Letters: Jan. 28, 1966

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Spanish Scene

Sir: Bravo, bravo, bravo for your excellent cover story on Spain [Jan. 21] from an American liberal who is very proud to say: Viva España y viva Franco!

JOHN SIMMS Almeria, Spain

Sir: In your fine article on Spain, I was pleased to see you point out that the members of Opus Dei are absolutely free in political matters. However, I felt you failed to convey the fact that Opus Dei is a worldwide Catholic association. Although the society began in Spain, the founder moved its headquarters to Rome, precisely to emphasize the worldwide nature of the association. Finally, although a search for a one-word capsule summary of a typical member is probably impossible, I would not choose "shock trooper." Perhaps "salt tablet" would come closer. The chief thing that members have in common is a dedication to serve God and to serve the world through their professional work—to be "the salt of the earth," as Christ used the term.

WILLIAM S. SLY, M.D. St. Louis

Sir: I hardly share your optimism that "Spain is an awakening land." The brutal fact is that Spain still remains dormant, a tragedy to the Western world since 1939. The alliance of the Spanish church, the military leaders and the monarchists will certainly find the means to continue the vicious circle in which the country finds itself. Ideas and men make a nation, and unfortunately Spain has neither.

FRANCISCO DE LEGARRETA Massapequa Park, N.Y.

Sir: You forgot to mention that Spain under Franco has the lowest rate in juvenile delinquency in Europe, the lowest rate in murder, assault, suicide, divorce, and no pornographic magazines. You also forgot to mention that we are sending billions of dollars and thousands of young Americans to South Viet Nam to hold back Communism in Asia, but it was these hard-headed Spaniards under Franco who crushed Communism in Spain during 1936-39, at no cost to America. You finally forgot to mention that Spain under Franco has never given America a headache, big or small. You ask: After Franco, what? I answer: After Franco, let Spain have another Franco.

FATHER FRANCISCO LAPIEZA, PASTOR Holy Family Church El Paso

Touching the Trait

Sir: TIME'S Essay on homosexuality [Jan. 21] was a perfect demonstration of fanciful subjectivity and pseudo objectivity, doing a disservice not only to your readers but also to a sizable portion of the American citizenry. It abounded in hackneyed clichés that have been seen many times in less respectable magazines. The position of the Mattachine Society of Washington is that homosexuals are citizens and deserve treatment as such. They are, for the most part, ordinary people with only one trait in common: sexual orientation.

JOHN MARSHALL President

The Mattachine Society of Washington Washington

Sir: Your Essay did a thorough job of covering a touchy subject which most people would rather not even think about, let alone discuss. But more important, you did not stop at a mere examination of the topic. What impressed me was your smashingly direct last paragraph. It seems to me that the word compassion is often misunderstood when used in connection with such problems as the subject of your Essay, or the criminal, or the rebellious teenager. You have cleaned the air with words.