Letters

Summit's Hopes

To the Editors: Whatever a person's political bent, I like to think there is an intangible value in two human beings' looking into each other's eyes, as Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev have done [NATION, Nov. 18]. Our political systems may differ, but the hopes and fears of the Soviet and American people do not. Richard L. Swenson Tacoma

I would rather have Reagan negotiating for us than any other President in memory. In addition to having a remarkably healthy psyche, the President is a moral man with surprisingly accurate instincts about what is good for this country. At least he will not sell our interests down the river as Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman did when they dealt with the Soviet Union at Yalta and Potsdam. Gail Funaro Cerritos, Calif.

Abraham Lincoln said, "The best way to destroy an enemy is to make him a friend." President Reagan has a chance to make a breakthrough in our relationship with the Soviets if he has the vision to do it. History will judge him as either the President who bankrupted his country preparing for nuclear war or the President who had the courage to stop the arms race. Tired of the cold war, the country is crying our for the latter. Ted Keener Bend, Ore.

I am impressed with Artist Marvin Mattelson's cover illustration. The way he designed the latticework of missiles, alternating menacing (red) with protective (blue), was intriguing. Unfortunately, we have allowed these missiles to become part of our existence when in reality they are limiting our freedom and threatening to destroy us. John Wiersum Arlington Heights, III. Man of the Year

In the name of freedom, I nominate Bishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa as Man of the Year. Amha Eyesus Demessie Pasadena, Calif.

This is the year of the hostages, including those who are being held, those who have been freed and those who have been executed by their captors. Carol L. Holmes Philadelphia

Rajiv Gandhi for maintaining the integrity of his country in the face of great challenges to its unity. Sanjay Upadhya Katmandu, Nepal

Bob Geldof for pulling off the Live Aid concerts. He has proved that one man with a conscience can succeed where entire nations have failed. Stefan R. Dziemianowicz Union City, N.J.

This homesick Midwesterner votes for Garrison Keillor. Patricia Renaud Hudson, N.H.

Bruce Springsteen, the man with no gimmicks, only talent and sincerity. Lew Rodner Owings Mills, Md.

Pilot John Testrake of TWA's Flight 847, which was hijacked last June by Shi'ite gunmen. Testrake personified the word professionalism under the harshest conditions. Wayne L. Morris Albuquerque

Neil Frank of the National Hurricane Warning Center for keeping Easterners informed on Hurricane Gloria. Thomas T. Earles Culpeper, Va. Fickle Defector

In hindsight it is easy to evaluate what should have been done in the case of Vitaly Yurchenko [NATION, Nov. 18]. Though the CIA officials in this instance may have acted naively, any repression of Yurchenko would have been a far greater mistake. The world should applaud the U.S. for allowing Yurchenko to make and carry out his own decision on what his future would be. We in the U.S. should see this as a triumph rather than a failure. Richard S. Wagman Lawrenceville, N.J. Soviet Sailor

Statements by two military physicians that Miroslav Medvid's defection [NATION, Nov. 18] was motivated by "glitter and gusto" and that he was "immature" prove only that the doctors have been watching too many beer commercials. Their comments are an insult to all victims of Bolshevism. I suggest they administer a psychiatric examination to the officials involved in this tragedy. Peter Lepka Freeport, III.

It is astonishing that even today the U.S. Immigration Service has no uniform policy for handling defections like that of Sailor Medvid. In light of U.S. incompetence at the lowest level, what hope can there be for success at the nation's highest echelons? Heinz Dieter Chiba Montreal Ransoming Relatives

I do not doubt that some of El Salvador President Jose Napoleon Duarte's detractors, who complain because he negotiated with his daughter's kidnapers [WORLD, Nov. 4], might allow a relative to be slaughtered rather than give in to guerrilla demands. But I suspect their toughness would quickly give way to pleading if their own heads were placed on the block. John White Brookhaven, Miss. Faltering Philippines

The people of the Philippines are traditionally anti-Communist and pro-democracy [WORLD, Nov. 18]. The Communist movement, however, is growing because Filipinos are against the corrupt and repressive Marcos regime. By establishing a dictatorship and turning this once prosperous country into an economic basket case, Marcos has destroyed the democratic form of government. Only the election of a popular leader like Corazon Aquino, the widow of assassinated Opposition Leader Ninoy Aquino, can hold back the Communists. George Carrion Makati, Philippines

Ferdinand Marcos has secluded himself in his palace for two decades while his cronies have captured control of the nation's economy and his army has lost the support of the people. It is not just the Communists who oppose Marcos; moderates have also taken to the streets to protest him. We must re-evaluate our association with the Marcos regime if we are to maintain that special Philippine-American relationship born in Bataan and the World War II resistance. Richard Patrick Wilson Mobile

Right-wing tyrants have a history of playing us for suckers: South Viet Nam's Diem, the Shah of Iran and Chile's Augusto Pinochet. Now add Ferdinand Marcos. The repressive rule of these leaders, with their human-rights violations, economic inequality and police-state justice, invariably creates armed internal opposition. We should drop President Marcos like a hot potato. Gary Fox Oxford, Ohio

To retain a stable Philippines, the U.S. should take the initiative. But we should not assume that the solution to the present crisis is the removal of Marcos. It is only the first step. Alexander C-K Lai New York City Corrected History

You ran a letter that began, "Louis Farrakhan feels we should hate the Jews because they crucified Christ" [LETTERS, Nov. 18]. Representatives of the Roman Empire, not the Jews, ordered the death of Christ. This statement is used by some to justify anti-Semitic beliefs. Bruce Stein Edison, N.J. View of Chairman Deng

In his conversation with TIME [WORLD, Nov. 4], Deng Xiaoping speaks of the mistakes made by China's leaders during the past 30 years. He is referring to the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution. Both campaigns were initiated to rekindle enthusiasm for Communist ideology. Both episodes turned into disasters. Now China's leaders have seen the light. In its pure form Communism cannot exist; it must adopt some capitalist traits. Otherwise, the "polarization between rich and poor" that Deng speaks of will occur in a drastic way. As China's leader says, "You should give them [the peasants] the power to make money." What is a more important characteristic of capitalism than that? Gerry Heyen Bedford Park, Australia

China's wise leader Deng Xiaoping made a good impression on European readers like me. Mikhail Gorbachev should take lessons from Deng and also foster a market economy. It would help bring prosperity and a higher standard of living to the Soviet people. Western politicians should intensify their relations with this newly developing China. Carsten Jaeger Wiesbaden, West Germany Spy's Smile

Upon reading the article "Belated Concern" [NATION, Nov. 11], I was amazed to see how my brother Michael Walker was described during his sentencing. He was made to seem like an insolent little boy, casually "grinning" at his wife and sister and not taking his fate seriously. Michael has committed a grave error, for which he will pay the price. The smile was merely an attempt to comfort his tearful wife, who is having to learn to accept the fact that through no fault of her own, she will not have her husband for the next decade. Margaret Walker Norfolk, Va. Altered Image

Lance Morrow's "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" [ESSAY, Nov. 18] recalled to my mind a question posed by a postmaster in Massachusetts when I addressed a package to my daughter in Maryland: "Chevy Chase? A town has already been named after him?" Dorothy Lundberg Washington, D.C.

In the silent-film days, my father remarked, "Many of the famous, and infamous, men of history are people who looked exactly like George Arliss." Even today, when I think of Benjamin Disraeli, I am reminded that he is the spittin' image of Arliss. Of course, I do not think of either one of them very often. Spencer Howell Silver Spring, Md. Liability of Lighting Up

In your story on the cigarette makers' attempt to diversify, you mention the spate of product-liability cases [ECONOMY & BUSINESS, Nov. 18]. After having to practice respiratory therapy, I am no friend of the tobacco industry. But the suit against R.J. Reynolds brought by the family of the man who smoked two to three packs a day is going too far. People must take responsibility for their actions. Susan E. Beerman Sandusky, Ohio

Every pack of American cigarettes is labeled with the surgeon general's warning that smoking is a health hazard. If a person dies because he elected to ignore this warning, that is his choice. The survivor's family should not be allowed to sue. Lawrence M. Wissler New Bern, N.C.

So the increasing cigarette sales in Third World countries are encouraging to tobacco manufacturers. If the habit continues to grow in nations like Kenya, where consumption is up 8% annually, the cigarette companies will have to provide these people with artificial lungs within a generation. Robert G. Arthur Kings Park, N. Y.