Lovely Diana

To the Editors:

Ah, for a loaf of bread, a jug of wine and Di [April 20].

Robert T. St. John New York City

As a young man awash in a sea of hardboiled, frowzy, careerist "women," I would like to meet someone with the grace and loveliness of Lady Diana.

James J. McMahon III Crofton, Md.

This British lady makes the perfect female media star. She is young, obedient, conforming and is never quoted uttering an original thought. In short, she is absolutely nonthreatening.

Annie Laurie Gaylor, Editor

The Feminist Connection

Madison

Thank goodness for the lovely Diana. At last, a model who can represent for girls what being a lady is all about.

Barbara Anderson Portland, Ore.

It's a sad commentary on the times and the British people's sense of their own worth that 90% of them still favor retaining an anachronistic, outmoded welfare institution known as the monarchy. They would do better to support the descendants of a Shakespeare or a Newton, prototypes of a natural aristocracy.

James G. Gancher Whiting, N.J.

Once again Snow White has won Prince Charming. Perhaps Lady Diana will bring virginity back into vogue.

Johanna Cox Bell City, La.

You have reported a cover story about a 19-year-old girl who is to marry a 32-year-old man. Her chief qualification in this matrimonial derby is her virginity, followed closely by her "ability to do the job" and her "childbearing potential." We women have come so far, and have so far to go.

Cynthia Conley New York City

Columbia Soars

Hail Columbia [April 20], the gem of the galaxy!

Gale Konecny Leucadia, Calif.

I am an astronomer, and I was filled with the glee of a child when I saw the space shuttle return safely. We have entered a new age! Future flights are .estimated to cost $30 million each--that is, 150 from each of us. A bargain to build a strong American presence in space!

Richard C. Henry Baltimore

The ability to "shuttle" off this 20th century mortal coil and return, flawlessly, is a landmark achievement of the human race--a forerunner of man's travel to the stars. Initiative, expertise and creativity are alive and well in America.

Emmanuel Winters Wilkes-Barre, Pa.

Hey! We can still make something that works!

Craig Gates Urbana, Ill.

Granted, the Columbia is a yummy public relations cream puff. But I am not cheering. What good is space wizardry if our home planet becomes unfit for life --animal, vegetable or human?

Most of us do not relish the idea of colonizing outer space. Indeed, we have no moral right to do so--at least not until we clean up our act on this planet.

Jean Allan Boston

What could be as spectacular as the launching of the Columbia? TIME's availability on the newsstand the very next day, with coverage of the event, including color photography, comes pretty close.

John V. Davis Port Washington, N. Y.

Anyone in publishing knows of the new technologies available and works with many of them, but even so, I was astounded to return home Tuesday evening and find TIME with a full-color shot of Sunday's liftoff. That's one whale of an achievement. I salute you.

Dana J. Pratt, Director of Publishing

The Library of Congress

Washington, D.C.

Fantasy Seekers

As a romance writer, I was amused by your article on romance novels [April 13] but less amused by some of the attitudes reflected therein. Shoddy work by the authors of these books is fair game for attack; the intellectual integrity and dignity of women who read romances are not. Anyone who suggests that women will be subject to male domination and ideological corruption as the result of reading romance novels has forgotten that the generation that watched Father Knows Best grew up to dodge the draft and drop acid. Who but Big Brother would insist that an adult's fantasy life must be ideologically correct?

Laura London Greendale, Wis.

I am a librarian, and I know from experience that men read as much fantasy as women, although the subject may vary. Men read adult westerns, adult spy and detective stories and adult fantasy-science fiction, "adult" being a euphemism for lots of sex. I will not denigrate anyone's reading preferences, but I will not allow you to single out women as though they were the only ones wanting to pursue a fantasy life.

Mary Margaret Ramey Bremerton, Wash.

Expel the Problem

Why do discussions of the relative merits of public and private schools [April 20] never mention the most significant difference? That is the simple fact that private schools are free to expel their problem pupils, whereas public ones are not.

During 30 years as a principal in New York City public schools, I not only had to accept students who had been disciplinary and academic problems in private and parochial establishments, but also had to suffer critics who would say that public schools were full of delinquents. Who can fail to have an excellent school if he can expel his problems?

Jon B. Leder Chatham, Mass.

Sociologist James Coleman's study failed to mention the fact that private and parochial schools are able to be extremely selective in the students they accept. Give us only the bright, the motivated, those yearning for higher goals, and I'll give you at least a dead heat in achievement with the private school.

Lundi Moore Morgan Hill, Calif.

Private school students have parents who are willing to get involved in their children's educational process.

Frances M. Schmetzer Pawling, N. Y.

Freedom to Arm

You make the National Rifle Association [April 20] sound like a bunch of cowboys who think everyone should be able to carry a handgun if he wishes. This is far from true. You should have mentioned some of the reasons why the N.R.A. has such a large membership: its strong support of hunters, its education of youth in arms safety and marksmanship, and its national programs for training police officers and instructors who teach the use of firearms.

Debby Bollard Flint, Mich.

There is a weird defeatist attitude about the idea of a national gun control law. We hear the well-known statistics proving that the strong gun control laws of New York State and the District of Columbia do not work. Of course not, when there is no nationwide restriction that prevents a John Hinckley from buying a handgun in another state and bringing it into Washington, D.C., on a bus.

We have solved social problems in the past. Why this blind spot, this paralysis about a national gun control law?

Jane D. Doolin Lincoln City, Ore.

Your magazine indicates that shotguns and rifles are not the problem because they are the best weapons for defending one's home. You have put your finger on the real issue, the siege mentality of people in the U.S. today, a phenomenon as yet virtually unknown in Western Europe. As long as Americans feel they have to defend their homes with guns, all talk of banning handguns is just alotofmalarkey.

Henry D. Cooke Jr. Osnabrueck, West Germany

How long will we continue to submit the results of our electoral process to the veto of anyone with $45 for a gun?

Scott E. MacDougall Berkeley, Calif.

Throughout history, the people in power have sought to disarm the peasants. I won't give in easily.

William F. Conklin Annapolis, Md.

Ranking Generals

I wish to add a note to your article on Omar Bradley, the five-star G.I.'s general [April 20]. You stated that since the Civil War the title General of the Army, which has the insignia of five stars, has been held by only five gentlemen: Omar Bradley, George Marshall, Douglas MacArthur, Henry H. ("Hap") Arnold and Dwight Eisenhower. You should also have mentioned John J. Pershing, who held the slightly different but even more impressive rank General of the Armies.

Frank C. Kump Middle Village, N. Y.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so viewer discretion is required.