(3 of 4)
So we again have a new Italian Pope, and 13 new Italian cardinals out of 23. I have nothing against the Italians, but I am against monopolies.
R. MAKAREWICZ Los Angeles
Nonconformanship
Sir:
What a pleasure to have Mr. Morris Freedman pinpoint an ill of our times—the self-righteous, smug, pseudo-cultured attitude of the nonconformist [Dec. 15]. I am not ashamed of the lump in my throat when hearing The Star-Spangled Banner, and am utterly sick of the apologetic manner of many Americans who seem to think everything here uncouth, while everything European is cultured and avantgarde.
SARA N. GRIMES Lexington, Ky.
Sir:
And then there are the non-nonconformists who wouldn't be caught dead with their beards down or their big toes showing, and who occasionally take a perverse pleasure in astounding their nonconformist neighbors by defending Dulles or admitting that Marilyn Monroe might strike a chord of response after all. This super avant-garde attitude will soon be superseded by an equally avant-garde reaction of non-non-nonconformism, and so forth . . .
BARBARA G. MITTMAN
Morton Grove, Ill.
Sir:
I gleefully read Morris Freedman's message to my nonconformist friends. Their groans and rueful smiles admit 'tis sad, 'tis true. I read it to them because TIME is not on the approved list.
SARA M. MARTIN
Allison Park, Pa.
The Cowles World
Sir:
"Rotating majestically"—what an apt description of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune [Dec. 8]. You can always read in John Cowles's paper about what's going on in Ceylon or Java, but who the hell ever knows what's going on in Minneapolis?
LARRY SCHWARTZ St. Peter, Minn.
Sir:
If I ever read of a shorter cut to Brave New One World this would be it: having the Cowles dictate American policy as they see it.
H. DHARANA Hollywood
Trans-Atlantic Fog
Sir:
Regarding Mr. Alistair Cooke's remarks on British correspondents, and in particular Mr. Don Iddon. I am a Briton by birth and recently spent over two years back in England, where I was appalled at what Mr. Iddon wrote in his columns about the American way of life.
Most Britons are avid readers of newspapers, and on the whole believe what they read. It is such columns as Mr. Iddon's that make Americans misunderstood and disliked overseas, and instead of writing on his behalf, Mr. Cooke would do well to spend a little of his time making America better understood. Mr. Iddon always appeared to be most critical when he was writing from Florida—in the winter of course—for the consumption of the British public, who perhaps had not seen the sun through the fog for several days. His columns were a sickening experience.
P. ROTHLISBERGER Alexandria, Va.
Dunking Dulles
Sir: