Letters: Jun. 7, 1982

The Falklands

To the Editors:

Once again war has triumphed over diplomacy [May 17]. British and Argentine troops are killing one another, and that overshadows any conversations the two governments may have about peaceful negotiations. Their actions speak so loudly, one cannot hear what they are saying.

Nell K. Spitz

Monmouth, Ill.

I admit that I was one of those who were excited by the prospect of a good ole adventure. Your article reminded me that war is hell.

Mark Levin

Columbia, Md.

You say, "Except for mothers, who know better . . . almost everyone was certain that this was going to be oh such a lovely war." Do you believe mothers like Margaret Thatcher, Indira Gandhi and Golda Meir have a visceral repugnance toward shedding the blood of young men, which fathers do not have? Killing is not a masculine preserve.

Patricia O'Brien

Royal Oak, Mich.

Reading your piece on the "Ugly War" brought to mind descriptions of the early battles of the U.S. Civil War, when Washington gentry journeyed to Virginia in carriages to view, with detachment, the battle.

Charles Mihle

Haydenville, Mass.

Diplomatic Fumble

The U.S. will lose much by not backing Argentina [May 17]. Our decision was based on remembrances of yesterday. By supporting Britain the U.S. will force Argentina to seek aid from the Communist bloc.

Dennis B. Stepp

Poulsbo, Wash.

Latin Americans are stunned by the American doublecross. The U.S. has forfeited its right to be a member of the Organization of American States. Reconciliation with Latin America will take an eternity. Neutrality would have been a much wiser attitude.

Michael Oliver

Lima

America's mistake was to try to negotiate. We should have come out within 30 seconds for Britain, and insisted that the Argentines withdraw immediately. The impetus was there. The U.N. vote was there. Because we failed to act on our belief that civilization depends on people not grabbing whatever they want, we added our bit to the killing.

Dorothy Barnhouse

San Francisco

Game of War

The Essay on "The Metaphysics of War" [May 17] implies that were it not for the apocalyptic possibilities of nuclear technology, war might be thought of as an unpleasant necessity. Until the mid-19th century, slavery was regarded in the same way. We have outgrown slavery. We should also outgrow war.

Mary W. Cox North

Miami, Fla.

Your description of polytheistic worship as amiably human and relatively harmless ignores the horrors of most idolatrous systems. These religions regularly included human sacrifices like offering human hearts to the sun-god or casting infants into flames.

(The Rev.) R. Mark Colborn

Forest Lake, Minn.

Blind Reporting

I have no sympathy for the television networks that are unable to gain access in the Falklands [May 17]. Television reporters gave up all sense of impartiality with their coverage of the Viet Nam War. Let there be no "livingroom war" for the Falklands.

John Larson

North Clarendon, Vt.

No Defense for Dershowitz