The Once and Future Spain

To the Editors:

I am a son and brother of Spaniards put to death by firing squad in 1936. I am for political change in Spain [Nov. 3], but I tremble at the thought. No government of any kind will give Spain the peace and prosperity she has had under Franco. I and many Spaniards like me love the man.

(The Rev.) Felix Alarcon Brentwood, N. Y.

The Spanish Civil War of 1936-39 was not a dress rehearsal for World War II. The war was the result of the unresolved social problems that have plagued Spain for many centuries. The pueblo of Spain was trying to break with the parasitic and feudal control exercized by the church, the military caudillos and the landowning bourgeoisie. Since the Republic represented a threat to their existence, the plot for the destruction of Spanish democracy was hatched in April of 1931. Franco had joined the right-wing monarchist plot against the Republic as far back as the summer of'34.

Luis Fernando Matiz Boca Raton, Fla.

Excellent reporting on Spain. I would like to add one correction. Your report says the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church "last spring ... endorsed freedom of assembly and speech." The facts are:

In 1971, and again confirming them in 1972, 1973 and 1974, at episcopal conferences the majority of the bishops attending voted for a resolution confessing that the church had sinned in the 1936-39 war by supporting the wrong side --which was of course the Franco side. The resolution was approved by a majority, but since a two-thirds vote was required, did not pass. However, the ma jority vote indicated one of the most important changes in the modern history of Spain.

George Seldes Windsor, Vt.

I do not know Prince Juan Carlos. I did have the honored opportunity to be on intimate terms with his late grandmother, Victoria Eugenie, the last Queen of Spain. If he has inherited even a few of Her Majesty's splendid characteristics, then he surely will succeed.

Richard Williams Manteno, Ill.

You keep talking about the "pressures for change" coming from dissatisfied students, the Roman Catholic Church and the Spanish Communist Party. None of these groups represents Spain.

The factions that really represent about 99% of the Spanish population spread from center to right, whether Europe likes it or not. The price of avoiding leftist paradise was paid in human blood in 1936.

Justino de Paz Balmaseda Madrid

Who Killed Kennedy?

I see that the FBI is badly shaken by the Oswald cover-up that failed [Nov. 3]. How do we find out who else covered up important information about the J.F.K. assassination unless we reopen the investigation into the assassination? Why should we have to wait until A.D. 2039 for the answers? Or is this FBI confession another red herring to divert our attention once more from the truth?

Arthur K. Gibson Grand Rapids

The assassination of John F. Kennedy is more of a mystery today than it appeared to be almost twelve years ago, due primarily to an intransigent Warren Commission, obfuscating police agencies and a too compliant press. Your article is an important and honorable exception. Several steps ahead of the FBI oversight committee of the House of Representatives, you provide proof that the FBI decided to deceive the Warren Commission and easily accomplished that objective.

Mark Lane, Director

Citizens Commission of Inquiry

Washington, D.C.

Reagan's Brain

TIME displayed uncharacteristic gaucherie when it printed a gratuitous insult to Ronald Reagan: "... some Republicans question whether he has the intellectual capacity to serve as President." Who, might we inquire, has recently demonstrated more intellectual capacity? Nixon? Johnson? Ford?

Robert McQueen Sparks, Nev.

Oil That Will Not Wash

The vote of the United Nations General Assembly's Social Committee [Oct. 27] equating Zionism with racism is a sickening example of how ideals and principles are bartered for profit. There is nothing in Zionism that hints at racism. To the contrary, many non-Jews, blacks among them, are ardent Zionists. It is the Arabs who call blacks abeed, which means slaves. It is the Arabs who encouraged the pogrom that killed my cousin and hundreds of other Iraqi Jews, and all the oil in the world will not wash that fact away.

Heskel M. Haddad, M.D.

New York City

Not all thoughtful Jews accept the idea that anti-Zionism equals antiSemitism. Some of us feel personally threatened by Zionism and by what we consider to be the backward, tribal, undemocratic, indisputable objective of political Zionism--the ingathering of all Jews into the state of Israel.

Theodore J. Naman Houston

The Feminist Why

Your reporting of testing [Oct. 27], which shows achievement of males to be higher that that of females, follows the media line of repeating in detail the what of the research, but neglects research that would explain the why.

Feminist writers have researched the why of the female condition. The conclusion is that we are all (male and female) trained to be what we are.

Gwen S. Baker Williams, Ariz.

If the results of these tests are valid, the only thing they indicate to me is that the cultural forces that serve to create mindless sex objects out of 51 % of the population are strong, yes, very strong indeed.

Dorothy L. Olaechea Santa Rosa, Calif.

It is time that teachers and parents help girls learn that it is not "unfeminine" to excel in mathematics and that the only husband worth having is one mature enough to live with his equal.

Carol A. Broman Lincoln, Neb.

Let Live, or Die

In regard to the Quinlan case [Nov. 3]: if the courts were to find in favor of the parents, a Pandora's box would be opened. If the courts were to judge that an act of omission by a physician in not prolonging life is homicide, then every patient who dies could become the basis of legal action against the physician. Such a decision would virtually paralyze the practice of medicine.

Kenneth C. Chessick, M.D.

Inverness, Fla.

How can a Catholic priest, who would vehemently oppose an abortion regardless of circumstances, now favor the removal of a life because of extraordinary circumstances?

Harvey Kulawitz Philadelphia

You misread or misinterpret the Christian view of death in saying that "death is a dread enemy to Christians."

The death which Christians hold in dread is not the death of the body but the death of the soul.

Ralph E. Murphy Norwalk, Conn.

Why must our peculiar social and judicial mores be so certain death is a bad step?

Judy Baker Attleboro, Mass.

Loathing, Loving New York

While Jerry Ford is lecturing the New Yorkers [Nov. 10] for doing what he does so well--operating at a huge deficit--he might get his Immigration Service busy rounding up the million illegal immigrants in the metropolitan area who are taking jobs those on welfare could have.

Clifford B. O'Hara Riverside, Conn.

I think President Ford's stand has a lot of merit.

We overtaxed upstaters wish we could find someone to give the city to, like Connecticut or New Jersey.

(Mrs.) Caroline M. Herrold Syracuse

The only fault I can find with New York City is that her heart was too big. I love her.

Rudolph Dvorak Fort Worth

Bruce Ascendant

I am a victim of the hype of Bruce Springsteen [Oct. 27] and I make no bones about it. Now it's all I live for.

Jacob Rosen Chicago

Postpubescent pap.

Weldon Shea Monsport Boonton, N.J.

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