John Paul I

To the Editors:

The passing of Pope John Paul I [Oct. 9] was a terrible shock. Many people are going to wonder how God could snatch him away before his time. But in the long run, I believe he did what he was raised up to do and did it well. He showed us what the esse of the papal office is and, underneath, has always been: a simple, loving pastor rather than a crowned autocrat. His example was the vital thing.

(The Rev.) John B. Pahls Jr. Brewster, N. Y.

God does things in many unexplainable ways to remind man of his limits. Maybe this time, heaven can't wait.

Miguel D'Assumpcao Vancouver

Pope John Paul I brought a certain warmth back to Catholicism, a warmth sorely needed for those who have felt alienated from the church.

Richard A. Boyd Cambridge, Mass.

It is shocking that the death of Pope John Paul I was allowed to slide by with no questions asked. No autopsy? I couldn't believe it.

Victor I. Spear, M.D. Rockford. III.

The time has come to elect a Pope physically capable of the office. The election should not be a death sentence.

Donald E. Lawton Burghausen, West Germany

Why not a Vice Pope?

Jane Keckeissen North Caldwell, N.J.

Penny-Wise, Pound-Foolish

President Carter's blast against the Public Works Bill as a "pork barrel" appropriation [Oct. 16] was dead wrong.

This legislation is essential if the ranchers and farmers in many states are to have the water they need to survive. Lack of water destroys both crops and livestock. When they're in short supply, food prices skyrocket.

When it comes to fighting inflation, food prices count too. The President seems penny-wise and pound-foolish.

Ed Johnson Omaha

Hurrah for Carter's 6th veto and the support from the Representatives! They are using foresight. Too much of what goes on in Washington is hindsight: investigating actions that have already been committed. This takes time that should be spent on blocking unnecessary expenditures of taxpayers' money.

(Mrs.) Edith J. Dalbey Portland, Ore.

Band-Aids for the Dollar

Your Essay "What to Do About the Dollar" [Oct. 9] pushes selling gold, buying dollars, tight money. These are nothing but currency manipulations. No number of fiscal and monetary Band-Aids will do. Currency, after all, is only a medium of exchange. Stand on a street corner and watch the Toyotas, Mercedes and Volkswagens go by. This country has to produce goods with performance, quality and dependability. Tight money, recession and unemployment are no substitutes for productivity. We've got to rediscover value and go to work.

Carlos Fallon Southport, N.C.

Since imports exceed exports this year, maybe it should be stressed that Americans should purchase American-made products to stabilize and enhance the G.N.P. I disapprove of the way that the President is handling the economy, and as a wage earner I am disgruntled to see where the revenue from my taxes is going. Something must be done, too, to curb inflation.

Robert S. Denchfield Coral Gables, Fla.

Touch of Pathos

Your article on General Walker's separation from the U.S. Army [Oct. 9] has a touch of pathos. The real shame is that the morass of personal, political and bureaucratic intrigue enmeshing the Defense Department is such that seasoned officers are encouraged to leave. A general officer with the stature of Sam Walker cannot be replaced. Thus, the U.S. Army loses again.

Al Wallace Tulsa, Okla.

Are we to accept the Army's being denied the abilities of General Walker because of Secretary of the Army Alexander's irritation with Army Chief of Staff General Rogers? And President Carter acquiesced to this nonsense?

I don't care about the "social" problems of the Army. I do think able leaders and combat-proved generals should be given commands they deserve.

William J. Brennan Philadelphia

General Walker's case is symptomatic of our throwaway society, which discards so easily anything from old cars to human talent in the full expectation that "there is more where it came from." This is foolish in general, but downright dangerous in the case of human talent.

Walter E.A. Wolf Chief Master U.S.A.F. Washington, D.C.

Ambiguous Response

The San Diego mid-air crash [Oct. 9] illustrates that radar controller traffic advisories do not always assure sighting by aircraft crews. As an air traffic specialist who rides cockpit jump seat on all types of air carrier aircraft for flight familiarization in air traffic control procedures and navigation, I have heard callouts followed by the crew's response: "We're looking." In some cases the traffic was sighted. In others, it was not. And these advisories were for larger air-carrier type aircraft, not small Cessnas.

T. V. Keating Carol Stream, III.

The Golden Pit

It's sad to realize that pressure from Laetrile supporters [Oct. 9] can overcome knowledgeable sound medical research and come up with a $250,000 golden pit. Perhaps the National Cancer Institute should fund leeches, bloodletting and incantations, for they have really scraped the bottom of the barrel this time.

William Skogen Milwaukee

Too Little, Too Late

The "Innovation Recession" [Oct. 2] is the result of government policies, and the small revisions Mr. Carter now proposes are too little, too late.

The costs of R. and D. are great in terms of personnel, lead time, testing, development, promotion and marketing. When product profits finally begin to amortize costs, the antitrust department steps in.

(Mrs.) Toby Royston Exton, Pa.

As long as we overpay lawyers, doctors, M.B.A.s, stockbrokers and high-powered salesmen, the brightest minds will choose these professions rather than becoming anonymous lab-coat wearers with very few perks and low remuneration. I believe that there has been an overstress in U.S. business on "management." As a final irony to it all, the patent lawyer in a corporation drawing up a patent is likely to be better remunerated than the patent's inventor.

Eric Simon Houston

Hamburger by Any Name

The Essay "A Guide to American Restaurant Menus" [Oct. 2] sounded so much like the food served in dorms here that in order to obtain such accurate translations, Mr. Kanfer undoubtedly ate in my dorm. However, he left off some euphemisms for hamburger, which are: Swiss steak, onion steak, trailmaster steak, fried steak and Wisconsin cutlet (cheeseburger).

Bill Heine Iowa City

The food-service industry agrees that there is need for accuracy in menu descriptions to avoid misrepresentation. However, in your Essay "Guide to American Menus" the attempt at making it sound humorous was in poor taste. It was a disservice to the many fine restaurants in which you have enjoyed an excellent breakfast, luncheon or dinner.

Joe F. Lo Cicero, President Wisconsin Restaurant Association Milwaukee

Bravo TIME magazine! Your Essay on Menuese has shown that tasteless minds should stop trying to transform deep, honest food into abstract table structures. By the way, the same minds are at work in the restaurants of French Quebec.

Raymond P. Hebert Montreal

Your Essay on restaurant menus should be required reading for all those who complain about excessive governmental regulation. It is a poor commentary on us that Government controls are the price for honesty.

Mary C. Browning Chicago

Hang the Chairs

In Frank Rich's review of the movie Goin'South [Oct. 9], he writes that Julia Tate is "a frigid young spinster whose odd habits include hanging up chairs on wall hooks." This custom is not so odd. I was once invited into a Pennsylvania Mennonite farmhouse where the chairs were hung up on hooks. It was also a fairly common thing to do in the 19th century to make space.

Langley U. Morang Miami

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