Video Games

To the Editors:

Legislators who want to shut down arcades featuring video games [Jan. 18] should close race tracks instead. If adults can waste their pay on the horses, then kids should be permitted to spend their allowance the way they want to.

Heidi J. Jamison

Pine Grove, Pa.

After a hard day at school with crabby teachers, I enjoy a few games. I also find an arcade a welcome sight in an otherwise dreary shopping mall.

Rudy Celis Jr.

LaGrange, Ga.

Would those people who are against kids playing video games be happier if we spent our time and money smoking, drinking or taking drugs?

Betina Pavri

Rockwood, Pa.

It is gratifying to see TIME recognize the growth of the microcomputer industry. However, there is no company I know named "USE" that develops software for the Apple computer. Our company's name is MUSE.

Fred Poole

Director of Sales, MUSE

Baltimore

If I had saved every quarter I have thrown into a video game, I would be going to college now instead of working.

Tommy Dubartell

New York City

You emphasized the money people put into video games. However, if a player is good, he doesn't spend much. It may take $20 or $30 to become an expert. But once the skill is mastered only three or four quarters a day are needed, and a game like Asteroids can be played for hours on just one quarter.

Rebecca Slivka

Ithaca, N. Y.

Caring for Mom and Pop

Your story on alternatives to institutionalization for the aged begins and ends with quotes from two elderly people in San Francisco, who poignantly advocate adult day care centers [Jan. 18]. Unfortunately, there is no mention that both of these individuals are participants in the Mount Zion Hospital and Medical Center program, one of the first day care facilities in the U.S. based in a community hospital.

William H. Gurtner

Executive Vice President

Mount Zion Hospital and Medical Center

San Francisco

One summer I volunteered to work at our local hospital and ended up in its extended-care facility for the elderly. From the patients I learned that it can be easier to give help than to receive it. They asked for nothing but a little of my time and in return offered me their knowledge, experience, understanding and love.

Krista Haizlett

Indiana, Pa.

Taiwan Troubles

It is hypocritical of the Reagan Administration to support Poland but turn its back on Taiwan [Jan. 18]. Who knows Taiwan's defense needs better than its government? Our abandonment of the island of Taiwan is a disgusting chapter in American diplomacy.

Kent R. Parsons

Orem, Utah

China's deafening silence about Soviet involvement in the Polish military crackdown is attributed to the mainland's displeasure over U.S. arms sales to Taiwan. There is probably another more important reason for China's reticence: Solidarity. In Peking's view, a free labor union movement poses a greater threat than Soviet hegemony.

Ching Chun Li

Pittsburgh

You should bring up the fact that the people of China who reside on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are in need of forming a binding reunion. Some individuals in the Reagan Administration spare no pains in building a wall of antagonism by selling arms to Taiwan.

Wei Li-xing

Canton, China

Soviet Sanctions

In all the hubbub about confrontation and escalation against the Soviets [Jan. 18], one significant factor has been overlooked: it does not matter what the actual intentions of the West are toward the Soviet Union. What is important is the Soviet citizen's perception of these intentions. Despite their disenchantment with their own government, the Soviet people are convinced that the U.S. wishes to destroy them. Therefore, they are patriotic and loyal, and whatever is said or done to reinforce their convictions will turn out to be counterproductive.

Tony Tersch

Bangkok

It is a good thing the Soviets have not decided to impose economic sanctions on the U.S. All they would have to do is stop buying our grain.

Edward Lewis Pfau

Cincinnati

Ice Queen Cometh

It is unfair to lay the blame for the Environmental Protection Agency cutbacks entirely on Anne Gorsuch [Jan. 18]. She had a lot of help from environmental extremists who, under the guise of protecting the out of doors, brought us no-growth, high energy costs and unemployment.

Charles E. Fulbeck

Sacramento

As we approach a renewed onslaught of "toxic waste dumps, polluted rivers and smog-choked cities," people had better realize that behind every Anne Gorsuch stands Ronald Reagan and his wealthy, Big Business, damn-the-public cronies. Their environmental shortsightedness appalls me. I, for one, will not forget at the next election.

Dean Cartier

Ramsey, N.J.

No Place Like Home

Any poll that does not include Houston in the Top Ten desirable places to live is worthless [Jan. 11]. Houston is the only city in the U.S. where the frontier spirit and the American Dream still reign supreme.

Alcestis R. Oberg

Houston

Whoever decided the Lawrence-Haverhill area is the worst place to live has problems. We are close to Boston, which has museums, great restaurants and historic sites, and have easy access to the seashore.

Chris Wnek

Methuen, Mass.

The Children

"Children of War" [Jan. 11] was a tremendous job, an inspiration and something for every parent in this land to think about!

Robert Coles

Cambridge, Mass.

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