Fate of Leaders
Sir: The world was saddened to read of the passing of Herbert C. Hoover [Oct. 30]. In an adjoining column of your magazine, we also read a report of Khrushchev possibly being under house arrest. What a contrast in the treatment shown former leaders, controversial though they may be! Need anyone ask the difference between democracy and Communism?
MRS. GRANT VEVANG
Rolling Meadows, Ill.
Sir: Every recognized expert on Soviet matters was greatly surprised at the sudden removal of Khrushchev, but they need not have been had they read your cover story of last Feb. 21. You as much as predicted the eventual rise of Brezhnev to the premiership.
BERNARD G. BREINING
Long Beach, Calif.
Lyndon's Aide
Sir: The Walter Jenkins case [Oct. 30], aside from being a personal and national tragedy, also shows a tragic side of our society. Homosexuality is cloaked in some of the most deluded ideas of our "enlightened" times. We treat it as men treated certain sicknesses in medieval times. We ignore information that has been provided by Kinsey and others and go blundering down the same old trails of judgment and excuse. Aside from the legal aspect, a Christian organization like the Y.M.C.A. has no business making a final judgment on a man's life. We are presently involved in a search for some positive answers to this problem in Philadelphia. Christianity has always stumbled and fallen in the mud when it has tried to be the judge of a man's worth and morality. Our successes have only been in pointing to the way and helping men find redemption and wholeness.
RICHARD A. EASTBURN
Director of Adult Program The Young Men's Christian Association Philadelphia
Sir: Before I drown in the flood of tears for Walter Jenkins, may I ask if I am alone in feeling that he forfeited his right to sympathy when he chose to ignore the vulnerability of his position, even after it became a matter of record? Presumably intelligent, he could have resigned in dignity and privately sought psychiatric treatment. He preferred to lay his family, friends and country on the line.
MRS. O. A. ERENSEL
St. Paul
Sir: Since when does sending flowers to a sick friend become a curious act? I was taught that it is a charitable act.
MARY MARGARET SUGRUE
Detroit
Spook Spaghetti
Sir: I was heartened to see your article on the Pook's Hill Interchange [Oct. 30]. As an everyday commuter along this route, I am gratified to know that I am not the only driver confounded, cantankerous and confused about this ineptness and lack of forethought of highway planning. If the pile-ups at the U-turns continue, it'll be "Spook's Hill" instead of Pook's Hill. In all of this mess of spaghetti, they produced a heck of a meatball.
DAVID M. DEANS
Rockeville, Md.
Contested Abbey