Dark Hours

To the Editors:

Your article on "Diplomacy's Dark Hours" [March 17] shows how today's practice of thinking and acting only in nationalistic terms does violence to the concept of man as an individual. Yet at the same time, the debate about human rights goes on, a situation that is perfect for the theater of the absurd.

Swenta Boldt Oberhausen, West Germany

Just what legacy did the world's diplomats hope to reap when they applauded the P.L.O. terrorist Yasser Arafat at the U.N.? In a single stroke they legitimized international politics based on terrorism. Judith R. Robinson Pittsburgh

When we respond to terror with threats, we provide the incentive for our adversaries to maintain a fighting posture. Let's talk softly--and keep the big stick out of sight until it's really needed.

Craig Michler Albany

How do we stop terrorism? Simply announce to the world that henceforth any threat against an American citizen will be met immediately and without mercy by an American SWAT team and that all terrorists involved will be killed if necessary. James A. Sumner Sedona, Ariz.

Flip-Flops

President Carter's propensity to "flipflop and zigzag" [March 17] translates into pure incompetency. He not only can't see the forest, but is overwhelmed by each tree, branch, twig and leaf.

John Mooney San Diego

To read your story, you would think that no one ever made a mistake before Carter. You can use your buzz words ("flip-flop," "zigzag," "gaffe," "blunder") all you want, but the fact is that a President has every right to change his mind when events demand it.

Geraldine E. Gibbs Toledo

The candidate hiding behind the flag

is really hiding behind his own mistakes.

James A. Stevenson

Cheswick, Pa.

You might have at least noted two "minor" zigzags of the Carter presidency: consistently low, unemployment and a steadfast dedication to peace.

Frederick C. Bader Upper Darby, Pa.

What is the Administration's unswerving foreign policy this week?

Dean P. Blanchette Tamarac, Fla.

That U.N. Vote

I am not persuaded that the vote against Israel in the U.N. [March 17] was the result of a "breakdown in communication." I am convinced that it reflected a deliberate change in policy toward our only ally in the Middle East. Apparently, the Arabists in the State Department are now making the important decisions.

Jack Geller New York City

Why is it that our Government spends so much time on its knees begging Israeli forgiveness after any hint of American criticism of their practices in regard to the Palestinians and Arab land?

Vincenza Tiberia La Mesa, Calif.

You do have to give the U.S. credit. We don't play favorites. We knuckle under to everybody.

Gordon Hull Mineola, N. Y.

Look, if Carter wishes to change his vote on the U.N. resolution on Israel, that's O.K. with me, just so long as he extends the same courtesy to all those who voted for him in the primaries.

Michael Mroz Methuen, Mass.

Hostage Dilemma (Contd.)

The U.S. must not give in to the Iranian "students" [March 17]. For 50 Americans to die in Tehran for their nation is better than for the U.S. to become the puppet of persons or governments that threaten or hold our citizens at gunpoint.

Daniel J. Roberts Fort Myer, Va.

Rather than try to pin blame on the U.S. for atrocities committed by SAVAK during the Shah's rule, the Iranians would do better to take a look at the power that historically has done the greatest damage to its neighbors--and is doing so in Afghanistan now.

Ghanem al Saidi Alexandria, Egypt

There is one problem with the "gentlemen's agreement" on the release of the hostages. There are no gentlemen in Iran. Burton F. Conlisk Bloomington, Ind.

The Iranians say "America the Satan," but they're thinking "America the sheep."

Timothy J. Gillis Omaha

I realize that it is against our principles to give in to blackmail and return the Shah, but let's not lose sight of the fact that his life isn't worth the little finger of one of our hostages.

Margaret Fessenden Wolcott, N. Y.

Chemical Reaction

Congratulations to TIME for uncovering another mythical arms gap--this time in chemical weaponry [March 10]. Time will surely prove TIME wrong, as in the cases of the thought-up "bomber," "nuclear" and "rocket" gaps.

But there is one genuine gap in U.S. policy that TIME overlooks consistently: the peace gap. Against great odds the Soviet Union has been steadfastly implementing its peace program, and has made more than a hundred different disarmament proposals to the West of late. So why not urge the U.S. Government to attend to this real gap and join the U.S.S.R. in making the world a safer place for all? Vladimir Alexeev, Political Observer Novosti Press Agency Moscow

Your article makes me want to cry out, "How much more!" Now it appears that if we do not destroy the human race with our big inventory of nuclear warheads, we will do it with our stock of lethal chemicals.

Edwin C. Coon Whittier, Calif.

Chemical weapons have to be one of the most abhorrent methods of defense ever developed. It is totally ludicrous to contribute to the worldwide stockpiling of these monstrous things in the name of preserving peace.

Martha Prasher Dubuque, Iowa

Mugabe's Victory

By leading his party to an honorable victory, Robert Mugabe [March 17] has liberated Zimbabwe Rhodesia's 7 million blacks from oppression. This liberation can be compared with the freeing of the Jews by Moses from Pharaoh's power. The least the world can do is to honor him with a Nobel Prize.

Sudhangshu B. Karmakar New York City

In this harsh and oppressive world, the events in Zimbabwe Rhodesia have portrayed a small but tangible part of the phrase "and justice for all."

Richard Lerner Lexington, Mass.

The Steel Sickness

Your report on the steel industry [March 17] shows clearly what corporate smugness can do to initiative. The industry has been protected, has neglected to turn its profits of the past into efficient production, and the U.S. will now reap the consequences. The English sickness should now be called the Anglo-American sickness: old plants, old management and no go.

Richard Hyse Oswego, N. Y.

Weathercasters: Mostly Cloudy As your Essay on the art of weathercasting [March 17] notes, TV weather reporters on occasion fall into a sort of self-satire. After the usual "happy talk" clowning with his colleagues, one announcer lapses into a discussion of the "good guys" and the "bad guys," which are the high and low pressure systems. They are represented on the weather map by happy and sad faces, looking like the Greek masks of comedy and tragedy.

Alan J. Davis Wynnewood, Pa.

As a Chicago suburbanite who is all too routinely exposed to 8-in. snowfalls forecast the night before as "possible flurries," I have always been annoyed by the amount of time devoted to a weather report of doubtful reliability. I, for one. would happily settle for 30 sec. or less of: "As far as I can tell, tomorrow's weather will be..."

Donald S. Metz Olympia Fields, Ill.

Message for Malcontents

To Management Consultant Robert Bramson's nosology of office malcontents and combatants [March 17], I add the memo writers, a species especially pesky to bosses. The memo is such a potent weapon. It gets under the skin and demands attention. I should know. My boss replied with a pink slip.

James Glowacz Chicago

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