Letters: Sep. 26, 1983

Crimes at Home

To the Editors:

As a therapist working with brutal offenders, I am amazed by American reactions to private violence [Sept. 5]. Considering that more jail time can be given to a man for shooting a bald eagle than for molesting a child, it is no wonder that the violence perpetuates itself.

Bill Seals

Director of Sexual Assault Services

The Center for Behavior Therapy, Inc.

Minneapolis

The only way I could get your story off my mind was to do volunteer work for two local childhelp centers.

Kathryn Willingham

Macon, Ga.

I am disgusted by the animalistic crime of rape. But the statement made by Bert Graham of Houston's district attorney's office, "Now juries are quick to side with the complainant," prompted visions of future injustice. Awakening people to a crime like rape is fine, but we must be careful to keep public opinion out of our court system.

Mike R. Midkiff

Huntington, W. Va.

Your article on wife beating ended too optimistically. I am a domestic relations attorney who has spent the past four years representing battered wives. Before marriage, many of the women had already been physically violated by their prospective husbands. So, women, please beware! If he hits you during the courting period, he most assuredly will hit you again after marriage.

Sandra W. Barron

Rockville, Md.

I do not know whether to thank you for your horrifyingly graphic report on personal violence. Perhaps when I catch my breath I can decide.

Mary Ann Reitzel

Van Wert, Ohio

Recently an editorial in a local newspaper declared that only "sensationalism sells papers." That means your article should do very well. It glorifies the suffering, the horror and the perversion of our fellow humans. But your reporting does not explain why political, religious, social and educational leaders have so far failed to reduce our preoccupation with sex; nor does it give any satisfactory reasons why the media, the arts and particularly the press continue using sex and violence as means to exploit the public.

Henry J. Themal

Hartsdale, N. Y.

Space should be devoted to silent sufferers subjected to yet another crime, called mental cruelty, a kind of spiritual torture. One hears about husbands who exercise their macho attitudes without physically abusing their wives but who create Kafkaesque nightmares in their everyday lives. Cruelty between two partners is often too subtle to be snared in the nets of social and judicial justice.

Maria Beran

Welwyn Garden City, England

There is a message missing in your child abuse article: Turn the molester in! Speak up if you know or suspect something. It may be too late for some children, but others can be saved from injury. Turning in a violator is not revenge. It helps the child and the abuser.

James Isaak

Northboro, Mass.

Murder in Manila

I am sickened by the assassination of Benigno Aquino [Sept. 5]. In all the furor over human rights in Afghanistan, Iran, El Salvador and Soviet-bloc countries, the U.S. has consistently overlooked the atrocities committed in the Philippines. Now is the time to take a close look at what is happening there and with whom we are allying ourselves.

Joann Cole