Bear Crazy

To the Editors: In 1960 our new high school coach told us we could beat anybody. He showed us films narrated by Bear Bryant [Sept. 29]. We freshmen thought Bryant was crazy. We thought our coach was crazy. We were undefeated. Brian Bailey Nashville

The influence of Coach Bryant reaches far beyond the campus and the state of Alabama. My son, who plays football at little Roger Williams College in Rhode Island, always wears under his uniform an Alabama football jersey. For a few hours on Saturday afternoon he too is a Crimson Tider. Maurice H. Patterson Providence

Bear Bryant has in full measure those sacrosanct qualities of a successful football coach: he understands the game, and he believes that it's important. Osmond C. Kretschmar Brimfield, Mass.

Supercoach? Not quite. He will deserve such praise when he beats the one team that has always eluded him--the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. In three attempts against the Irish, Bryant has lost. Michael Ribotta San Francisco

Campaign Punches

In his article "More Than a Candidate" [Sept. 29], Hugh Sidey quotes "St. Harry" in an effort to deny Jimmy Carter his right to be warmly human. That is an irony we ordinary folk can hardly comprehend. Where was Sidey when Truman was trying to associate Henry Wallace with the Communists? We re-elected Harry in 1948; I predict we will re-elect Jimmy in 1980. He is one of us. Earl D. Martin Gloucester, Va.

After I heard Ronald Reagan blaming President Jimmy Carter's policies for the war between Iraq and Iran, I only wonder that he did not also blame Carter for the eruption of Mount St. Helens. Eugenie Seredin-Sabatin Los Gatos, Calif.

President Carter labels Governor Reagan a warmonger. Lyndon Johnson tried to pin the same accusation on Barry Goldwater in 1964 and won reelection, then sent 600,000 men to Viet Nam. Brian B. Tousley Monterey, Calif.

Does God Hear Jews?

Southern Baptist Conference President Bailey Smith is right. God does not hear the prayers of any person who says Jesus Christ is not the Messiah [Sept. 29]. Nor does God listen to the needs of every person who calls on him. It has nothing to do with racism, culture or class. (The Rev.) Norman Koop Deerfield Street, N.J.

The Rev. Mr. Smith gives just another reason why global brotherhood will never be attained. It is unbelievable that anyone, especially in a leadership role, could deny the accessibility of God to any people. Mark Naigles Providence

If God cannot hear a Jew's prayers, how could he hear those of Jesus, a Jew? Richard Niles Hackensack, N.J.

Licensing Teachers

Your story on requiring licenses for teachers claimed that Philosopher Mortimer Adler's proposal [Sept. 29] would "weaken control of teaching by teachers." Teachers, however, have very little control to be weakened. More crucial, Mr. Adler's plan would weaken control of teaching by teachers of teaching--a necessary change, it seems to me, a teacher. Jack W. Rhodes Charleston, S.C.

The only product of Adler's plan to improve teaching would be clones of Adler loaded with information about "history, great literature and art." These humanoid teachers might recite such catechisms while their students are trying to survive drugs, vandalism, rape, poverty and gang warfare. Edward R. Pagan University Park, Pa.

Dollars for Kindergarten

You partly miss the point in your story about the pressure of enrolling children in nursery schools and kindergartens [Sept. 29]. Many of us who struggle to meet private school tuition costs have decided to spend our educational dollars for primary and secondary school education so that our children can learn the three Rs. Thoroughly adequate college training can be achieved at relatively lower cost through city or state universities. If the students are not well trained by the time they are through high school it is too late, and college can do little to help.

Hovey C. Clark San Francisco

Yankee Come Home

Heartfelt thanks for your article highlighting the plight of America's latest endangered species, the U.S. citizen abroad [Sept. 29]. I hope Golden Fleecer Senator Proxmire has a relief bill for the non-mink-clad who return home jobless and savingsless because of the interplay of high cost of living abroad and high U.S. taxes. Ironically, the Communists have been painting the walls for years with YANKEE GO HOME, but it is Proxmire and the U.S. Treasury boys who are implementing that slogan. Thomas L. Hughes Caracas

No Wastes There

In your story "The Poisoning of America" [Sept. 22], Union Carbide is identified as having voluntarily removed drums of its waste materials from the Chemical Control Corp. disposal site in Elizabeth, N.J., after the facility was closed by the state. Union Carbide did not have any waste at that site. Jackson B. Browning, Corporate Director Health, Safety & Environmental Affairs Union Carbide Corp., New York City

The Push for Nuclear Power

This country's halting and timid approach to the development of nuclear power [Sept. 22] will lead to an international showdown over energy just as certainly as the Munich appeasement led to the second World War. When the energy shortage really hits, the classic basis for armed conflict will be established. Of what value to President Carter will his environmentalist constituency be then? Howard L. Vener Marblehead, Mass.

Recognizing a significant threat to human health and welfare and controlling the proliferation of its source constitute a great advance over boosting the production of a dangerously flawed system. By resisting the pressure from other nations to push ahead on nuclear energy, the U.S. is the champion, not the black sheep. Eric Gellert Mercer Island, Wash.

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