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Sir / I read with interest your article "An End to Silence" [June 18]. I was a classmate of James Pelosi's before I resigned from the U.S. Military Academy in 1971. I am one who detested the academy and realized the degenerating effects of 170 years of warped tradition bent by insecure military minds. Despite this hatred and the often eccentric interpretations of the honor code by other cadets (I was accused of "lying" once when I answered "fried eggs" instead of "scrambled" after being asked the breakfast menu),
I still firmly believe in the principles of the honor code. I look back on it as the single most respected part of my two-year cadet career. Imperfect as it is, the honor code is a model system in which 3,800 men in a closed society can and do trust in one another's word. It works!
EDWARD S. ZIOMEK JR. Holbrook, Ariz.
Sir / Any hopes one might have had for today's crop of young officers ushering in a new era of military responsibility have been dashed by the Pelosi incident at West Point. Pelosi's alleged infraction pales when compared with the childish and even illegal behavior of his classmates. Where was the so-called honor committee when Pelosi's mail was being opened? Is this not still a federal crime? Was there any attempt made to apprehend and discipline those responsible? I fervently hope for our sake as well as his, that 2nd Lieut. Pelosi's determination to overcome his handicap will prove successful. The new Army sorely needs men like Pelosi.
DAVID P. TROUP Fairborn. Ohio
Sir / I can only say: Leave the Army and its honored traditions alone. The Army has been defending this nation for 197 years and has done an excellent job of it. My friends and I are joining the Army shortly and are proud, unlike many others, to be soldiers.
ALAN J. PAULSEN Bremerton. Wash.
Julie Eisenhower in Action
Sir I It is both admirable and touching that Julie Nixon Eisenhower has been defending her father in the battle of Watergate [June 25]. In pointing out some of her father's triumphs (the Russia trip, the China trip, controlling inflation−controlling inflation??), the young lady mentions that "there have been no major riots while my father has been in office." The sun has not fallen from the sky. The moon appears on schedule every night. And the stars shine as brightly as ever. Should we also credit her father for these things?
MARK BERSON New York City
Slugger Brando
Sir / Bully for Brando for punching Ron in the jaw [June 25]. Galella is not photographer but an infantile nuisance.
R.P. WAGNER Palisades Park, N.J.