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Aikman has seen the enemy and called them names. But are they the right names? If absolute evil exists, then absolute purity must surely exist also. No, Pol Pot and his unfortunate friends are not relativists; they are absolutists. They know. They are certain of the irrefutable laws of history, as are most Marxists and other religious types. By contrast, the language of relativity is tolerance. Isn't the problem of the 20th century how to deal with absolutists in a world of relativity?
Robert A. McDaniel
West Lafayette, Ind.
The problem is not that an "atheistic, man-centered system of values" creates social perversion. The problem begins when collectivism rather than individualism becomes the goal. Man has the ability to create a value system with out moral relativism. Our Declaration of Independence was a good beginning.
Paul A. Gregory
Killeen, Texas
Anti-Auto Bias
Charles MacArthur of Dover-Fox-croft, Me., may not know it [July 17], but the internal combustion engine he seeks to banish made its debut in Maine. My grandfather had the first Ford in the state shipped up from Boston to Bangor by boat (1905). He drove the 38 miles home to Dover-Foxcroft, without benefit of driving lessons, in a day.
I'm sure Grandfather St. Onge, now asleep beside the Piscataquis waters in Gray's Cemetery, would forgive MacArthur for his anti-auto bias and cheer him on with his plans for Brown's Mill.
Constance St. Onge Ways
New York City
The Archbishop's Stand
If all reporters did as well as Bernard Diederich [July 24], we North Americans would be more aware of what is happening here in Central America. Yes, we're proud of Archbishop Romero, and we're glad that TIME has told his story.
Bernard A. Survil
Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Alive and Well
Bettina Sulzer's grandmother may have thought she was the last survivor of the Titanic at the time of her death in 1972, but she assuredly was not [July 24]. Jack Ryerson, who survived the sinking of the Titanic, is alive, well and still playing golf.
Barbara Mulhern
Cooperstown, N. Y.
Eight other survivors have checked in with TIME so far.
Ukrainian Dissident
It was gratifying to see space devoted to one of the lesser-known Helsinki monitors, Lev Lukyanenko [July 31]. This Ukrainian has been a human rights figure for almost 20 years, and I have long felt he should be recognized for having the courage to take positions that in effect were ratified by his government but not respected by it. Last month Senator Jack Schmitt and I circulated a letter urging his release on humanitarian grounds. Thirty-three Senators signed the letter. Humane treatment of people like Lev Lukyanenko would be the best sign that the U.S.S.R. is really committed to detente.
Senator Bob Dole
Washington, D.C.