's downtowns need some kind of carnival atmosphere that will encourage people to shop, to seek entertainment, to see and be seen. William T. Huebener Charlotte, N.C.

Singing Thorn Birds

Because of your review of The Thorn Birds [March 28], I nearly missed four excellent nights of television. The acting was consistently strong and the story so intense that it created the authenticity that was necessary. The Thorn Birds brought back good taste to the entertainment industry. (The Rev.) Raymond A. Ursin Oakland, Md.

The movie was superb, the acting magnificent. Mark Edward Lynch Oak Lawn, Ill.

Your assessment of The Thorn Birds was superb. After watching the first three hours of the telecast, I am satisfied that the film should be renamed The Turkey. John M. Murphy Madison, Conn.

Search for Sex

Seeking therapy for not desiring sex [April 4] is about as sensible as joining Nonalcoholics Anonymous or going into a drug nonabuse clinic. Why should a free person knock at the door of a cage and seek to enter it? Jean Harmon Silver Spring, Md.

According to your story "In Search of Sexual Drive," you have uncovered yet another general malaise that has hit the North American continent: inhibited sexual desire. If this condition could be bottled and exported to Asia, South America or wherever birth rates are rapidly rising, the U.S. could contribute to stemming the overpopulation problem, and everyone would be happy. Peter K. New University of Toronto Community Health Toronto

Anthropological Dilemma (Contd.)

I am dismayed by the naivete of some of your readers who wrote defending Steven Mosher, the Stanford anthropologist expelled for publishing photographs of forced abortions in rural China [April 4]. An anthropologist has a responsibility to the people he studies not to put them in a position where they can suffer physical harm for any information they have given him. When Mosher took no precautions in his article to protect the identities of the Chinese he interviewed, he showed an insensitivity to their welfare. The university was right to expel him. Well done, Stanford. Richard Mack Jr. Hollis, N. Y.

Your readers' letters in support of Steven Mosher were unfair. Americans always use their ethical standards to judge other cultures. Forced abortion is inhuman, but the native Chinese view of abortion is different from ours. As an anthropologist, Mosher should have known this. He got what he deserved. Stan Siao Ann Arbor, Mich. Gorgeous Hunks

The "fantasy and glamour" of the muscles and brawn of the hunks on TV [April 4] grow dull. The charm, humor, sensitivity and style of Remington Steele (Pierce Brosman) stimulate!

Virginia Curlanis Rocky River, Ohio

I still prefer genuine, warm and lovable-looking Hal Linden sauntering across my screen to any of the so-called hunks pictured in your article. Kathleen Keutmann Columbia, S.C. This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so viewer discretion is required.