LETTERS

WINGS OF DESIRE

"If everyone in the armed forces who committed adultery and lied about it was discharged, the U.S. would be totally unprotected." FLORENCE L. EGAN Newington, Conn.

One problem with comprehending the case of Air Force First Lieut. Kelly Flinn [SEX IN THE MILITARY, June 2] is that many individuals have never been in the military and therefore do not understand it. Since people in the service deal with life and death, the armed forces cannot be compared with any other human endeavor. Civilians must accept the idea that those in command must be held to a high and strict standard. Since an officer's word must go unquestioned, lying under oath, as Flinn did, is a most grievous violation of trust. JOHN V. KAVANAGH Chevy Chase, Md.

The Air Force did not claim that Flinn's performance had slipped because of her personal relationship. Ordering lovers to stop seeing each other is unreasonable and unenforceable. We may expect our pilots to be the best, but they are still human. DAVID SPIWAK Bloomsburg, Pa.

I am Kelly Flinn's brother, and I feel compelled to respond to the question posed on your cover asking if my sister is the wrong stuff. Kelly's performance appraisals should help. Reports signed by her base commander at Minot (N.D.) Air Force Base clearly demonstrate her outstanding performance. Comments from 1996 showed that she displayed "maturity and responsibility above her peers." Other remarks say, "Lt. Flinn is an outstanding officer and aviator--her performance stands head and shoulders above her peers...incredibly sharp, professional warrior. Intelligent, aggressive and dedicated...stellar performer in all aspects of officership and aviation." She was also rated during aircrew-procedures testing as earning a "perfect 100% score." Her evaluator commented, "Best performance of aircrews on testing I've ever seen." She was also awarded "Distinguished Graduate" in her B-52 co-pilot initial-qualification class. The wrong stuff? Perhaps, if mediocrity is the goal. DONALD R. FLINN Atlanta

It is shameful that Flinn referred to her situation as a "mistake." A mistake is dialing the wrong number or locking your keys in the car. What Flinn did was lie, disobey direct orders and bring dishonor to herself. This is much more than a mistake. This kind of "mistake maker" should not be flying nuclear weapons. CURT PAISON Chicago

As the father of Marc Zigo, the civilian who was involved with Lieut. Flinn, I am writing on behalf of a family that has had to bear great emotional pain, deep personal hurt and embarrassment because of the improper behavior of two consenting adults. Our family believes that what Marc did was disgraceful and shameful and he has found the courage to admit publicly he was wrong. The true victim in all this is Gayla Zigo, our former daughter-in-law, and our hearts go out to her. Lieut. Flinn's behavior was not only shameful but, since she was a military officer, less than honorable as well. Marc was brought up to know right from wrong, and as parents we feel responsible for the loss of the moral compass he once had. It is our fervent hope he regains it, and we believe he will. PAUL ZIGO Neptune, N.J.

Hang in there, Kelly. You played with fire, got burned and got canned. Then you got uneven justice, not compassion, while your lover seems to have got away with it. But that's O.K. Now you can get on with a real life, in a real world where a lot of real love and beauty await. KIMO O'BRIEN Sedona, Ariz.

It is a sad society when those in power, including military officers, equate their status with the ability to do as they please. Breaking vows, lying and coveting another person's spouse do not a victim make. Yea for the Air Force! LILIA W. MAYER Richmond, Va.

In a few years Lieut. Flinn will probably be glad about her discharge from the Air Force. A person who can fly a B-52 loaded with nuclear weapons (and bring them back safely) can also learn to fly a Boeing airliner. A civilian pilot has as high a standing as an Air Force pilot, probably earns more and does not risk his or her career by dating a colleague, married or otherwise. TURAN FETTAHOGLU Munich

Is the U.S. military the only organization in the world in which men, women and homosexuals of both types are compelled to work and live close together? If not, then why do scandals occur in the U.S. week after week while other countries either have no problems or don't talk about them? MICHEL ACONIN St. Laurent du Var, France

"SHAME ON THEM"

Your article on the murder of our son Ennis [NATION, June 2] includes speculation and rumor from two defense attorneys, Darren Kavinoky and Charles Lindner, who for a short while represented the man accused of this crime. Lindner says attorneys in Los Angeles were deterred from taking the defendant's case because "the word around town from Cosby is 'Woe unto anyone who tries to profit from my son's death.'" That assertion is not true. I have never said anything like that to anyone at any time. I believe in, and would never interfere with, a judicial system that wishes to provide competent legal representation for every suspect, including the person accused of killing our son. Inappropriate profit from tragedies, however, can come in the form of defense attorneys' auditioning to be news-media pundits, people who sell crime-scene photographs (as in the JonBenet Ramsey case) and the publishers of such. I would not say "Woe unto them" but rather "Shame on them." Shame on anyone who contributes to the ever increasing tabloidization of the American justice system. BILL COSBY New York City

MORE TO AMERICA'S ART

Though your special issue "American Visions" [Spring 1997] was impressive and rich with imagery, it disenfranchised many Americans by omission. The issue does not take into account the contributions of a great many peoples. The makers of santos, religious artisans of New Mexico, have managed to flourish in spite of prejudice from the New York art scene. In addition, the Spanish settlement of the Americas was missing from your timeline. The Chicano, Latino and Cubano art traditions were also ignored. BARBE AWALT Albuquerque, N.M.

I got a better understanding of American art from reading Robert Hughes' report in your magazine than from a year of art appreciation at our local community college. Congratulations on an outstanding issue! IRVING KULLBACK West Long Branch, N.J.

END OF AFFIRMATIVE ACTION?

You reported that minority-enrollment rates at the law schools of the Universities of California and Texas dropped to 1963 levels once those schools were "ordered not to consider the race of their applicants" [Nation, June 2]. This development suggests that the real problem for minorities is getting a proper education so they can gain admission to college based on merit. The difference in the quality of education prior to college is the fundamental problem that affirmative action is neglecting.

The most effective way of increasing low minority-enrollment rates in colleges is to give minorities an improved education. School districts with a high minority population should receive more generous financial assistance from all levels of government. Increased funding resulting in better education is what will level the playing field for whites and minorities, not affirmative action. SAM GIROTRA Lawrenceville, N.J.

In the absence of affirmative action, will America's minority communities be adequately served by competent practicing lawyers? Law degrees are a means to an end. Members of Congress, journalists, talk-show hosts, Presidents, at least one First Lady and most judges have a law degree, although they don't necessarily need it. If minority populations are to have adequate legal representation, some committed persons who will accept the obligation to serve them must become qualified through completing law school. Should we poll those non-minorities newly admitted to law schools to see if they will meet the needs of blacks and Hispanics? GEORGE HOAK Atlanta

SNOOPING ON THE WEB

I was surprised to read how easy it is to get private information about people from the Internet [TECHNOLOGY, June 2]. I know dozens of people, myself included, who have struggled through the maze of the Web for endless hours and have rarely come up with even harmless information (i.e., news in Mandarin or airline-ticket prices to L.A.). Thanks to your step-by-step instructive article on how to get information, however, that should all change...at least for would-be snoopers! JANA MCBURNEY-LIN Singapore

I tried every which way to find something on myself on the Internet using directions from your report "No Privacy on the Web." Bummer...I am a nobody big time. Not even the Web knows I exist. I have to do something. Maybe I'll go out and rob a bank. The disappointment of not having everything known about me all over the Web is too much to bear. AL DEMROSKE Brimley, Mich.

I am 69 years old. In 1933 I was separated from my brother and the rest of my family. After reading your story, I was able to locate my brother within two days. I had expected to go to my grave never knowing my roots. Thank you and InfoSpace. No other database came up with a match. WAYNE E. BARNES Pompano Beach, Fla.

Let everybody in the universe know who I am and what I do. Who cares? If I want to have a favorable public image, I have to act and behave accordingly. We should realize that if we make mistakes, somebody will find out. That's good news for good people and bad news for bad people. The Web can be our best promoter or our worst enemy. REINHOLD MURASKOWSKY Rodgau, Germany

MOST-FAVORED CHINA

Your story on allegations of illegally imported textiles from China [WORLD, June 2] focused attention on President Clinton's support for renewing China's most-favored-nation trading status. I believe Clinton is making the right move. Though human-rights issues are very important, the U.S. can accomplish more by extending China's MFN status. What seems more rational and moral, if it is a question of right and wrong, is to continue granting China the status that will help it and its people--by raising living standards. MFN status will benefit U.S.-Sino relations, America's economic interests and thousands of Americans involved in producing exports to China. TIAN MAYIMIN Lawrenceville, N.J.