Letters: Sep. 15, 1967

(2 of 5)

Sir: Your POW camp training article [Sept. 1] revived memories of similar well-meaning efforts during and after the Korean War. Hardly a base, post or station was without its "torture and brainwash" school. All carried on with the best of intentions, of course. However, when all the evidence was in as to what actually went on in the POW camps of North Korea, it transpired that extremes of physical violence were the exceptions rather than the rule, occurring, it seems, to something like less than 1% of the prisoners. Mistreatment was far more apt to take psychological rather than physical forms. Our artillerymen are now (presumably) well aware of the extent to which they can be physically maltreated; are they equally aware of the far more common, insidious and infinitely more successful forms of psychological persuasion?

KEITH D. YOUNG

Major, U.S.A.F.

U.S. Air Force Academy

Colorado Springs, Colo.

Uncommon Bigot

Sir: George Lincoln Rockwell [Sept. 1] was not a common hatemonger or backwoods bigot. He was the embodiment of forensic eloquence and razor-sharp intelligence, both of which had been honed to a hair-thin cutting edge. His physical stature emitted strength as well as fear. The real tragedy of Commander Rockwell's demise is that such quality and potential leadership were befouled by a twisted alignment with a vociferous band of homicidal psychopaths and miscellaneous social rejects. It is my sincere conviction that if this man had not permitted himself to become encased in the morass that is the Nazi ideology, he would have served his nation with excellence as a U.S. Senator or perhaps a Cabinet officer. His combat record attests to this postulation.

Please comprehend that in no manner or form do I endorse the tenets of Nazism. I reject the entire Nazi philosophy. I only wish that Commander Rockwell had done the same.

DAVID

Louis Houston

Welcome to the Club

Sir: Your article on the misfortunes of Clarence Jackson [Sept. 1] brings to mind certain questions about our American judiciary system. What is wrong when an honest man like Jackson, who is trying to stand up for his rights, loses all that he has through legal processes? Yet, elsewhere, certain persons travel over the country inciting riots and committing treasonable acts, and nothing happens to them. Do we really have a democratic judiciary system or one that protects the criminal and prosecutes the innocent?

JEFF MORELOCK

Cleveland, Tenn.

Sir: Tell me has the American Bar Association yet bestirred itself to say "ho-hum" or anything?

ROBERT W.L. SMITH Ann Arbor, Mich.

Sir: Under the circumstances, we feel compelled to offer Mr. Jackson membership to the hallowed halls of Losers Incorporated. In this case, we will waive the initiation fee and annual dues.

JOHN H. KOLHOVEN

Chairman of the Board

Losers Incorporated

La Crosse, Wis.

A Huff & a Puff