Hussein & the Arabs
Sir: Thank you for demonstrating that the motives of Jordan's King Hussein [July 14] are realistic and forward-thinking. He is the only leader in the Middle East who has sane, long-range plans for negotiating with the Israelis. Let's hope he can convince the "heroic" hotheads of Syria and the United Arab Republic to go along.
MARY E. SOMMER Manhattan
Sir: There is nothing to justify pinning the badge of courage on Hussein. On the eve of the Arab-Israeli war, Hussein cringingly entered into a military alliance with his archfoe Nasser. The basis for this groveling was Hussein's miscalculation that Egypt this time would surely annihilate Israel, in which event Nasser would emerge as the supreme master of Arabia. Hussein figured that he had better end his hostility with his master-to-be. This does not show courage; instead, it shows sniveling opportunism.
ARNOLD H. SHAW Cedarhurst, N.Y.
Life Among the Flowers
Sir: It would be encouraging if the hippies [July 7] were all motivated by the love, honesty and desire for independence from material possessions that you attribute to them. It appears, however, that you are describing the extreme minority. The tragedy of the hippies is that the great majority of these mop-haired, dirty escapists are simply overindulged kids who have had too much of everything that an affluent society can provide them. Now they want all the privileges of our society but none of the responsibilities. We are fooling ourselves when we look for the hidden good in them while totally ignoring the obvious evil.
DONALD G. BOULDIN Captain, U.S.A. Fort Polk, La.
Sir: That was a very imaginative piece. What people aren't aware of is that it isn't the hippies who are rebelling; it is society that has rebelled against and turned its back on love, individuality and humanity. All the hippies are attempting is to set the course straight. As for drugs, I am 17 years old and am looking forward to experiencing the psychedelic field. I am already tired of viewing objects from the same patterned angles and perspectives, that is, from bottom, top, sideways —I want to get inside things, in the mainstream, bloodstream—sightsee the system, so to speak. Don't put us down too fast —we merely want to explore countries that you have only sailed around.
TOMMY LINDLOF Winter Haven, Fla.
Sir: As a high school teacher and the mother of two teen-age boys, I am increasingly disturbed by the glorification of nonconformity for its own sake. Your cover story makes dropping out of college sound like the thing to do. It makes drug taking sound like great fun. It reads like a recruiting brochure: "Join the hippies and take a trip. Discover new experiences. No work. No responsibilities. Absolutely free. Just hitchhike to the nearest hippie center."
Sure, growing up is painful. It always has been. But you don't solve the problems of growing up by turning your back on them and walking away. It doesn't take too much courage to resign from the human race. It takes courage to learn to live with it.
JANET W. MONROE Sidney, N.Y.
Sir: The "flower children" have my vote as the cop-outs of the decade.
MRS. ROBERT MORRIS Mundelein, Ill.