One Way to Lose Face
Sir:
General Jonathan Wainwright's statement to the effect that, were he in command in Korea, he would authorize atrocities by Americans similar to those committed by the Reds [TIME, July 24] should make peace-minded Americans thankful he is retired . . .
The one sure way for us to lose face before the free world is for us to sink to the level of the enemies of freedom . . .
TED SIPE
Columbus, Ohio
U.S. v. Chiang Kai-shek
Sir:
My observations while on Formosa in May coincide with those of John Osborne in his courageous statement, "U.S. Tragedy in Formosa" [TIME, July 17]. As he said: "Any child can observe" our anti-Chiang policy there. I was troubled by it then, as I am troubled by our effrontery now in bottling up Chiang Kia-shek . . .
I have known the Generalissimo since 1927. While I agree that there is every reason why he might have "an antipathy to the U.S.," I am sure [he gave no] such impression two months ago. He discussed U.S. aid objectively, as the way to prevent World War III ... If those around him are anti-American, we have only ourselves to blame. In 1927, when General Chiang married Mei-ling Soong, he wanted very much to visit the U.S.A. and Europe. Trouble with his Communists, which . . . has continued to this day, kept him from making that trip. We are just beginning to learn in this country what he has been up against for more than 20 years.
GERALDINE FITCH
Leonia, N.J.
Dianetics: Believe It or Not
Sir:
We think, even though your description of the mechanics of Ron Hubbard's Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health [TIME, July 24] is fair and accurate enough, that as a whole your treatment is ... unduly derisive.
While it is probable that there are people who make a cult of dianetics, that fact is irrelevant. The only issue is whether or not it works toward making people more happy and more sane . . . Sane people do not belong to cults . . . We agree that Hubbard makes too many wild generalizations . . . But if dianetics works, what is now hyperbole may become cold fact . . .
LEE PARMAN
ROBERT HARLOW
Iowa City, Iowa
Sir:
... A sentence in another TIME July 24 article says: "Believe it or not, Americans can believe anything." Should this not have closed the story of dianetics?
HARRISON W. MILLER
San Francisco, Calif.
Sir:
. . . Your article on dianetics is on the whole a capable and lucid job of reporting on a topic of great significance. It is somewhat unfortunate, however, that . . . the specter of hypnotism was allowed to rear its ugly head in your article--when you neglect to state specifically that precise and positive precautions are always taken in each dianetic therapy session to prevent the patient from slipping even accidentally into a trance . . .
EVERETT A. PARKE
Alexandria, Va.
Sir:
... I say that Hubbard has given a new name to an old treatment: hypnotherapy . . .
HOWARD DANIELS
Flushing, N.Y.
Sir:
It is easy to ridicule things we do not understand. I do not understand dianetics; but after 14 hours of therapy and 23 hours of auditing others, I am no longer willing to ridicule [it] . . . Dianetics works.
In the Pasadena dianetics group there are over 200 members . . . one man, with 60 hours, has shed his migraine headaches. His wife, with 60 hours, has cleared a chronic bad skin condition that had dermatologists baffled . . . One little lady, with only a few hours of therapy, is threading needles without aid now--something she has not done for years . . .
IDELLA PURNELL STONE
Sierra Madre, Calif.
Sir:
Your story on dianetics is an impressive example of distortion . . . Your insinuation--supported by reference to Hollywood eccentricity and atmosphere, and by quotation of Los Angeles practitioners and "authorities" exclusively--that interest in dianetics looms largest on the "lunatic fringe" is false . . .
LOUIS GOLDSTONE
San Francisco, Calif.
Sir:
Thank you for your quite accurate description of dianetics . . .
Our only regret is that you . . . mistook the publisher's synopsis in the book to be the opinion of the author. Los Angeles, while giving dianetics an excellent reception, is not entirely informed as to the science. Secondly, you would seem to make me over-evaluate dianetics in my own opinion. In 50 years a valid opinion as to what dianetics is doing or can do for the whole society may be expressed: I doubt anyone would be foolish enough to express such a wild enthusiasm about his own work, and I do not ...
L. RON HUBBARD
Elizabeth, N.J.
Should Movie Scores Be Unobtrusive?
Sir:
It was rather surprising to find your motion picture editor, in reviewing The Men [TIME, July 24], making an unfavorable comment on the musical score of Dimitri Tiomkin, although his review was otherwise most enthusiastic. I thought Mr. Tiomkin's music had a great deal to do with the success of the picture ... [Of course] the prevalent idea is that a motion-picture score must never be obtrusive. If the audience is totally unaware of the music, it is considered a good score . . .
In this picture Mr. Tiomkin had some rare opportunities . . . since there were frequent passages of pantomime in which the music had to take the place of dialogue . . . The result is a score which to my mind is far superior to the average Hollywood product . . .
SIGMUND SPAETH
New York City
Lace-Trimmed Prizes
Sir:
TIME'S Frank Gibney . . . [implied] that a Korean officer was a fancy-dandy because he wore a "lace-trimmed undershirt" [TIME, July 24].
Heavily crocheted undershirts are made for Korean men by their wives and sweethearts--and hence, evidence of the reverse of fancy-dandyism. The open spaces allow circulation of air during the sweltering summer, but the lace absorbs sweat . . .
These crocheted undershirts are so prized they cannot be bought in Korea; they are obtainable only if some girl is good enough to make them for you. I was in Korea but never so fortunate.
ALLEN HADEN
New York City
"Hello, 'Fesser"
Sir:
Your July 24 story on Pearl Buck's The Child Who Never Grew was of characteristic excellence and a fine abstract of a remarkable document . . .
The late Edward R. Johnstone of Vineland made a great and lasting contribution to the field of mental deficiency because of his human and humane attitude toward child and parent alike ... To the children, he was known as " 'Fesser," the best that most of them could do with the word professor . . . A few of the older "boys" who were at the Vineland School are now under my care. I am greatly complimented when any one of them greets me, as he did my father in bygone years, with a cheerful "Hello, 'Fesser."
E. L. JOHNSTONE
Woodbine, N.J.
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