Letters: Aug. 16, 1999

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JOHN F. KENNEDY JR., 1960-1999

"He was a child who belonged to all of us since that terrible day in November. My heart is broken, and this time it can't be repaired." NICOLE SCHIMMENTI Strongville, Ohio

The magnitude of the grief experienced by the people of this country with respect to the tragic loss of John, Carolyn and Lauren is extraordinary [JOHN FITZGERALD KENNEDY JR., 1960-1999, July 26]. May both the Kennedy and Bessette families eventually find some comfort in the amount of love that surrounds them. JOANNE MILLS Medford, N.Y.

The message of the untimely death of these three talented young people is that all we have is now. In our time of sadness, we have a compelling message to move us to live and love better. JAMES R. FISHER JR. Temple Terrace, Fla.

J.F.K. Jr. and Diana emerged successfully as shining examples most of us would hope to try to emulate. They were our bridge to the future, images of what the world would be like if we could all just be more like them. Who will now provide our daily reinforcement of class and compassion? NANCY RUYLE BAYLEY Olympia, Wash.

He was not our prince. He was our brother. He showed that Americans can have nobility. GREGORY S. ROGERS Twin Falls, Idaho

Your coverage of the latest Kennedy tragedy was very thorough. Although we never met J.F.K. Jr., he seemed to be a part of our society. MYLA FIGUEROA Manila

That dark shadow hanging over the Kennedys is not a curse, just the odds. An extremely large family with money, resources, connections, time, opportunities--and a modicum of foolhardiness-- beyond what most can afford, including taking risks and indulging in pursuits others might not even consider, is likely to face such horrors. The only curse is Damn! What's next? PATTI GARRITY Manhattan Beach, Calif.

Life is irretrievably precious. We should grieve as much for the Bessettes as for the Kennedys. VLADIMIR HACHINSKI London, Ont.

It is not the number of years we spend on this earth that counts. It's what we do while we are here that really matters. Though they died young, their lives were complete. BARBARA MURTAGH Dublin

I am sorry for the deaths of three young people and for their families, who grieve for them. But I am appalled at the extravagant outpouring of adulation. MERLIN ANDREW Toronto

The loss of one family member is hard enough to accept; to have to deal with the simultaneous deaths of three is beyond comprehension. Like so many other South Africans, I felt the Kennedy family was a part of my childhood, my teenage years and now my adult life. I have the greatest admiration for their strength of character, their determination, and above all, their kindness to those less fortunate. John Jr. typified the clan. The Kennedys can all lift their heads in pride and say, "Here was a man." VICKY SCHOEMAN Cradock, South Africa

I am tired of reading about the Kennedy-family curse. The curse that afflicts so many of the "unlucky" Kennedys is their attitude that the rules that apply to the rest of us simply do not apply to them.