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Sir / Senator Kennedy's bill to save Martha's Vineyard [July 31] is a big step forward even if its purpose is to save the domain of a few. It may be selfish, but it will enable our children to see places of beauty.
BILL CAMPBELL
Sonora, Texas
Sir / I soon expect to see every Senator and Congressman introducing legislation to protect the ecosystem around his own summer retreat. I see Senator Kennedy is out to preserve his.
I am glad to see any portion of our tragically endangered environment saved, but I ask one small favor of Senator Kennedy and his friends: please, don't forget to save some space for people who can't afford your $5,000 half acre lots.
JOHN T.STEWART
Eugene, Ore.
An Oddsmaker, Not a Gambler
Sir / Senator McGovern was presented with a birthday gift inaccurately described as the proceeds of a 50-to-1 bet purportedly placed with me [July 31]. I realize the gift was a gag, because there never was such a bet between us. I am not a bookmaker, I am an oddsmaker and I project percentages based on the results of polling done by my own organization. Because of the incident, my office has been swamped with calls from people trying to place election bets. Since I am head of a corporate public relations firm and a nationally syndicated newspaper columnist, and am not a bookmaker or a gambler, this publicity is very distressing to me and my associates. I ask your cooperation in clarifying the situation.
JIMMY ("THE GREEK") SNYDER
Las Vegas
"God Help Betty Friedan"
Sir / That's all we need—Betty Friedan attacking "female chauvinist boors" [July 31]. After all our efforts at uniting, now a pig-pusher article to make the male chauvinists sigh, "These Women's Libbers aren't all bad," and to make our sisters turn the other cheek to men. God help Betty Friedan if she has lost the understanding that must unite us. Don't separate us, Friedan; fence straddlers are the real female chauvinists.
JANET E.BLAIR
Orlando, Fla.
To Replace Revenge
Sir / I was appalled to read in your Letters column that four readers condemned the Supreme Court's decision against capital punishment [July 31]. The "license to kill" so indignantly referred to in one letter has not been granted to criminals. Criminals will continue to be punished. It is to be hoped, however, that as the human race grows collectively wiser, positive methods of rehabilitation will replace our archaic system of incarceration and revenge. The Supreme Court decision was a great victory for the forces of morality. It is frightening that there are those who defend capital punishment in the name of moral standards.
SUE EBBERS
Akron