(2 of 3)
Rather, it was necessary not to remain trapped in the banal concepts of space and time, nor yield to the morbidity of the objective position, nor yet to permit one's courage to be seduced by authoritarian devices for social control. It was imperative to transcend the seductions and qualities of materiel and its concomitant ethic. As for myself, I considered it necessary to evolve an instrument to aid in cutting through all such opiates, past and present, so that a direct, immediate, and truly free and human commitment could be achieved, and a responsible statement be made visible.
CLYFFORD STILL New York
¶ For a sample of Artist Still's "responsible statement," see cut.—ED.
Eye-Opener
Sir:
Special applause for your article on Dr. Bontzolakis [who says that his abstract-artist patients are either poseurs or neurotics—March 9]. Let's hope it will open the eyes of all the snobbish dilettanti who unwittingly promote and support insanity, encouraging those unfortunate ones to stay away from doctors and sanatoriums where they would have a chance to be cured.
HUITT YARDLEY São Paulo, Brazil
Sir:
Could the flowery representational paintings of Dr. Bontzolakis' wife be responsible for her friends' (and his patients') emotional illnesses ?
HARRIETTE FISHER San Carlos, Calif.
The Choice
Sir:
TIME tried some fancy rewriting of history when it reported [Feb. 16] that the N.A.A.C.P., the United Automobile Workers, and the Americans for Democratic Action "killed" Part III "out of the 1957 [civil rights] bill by mutual agreement." I would like to set the record straight on behalf of all three organizations.
The bill that passed the Senate in 1957 was a "bitter disappointment" to the civil rights organizations, as they made clear at the time. But the choice was substantially the Senate bill or nothing; we preferred even small progress to political recrimination, and we urged enactment of the bill.
The day after the 1957 bill was enacted, we began working for Part III [which would have empowered the Attorney General to file suits in support of the Supreme Court's desegregation decisions], and we have never stopped working. The pending Douglas-Javits-Celler bill, which contains not only Part III of the 1957 bill, but also wise and generous assistance to Southern communities seeking to integrate their school systems, has the backing of the civil rights organizations.
JOSEPH L. RAUH JR. Vice Chairman Americans for Democratic Action Washington
The Other Side of Vulgarity?
Sir:
Re the March 16 article describing Pamela Mason and her unorthodox views, I must tell you that our senior class in sociology enjoyed it thoroughly. We wonder what she hopes to gain by expressing such laughably absurd ideas on the subject of sex. She approved everything from harems to homosexuality. We surmised, at length, that Mrs. Mason must be seeking attention.
MARY FRANCES WALSH Forest Grove, Ore.
Sir:
Pamela Mason may be coruscant; she is also extremely intelligent, articulate, frank, and altogether interesting to look at and listen to.
A. L. DAVIS Glendale, Calif.
Sir: