Inconsistent Protest

Sir / It seems to be inconsistent and hypocritical to imprison persons for the avowed purpose of changing their behavior, and yet when someone seriously attempts to use scientific knowledge to change the inmate, we hear a howl of protest [March 11]. Maybe we aren't' as serious about rehabilitating prisoners as we claim.

C.S. STANLEY Whitfield, Miss.

Sir / The heart of behavior mod lies in correct use of positive reinforcement, simply because this most closely approximates normal human behavior. Hundreds of parents of retarded and/or behavior-problem children have learned to use behavior mod to teach their children; many are grateful because it affords them a highly successful humanistic alternative to the degrading kinds of punishing methods they had earlier felt themselves reduced to.

HENRY L. COVERT Boone, N.C.

Sir / Your discussion of behavior modification in prisons gives me too much credit, if that is the word, for current practices. I have never recommended the use of electric shock, drugs which produce nausea or vomiting, or psychotherapy. I am concerned only with the prison environment, and even there only with its rewarding aspects. Prisoners have been subject to behavior modification as long as there have been prisons, and the results are only too well known. Something better can be done and is being done, as your article shows.

B.F. SKINNER Cambridge, Mass.

Sir / In general, the prison system is still centered on the idea of punishment, and I see terrible abuses possible with the new behavior-modification programs. Rehabilitation-through-work programs and similar methods have never been given a proper chance because of the lack of funds, facilities, knowledgeable personnel and good programs. It would be better to concentrate on these areas first.

ELLEN FORD Bloomington, Ind.

Nixon, Pro and Con

Sir / If the presidential press conference of March 6 is an example of democracy in action, the world must laugh contemptuously at it. The newsmen faced the leader of the greatest country on earth, who has achieved amazing success in handling insurmountable world problems. Yet it seemed that most of the press was concerned only with Watergate. What a pity to have so many insignificant minds in the news media.

AGNES C. RYAN Spring Lake Heights, N.J.

Sir / It is a sad legacy that President Nixon will leave the nation. It is a legacy of legal manipulation to avoid personal responsibility. If this example were followed by each citizen, the result would be catastrophic.

CHARLES R. TUHACEK Parma, Ohio

Galley's Freedom

Sir / Far be it from me to begrudge mercy to any Viet Nam veteran. Whatever has been his individual conduct, he has already suffered more than we. Nevertheless, it seems a bit inconsistent that Lieut. Galley [March 11] should be freed before those of his age group whose disobedience was prompted, at least in part, by distaste for shedding human blood.

SHIRLEY L. HOUDE

Shirley, Mass.

Sir / There are those of us in the professional officers' corps who view Mr. Galley (I cannot bring myself to call him lieutenant) as what he is: a convicted mass murderer. I was appalled when he was sentenced to only 20 years and angered when he was allowed to remain in his quarters at Fort Benning and enjoy "almost daily visits from his girl friend."

That Galley now walks the streets of Columbus wearing the uniform that he has disgraced fills me with despair and disgust.

DOUGLAS S. THORNBLOM Captain, U.S.A. West Point, N.Y.

New Imperialist

Sir / Your article "The Arabs Are Coming" [March 11] is probably just another scare for Americans like "the Russians are coming." The Russians never did come, but the Japanese did and our economy is swimming in made-in-Japan products.

Now the Arabs are investing in America, and I hope that our cities will benefit from this new economic imperialist. After all, the Germans make the best cars, the Japanese the best electronic equipment, and if foreign industry runs its course, then the Arabs will have the plans for the future American cities.

GARY A. GIRASOLE Atlanta

Artists' Union?

Sir/ Unfortunately, fine artists need more than Rauschenberg's lobbying for legislation granting them a piece of the action on resale of their works [March 11]. While enforcement of royalties for artists may be feasible on resale by galleries and auction houses, it would be extremely difficult on private resale. Perhaps what artists need is a Victor Herbert (or a Rauschenberg) to lead them into an ASCAP-type organization that may have some clout and a capability to police all resales.

MARTIN BRESSLER

New York City Sir / Hurrah for two Roberts--Robert Hughes for his excellent article, and Robert Rauschenberg for his courageous idea!

It's about time that the rip-off of artists got some publicity and that something was done to remedy the present situation. Too long has the artist been considered the poor and rather eccentric relation, even within the educational system. Too often has the parasite become rich from the artist's sweat and tears.

VERONICA BIALIK Menlo Park, Calif.

Sir / Mr. Hughes' Essay is misdirected. Any artist is free to write (or not to write) a royalty clause as a legally enforceable condition of sale for his work. If he does, he must be willing to accept a lower price for his work than he would otherwise receive. The thinly veiled effect of legislated (required) art royalties is to discourage competitors of established artists (like Mr. Rauschenberg) by reducing market prices for the work of fledgling artists. Economists describe the effects of such legislation as raising "barriers to entry." Mr. Hughes would no doubt call this behavior in other markets reactionary.

ROBERT J. LATHAM Linden Hall, Pa.

Why They Streak Sir / The streaking fad is a response to the feminist movement in our country. The time has come when some men are begin ning to feel the need to prove to themselves and to others that they are the leaders of the species. They have chosen the best pos sible way in which to show people that men and women are not equal. When women start wearing the pants, men start shedding them.

DENNIS M. VEALEY NewRochelle, N.Y.

Sir / These poor dears simply want to show off their brains. They have got the notion from this generation of adults (including many parents and educators, movie and TV producers, editors and publishers) that the brain is not in the head at all -- it is really down there below the belt.

A. DALE SMITH Marion, Ind.

Sir / There are those of us who are too old, too shy or too chicken (and maybe too sensible?) to try streaking ourselves. So rather than be left out in the cold (figuratively streaking, of course), we naturally turn to streak jokes. Although habit-forming, there is no evidence that streak-joking is hazard ous to your health. Examples:

Q. What did Nixon say when he caught Haldeman, Ehrlichman and Dean streaking through the Watergate complex? A. Cover up!

Q. What do you call Congressman Carl Albert if he runs naked through the House of Representatives? A. Streaker of the House.

Q. What's naked and runs across the desert? A. The Streak of Araby.

BOBBI AND BOB FITZSIMMONS

Wiesbaden, West Germany

Sir / If done by Mr. Onassis it is a Greek streak, by any Welshman a leek streak. In the Middle East Henry Kissinger has doubtless seen a sheik streak. Men of humble mien do a meek streak, while those running fully clothed through a nudist colony do a freak streak. If the act is performed in Bergdorf's, it is, no doubt, a chic streak, and in any high fashion store, a boutique streak. The solo act is a unique streak; a group performs a clique streak. The chosen footwear suggests the sneaker streaker. The possibilities appear limitless.

PAUL COTTON New York City

Round the World

Sir / Your belittling comments on the round-the-world yacht race [March 11] are typical of the feeling in the U.S. today toward anything that is "not invented here."

The exception is perhaps European and Japanese automobiles--for obvious reasons.

It is a strange European custom to undertake an occasional feat of endurance purely for the personal satisfaction and honor of taking part. Some are even willing to pay for the privilege. I wonder how many American crews would have entered if there had been a $ 100,000 prize.

JOHN HANDSCOMBE Dallas

A Special Friend

Sir/When T.S. Eliot [March 11] arrived on the Abbot Academy campus for an impromptu talk in 1952, the rumor of the day was that he was a "very special" friend of Miss Emily Hale, our dramatics teacher. Since rumors are practically a national pastime at most boarding schools, imagine my surprise when you carried a picture of Emily Hale as a lovely young woman and indeed a very special friend of Eliot's.

But Eliot's loss was Abbot's gain. Miss Hale nurtured and expanded our love for and understanding of the theater, which I. for one, needed at that time and still enjoy today.

ANN KENNEDY IRISH

Harbor Springs. Mich.

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