Letters: Nov. 24, 1967

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Sir: As a Canadian veteran of W.W. II I am touched at the abuse being hurled at your Administration simply because they are trying to perform their duty in a nasty political situation in Viet Nam. How many European and British citizens care to recall who provided them with food, arms, supplies and ultimately armed forces to obtain freedom and liberty during two world wars. Not a single one of these so-called American allies, including Canada, have had the courage to send any arms or supplies to help out the U.S.A. in their travail in Viet Nam.

FRANK WEINSTEIN, D.S.C. Edmonton, Alberta

Neither Ten Nor Twenty-five

Sir: A tip of the camouflaged steel pot from a soldier in this strong, forward, vital nation. Your Essay "Whatever Happened to Patriotism" [Nov. 10] brings the definition of "patriotism" into its proper perspective. I had seriously worried that patriotism had become a ten-letter dirty word. If that is just how many of the anti-everything Americans had thought of patriotism then an enlightenment is in store for them within your Essay.

(SP4) ROGER S. SCHATZ Seoul, South Korea

Sir: A typical young patriotic American works day after day in a foreign country at a job that his folks don't really understand, his former university mates question the merit of and he didn't know existed before he joined the service, and wanting like hell to get back to those simple convenient places in the States he once took for granted; yet, he knows he is serving his country to the best of his ability—and he knows of no way in the world to explain "patriotism" in 25 words or less.

WAYNE F. NELSON Lieutenant, U.S.A.F. A.P.O. New York

Sir: Patriotism is a word used by politicians to get votes, and a weapon wielded by inept leaders seeking support for unpopular policies. The logistics of our new "national purpose" are born in computers, not the hearts of our fathers. Just as there is no technology that can program love, tolerance, and honesty into the national fabric, no degree of patriotic fervor can be harnessed to a computer.

PETER LEVINE Washington

Sir: Thank God that we don't have to depend on the dissenters to preserve our light to dissent.

G. R. CHURCHILL Huntsville, Ala.

Look! No Booties!

Sir: Cheers for the normal-looking "Little Brother" doll [Nov. 10]. It is high time that life be represented faithfully so that children can grow up knowing life as it actually is. Getting through the blockades some parents erect is difficult enough. Children are people and should be treated with due respect. If they are not, then they will only become the neurotic parents of their time.

NAOMI B. TROEGER Binghamton, N.Y.

Sir: When our toy catalogue arrived, I showed the picture of Petit Frere to my five-year-old daughter (she has a three year-old brother) and asked her what she thought of the doll. She studied the page for a long time, and then said, "It looks funny. Little boys don't have all that hair." So much for obscenity.

KARIN E. HODGES Philadelphia

Sir: The only thing I find obscene about "Little Brother" is the price.

JERELYN KERN Skokie, Ill.