(4 of 5)
Thank you for your article on Ellen's coming out [TELEVISION, April 14], with references to stars in I Love Lucy who were forbidden to say pregnant on the air. Times have changed. Now we have to monitor constantly what our children watch on television because of violence, even in cartoons. But Ellen's situation is different: homosexuality is not violence. It hurts no one, and it is real life. TV mirrors society. Society includes everyone. It is unfortunate that people will judge Ellen DeGeneres for her sexual orientation instead of just enjoying her gifted humor. Enjoy your life, Ellen! To the rest of the world: Get over it! SHELLEY R. BEAUBIEN Edmonton, Alberta
Professed homosexuals certainly have the right to choose how they will live and with whom. But they must not demand that we all approve. There is a significant body of evidence indicating that their so-called alternative life-style is in fact a dangerous aberration. Your comment that "Ellen is far from the first TV series to take on a controversial social issue" is also revealing. Any implied parallel between the dramatizing of Lucy's pregnancy and of Ellen's moral deviance is a real slap in the face to motherhood and the family. ROBERT COTTRILL Pambrun, Saskatchewan
IRAN'S ARMED WOMEN
By printing "Mothers Against Mullahs" [WORLD, April 21], you have made a big difference in the lives of many Iranians who are suffering under the existing mullahs' regime. You have also touched the hearts of many Iranians abroad who are counting the days until the overthrow of this bloodthirsty regime. GILDA MARKIEH McMahons Point, Australia
PROFESSIONAL JOB
I take strong exception to the implication in your article on West Publishing's Vance Opperman that the Justice Department's antitrust division under my tenure as Assistant Attorney General, 1993-96, made any decision on the basis of political contributions or as a result of political influence [NATION, April 21]. I was never contacted by the White House about any of the myriad important companies and individuals whom we prosecuted or investigated. I am immensely proud of our record for such prosecutions as Archer Daniels Midland, Microsoft, GE and literally scores of others. Undoubtedly many of those we prosecuted were well connected politically and gave large campaign contributions, but those connections and possible contributions were irrelevant. We did our job professionally, fairly, evenhandedly and based on our best judgment of the law and the facts in each case. ANNE K. BINGAMAN Senior Vice President LCI International McLean, Virginia
WHITHER A WAR MONUMENT?
Krauthammer made clear the need for a World War II memorial in Washington [ESSAY, April 21], but he failed to familiarize himself with the site-selection and design-selection process. The traffic circle he suggested at the foot of the Arlington National Cemetery suggested by him was considered and rejected. The portion of the Washington Mall that includes the Rainbow Pool, the agreed-upon site for the memorial, needs a structure to enhance it. The four panels that reviewed design submissions selected, independently and unanimously, Friedrich St. Florian's design as the most appropriate for the site and for the significance of World War II. FRED F. WOERNER General, U.S.A. (ret.); Chairman The National Battle Monuments Commission Washington