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Sir / There are those of us in the professional officers' corps who view Mr. Galley (I cannot bring myself to call him lieutenant) as what he is: a convicted mass murderer. I was appalled when he was sentenced to only 20 years and angered when he was allowed to remain in his quarters at Fort Benning and enjoy "almost daily visits from his girl friend."
That Galley now walks the streets of Columbus wearing the uniform that he has disgraced fills me with despair and disgust.
DOUGLAS S. THORNBLOM Captain, U.S.A. West Point, N.Y.
New Imperialist
Sir / Your article "The Arabs Are Coming" [March 11] is probably just another scare for Americans like "the Russians are coming." The Russians never did come, but the Japanese did and our economy is swimming in made-in-Japan products.
Now the Arabs are investing in America, and I hope that our cities will benefit from this new economic imperialist. After all, the Germans make the best cars, the Japanese the best electronic equipment, and if foreign industry runs its course, then the Arabs will have the plans for the future American cities.
GARY A. GIRASOLE Atlanta
Artists' Union?
Sir/ Unfortunately, fine artists need more than Rauschenberg's lobbying for legislation granting them a piece of the action on resale of their works [March 11]. While enforcement of royalties for artists may be feasible on resale by galleries and auction houses, it would be extremely difficult on private resale. Perhaps what artists need is a Victor Herbert (or a Rauschenberg) to lead them into an ASCAP-type organization that may have some clout and a capability to police all resales.
MARTIN BRESSLER
New York City Sir / Hurrah for two Roberts—Robert Hughes for his excellent article, and Robert Rauschenberg for his courageous idea!
It's about time that the rip-off of artists got some publicity and that something was done to remedy the present situation. Too long has the artist been considered the poor and rather eccentric relation, even within the educational system. Too often has the parasite become rich from the artist's sweat and tears.
VERONICA BIALIK Menlo Park, Calif.
Sir / Mr. Hughes' Essay is misdirected. Any artist is free to write (or not to write) a royalty clause as a legally enforceable condition of sale for his work. If he does, he must be willing to accept a lower price for his work than he would otherwise receive. The thinly veiled effect of legislated (required) art royalties is to discourage competitors of established artists (like Mr. Rauschenberg) by reducing market prices for the work of fledgling artists. Economists describe the effects of such legislation as raising "barriers to entry." Mr. Hughes would no doubt call this behavior in other markets reactionary.
ROBERT J. LATHAM Linden Hall, Pa.
Why They Streak Sir / The streaking fad is a response to the feminist movement in our country. The time has come when some men are begin ning to feel the need to prove to themselves and to others that they are the leaders of the species. They have chosen the best pos sible way in which to show people that men and women are not equal. When women start wearing the pants, men start shedding them.
DENNIS M. VEALEY NewRochelle, N.Y.