Letters, Jan. 15, 1973

Bombs Rain Down

Sir / Re "More Bombs than Ever" [Jan. 1]: The American people have been forced to suffer through a decade of broken promises from their Government. It is apparent that as the years pass, the Administration's ability to mislead only seems to improve. As tons of bombs rain down on the Vietnamese people. President Nixon speaks of a "generation of peace." One is left to wonder what generation the President is talking about.

ERIC R. PACHT

Madison. Wis.

Sir / America has got scores more men for whom to wear P.O.W. bracelets. There are several hundred fresh graves in North Viet Nam. All of this is part of the continuing drama of imminent peace.

In 1972, as in 1968. the American people bought an illusion instead of reality.

WILL COLLETTE

Providence

Sir / Nixon: four more years . . . of war?

SUSAN E. WOLF Highland Park, Ill.

Sir / The peace talks are deadlocked: bombing and mining in North Viet Nam have been resumed. Peace is at hand? We need McGovern now more than ever.

SHELLEY COHEN

Waltham. Mass.

Sheer Sensual Skiing

Sir / Re your cover story "Holiday on Skis" [Dec. 25]: I do not argue with doctors who deny that the ultraviolet rays encountered while skiing have an aphrodisiac effect. However, the sheer sensual experience of the warm sun, snow spray in the face, weightless microseconds on a mogul, the symphony of wind blowing through pine forests, thrills of speed, danger and precision and not insignificantly, the form-fitting nature of ski clothing create in this skier a desire for more than a quiet evening with a good book.

JACK MOORE

Stanford. Calif.

Sir / Back in 1918, when arctic conditions prevailed in Ithaca and the snows were 3 ft. and 4 ft. deep, my friend and I donned our oak skis with leather straps and went cross-country through the most beautiful hills in central New York. Every now and then there would be a stretch of farm land where you could travel a mile or more, dropping 500 ft. in the process. It was very exhilarating, exciting and healthy. No "dogging." jumping, or stunting, just wonderful movement over sparkling snow. This was skiing as I remember it!

A.E. ALEXANDER

New York City

Sir / When the Mammoth Mountain people read your story, you will have a lot more than a fractured tibia. It will take a dozen St. Bernards to sniff you out from under an avalanche of critical mail for ignoring that great ski resort.

MARVIN J. KELCH

Los Angeles

Sir / You rich skiers can ski your lives away, but kindly think of nonskiers like myself before you take to the slopes. You are encouraging a sport that causes mountainsides to be razed and hundreds of condominiums and hotels to be built in once virgin valleys. You are destroying the landscape that belongs to all of us just to enjoy a "sensual experience."

PEGGY GIRSHMAN

Ann Arbor. Mich.

Sir / I enjoyed reading your story. Reading is one of the few pastimes left to me since I broke my ankle skiing three weeks ago.

MICHAEL BODNER

New York City