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Sir: A college senior who considers Viet Nam "so foreign" and "so remote" is confused about the realities of world politics. It is in Southeast Asia that the U.S. is preparing its answer to the Chinese Communist form of aggression. How can a student begrudge Uncle Sam two years of his life after having spent 20 years enjoying all the American freedoms, and with the reasonable expectation of 40 more years of enjoyment after his military obligation is complete? I do not think it unreasonable that the new car, career and family should wait a couple of years. If the draft is a threat to personal freedom, what then is Communism's worldwide campaign? And what is to be our reply to this campaign without a strong military establishment?
(SP4) STEPHEN MCCLURE U.S. Army An Khe, South Viet Nam
Sir: I wish Gary Wilson a successful career in geology. Perhaps he can begin by examining the rocks in his head.
(SP6) WILLIAM G. GUSHING 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) South Viet Nam
Sir: Your heart-rending explication of Actor George Hamilton's impecunious plight has softened the hearts and moistened the eyes of even the most leathery marine in this office. In a spontaneous charitable eruption, we have amassed a small contribution, consisting of Military Payment Certificates (the medium of exchange here in Viet Nam), and will gladly confer this meager token of our sympathy on the struggling young actor on his next U.S.O. appearance here. Mr. Hamilton should be warned that he may not be welcomed exclusively by souls like us, imbued with the spirit of human kindness. In the event of a hegira from his high-ceilinged mansion to this land of canvas canopies, we would ask him in his magnanimity to overlook the selfish taunts of privates earning $83.30 base pay per month with wife and children back in the States. I trust he'll excuse these impetuous youths for not understanding modern patriotism. Our best to Mr. Namath also.
(CAPT.) FRANCIS T. COLEMAN Legal Assistance Officer 1st Marine Division Chu Lai, South Viet Nam
Bonze or Banza?
Sir: Reading about the South Vietnamese Buddhists [June 10], whose primary purpose seems to be to foster instability in their country, I have come to wonder whether "bonze," the title of their leaders, is a derivative of banza, a Hausa word of West Africa meaning "emptiness, vanity, worthlessness, cheapness."
RONALD WISNER Peace Corps Volunteer Maradi, Niger, West Africa
Sir: The tastelessness and irresponsibility of TIME'S cynical report on the South Viet Nam immolations are repugnant. Such disrespect for individual human lives is not justified, despite the war's wholesale destruction of human life.
CHARLENE M. WOODCOCK Missoula, Mont.
The Long View
Sir: About "Covering Viet Nam" [June 10]: for perspective's sake, to my quote "Any idiot can cover a war," please add, "I ought to know because I've covered four."
KEYES BEECH Chicago Daily News Saigon
To the Core