Israel's Leader

To the Editors:

Your cover story on Israel and Menachem Begin [May 30] was a disgrace. In the only democratic election in the Middle East, the people of Israel elected a man and his party to replace a corrupt, weak and scandal-ridden government--and TIME talks about Trouble in the Promised Land.

Peter Almagor

Toronto, Ont.

Your cheap attack on Menachem Begin was an assault on Israel and every Jew.

Van Lewis Caplan

New York City

Mr. Begin does not differ from his predecessors in his views on colonial expansionism. After all, more than 70 illegal Zionist settlements on Arab lands preceded him.

He is different in that he is publicly candid about coveting Arab lands, a covetousness inherent in the idea of Zionism. Too bad that Arabs live on these Arab lands.

Basheer K. Nijim

Cedar Falls, Iowa

I find it in extremely poor taste--whatever your opinion of Mr. Begin--to use the name "Fagin" to show people how Mr. Begin's name is pronounced.

Since Fagin was Dickens' infamous caricature of a Jew, I can only assume that your magazine wished to make an unfavorable implication.

Zalman M. Stein, Rabbi

Leominster, Mass.

Why blame future Arab intransigence on Menachem Begin?

For 29 years he was not in the government of Israel, yet the Arabs persisted in their stance of no recognition, no negotiations, no peace with the Jewish state.

George Saner

South Orange, N.J.

So much for peace. If the world thinks Yasser Arafat and the P.L.O. have a dubious history, the background of Menachem Begin will make Arafat look benevolent.

Begin, an ex-terrorist who still demonstrates terrorism in his political ideas, was voted to power by the people of Israel. That is how sincere the Israelis are about a fair Middle Eastern settlement.

Alex Toubia

Los Angeles

The greatest danger Israel faces is, of course, the U.S. need to appease the Saudis so that the oil may flow.

(Mrs.) Clara P. Trefethen

Grand Island, N. Y.

Establishing settlers in the so-called liberated Israel is not only unfair but also inhumane because it will take away the last hope of the Palestinians for a homeland. Perhaps now the American people will begin to realize that the money and arms our Government gives to Israel go to a country that is unconcerned about the rights of others.

Yvonne Stephan

Youngstown, Ohio

No basis exists in reason or justice for Israel to retreat from its present defensible borders. To his great credit, Menachem Begin understands this simple truth.

As ye sow, so shall ye reap. Let the Arabs, like other men, reap the bitter fruit of seeds they alone have sown.

M.D. Sorber

Sacramento, Calif.

Your story about two British soldiers who were tortured and killed by the Irgun Zvai Leumi is an insulting distortion of the true facts.

As a native-born Israeli and former member of L.H.I. (the Stern group), I can tell you the true story. The two British soldiers were kidnaped and held as hostages for two Irgun members captured by the British and sentenced to death. The British authorities had been warned that if the execution took place, the two British sergeants would be hanged in retaliation. It was, of course, "undignified" for the British Empire to give in, so the two freedom fighters were hanged. As a consequence, the two Britons were also hanged. They were never tortured.

Jacob Weiss

Vancouver. B.C.

Star Wars

Let the record state that I am a science fiction junkie. If Star Wars [May 30] is at least half the movie your article claims it to be, I will be found in the local moviehouse for the next three months straight.

Kenneth Cerveny

De Kalb, Ill.

A movie that's fun. Fun! A strange-sounding word. Without sex, nudity or violence? Maybe we have turned the corner from rabid realism to creative, fantastic entertainment.

Nopi Barnard

Augusta, Ga.

Your quotation of my comments about George Lucas' film Star Wars makes it appear that I liked the film. I most emphatically did not. Those of us who work in the science fiction field professionally look for something more than Saturday afternoon shoot-'em-ups when we go to a science fiction film. We have been disappointed many times, but I had expected more of Lucas. Somebody Up There likes the film, it seems, and no dissenting views are allowed. Too bad.

Ben Bova, Editor

Analog

New York City

The Right to Eat

In your short article, "Heavy Promotion" [May 30], you implied that fat women have no right to eat what we wish or to wear what is pretty.

We are a big market in more ways than one, and we disapprove of skinny people having their jokes at our expense. Kindly omit innuendoes that add to the already overwhelming prejudice against overweight people. Ardelle Tuma and other fashion spokespersons are finally recognizing our reasonable demand for attractive and tasteful clothing.

Maxene Kupperman-Guinals

New York City

Neither Help nor Hurt

Your article "Entrance Examinations"[June 6]* unfortunately creates the totally wrong impression that Temple University School of Law bowed to political pressure on admissions, quoting one sentence from Speaker Fineman's letter to the law school.

In fact, the full text demonstrates quite the opposite: it was sent not to the law school but to a university lobbyist, and reads: "Bases have already been touched with Peter Liacouras, with unsuccessful results."

The law school faculty, not any politician, university official or alumnus, makes all law admission decisions. This applicant was accepted because he worked his way through Haverford College, had a B average, a 652 LSAT score and an excellent work record since graduation. In fact, every one of our decisions is objective and reviewable by the public. Each is based on individual merit and is neither helped nor hurt by one's "political clout," race, religion, national origin, name, age, sex or station in life.

We are indeed proud of our record.

Peter J. Liacouras, Dean Temple University Law School

Philadelphia

Stifling Singlaub

To compare the recall of General Singlaub [May 30] to that of General MacArthur is a gross distortion. MacArthur disobeyed an order, Singlaub merely expressed misgivings over a policy being considered.

President Carter's summary recall may have given him some present satisfaction, but at the price of stifling future candor from military leaders.

James A. Fyock

Colonel, U.S.A. (ret.)

Bartlesville, Okla.

I share your "eerie" feeling about history repeating itself in the Singlaub situation. However, my concern is with the dramatic move to stifle constructive debate on a significant policy question.

The so-called openness of the Carter Administration, in this instance, bears more of a historical resemblance to Nixon's antics than to your farfetched Truman-MacArthur analogy.

Brad Martin, Representative

State of Tennessee

Nashville

General Singlaub misses the point. Having ground troops in Korea means we can be mousetrapped into another Asian land war at the snap of a Communist finger.

ConnelI J. Maguire

Snead's Ferry, N.C.

It's too bad that General Singlaub got clobbered for his outspoken views. I was very surprised that he even made those remarks to anyone from the press. He's been in the Army long enough to know that if the Army wanted him to have an opinion, they'd issue him one!

Michael V. Stratton

Captain, U.S.A.

Fort Rucker, Ala.

Visions of Christ

I looked long and hard at the "miracle" cloth pictured with your story "Strange Visions in Shamokin" [May 30], and I did not see the image of what we all seem to believe Christ looks like. I did, however, quite sincerely, perceive the face of Queen Victoria.

Erich C. Stein Colorado Springs, Colo.

Can anyone tell me where in the history of the world there is an adequate physical description of Jesus Christ after which the image on the cloth might be fashioned?

Cynthia McCarthy

Saratoga Springs, N. Y.

Give that cloth some water. It's a panting St. Bernard, or maybe a blind cocker spaniel with er . . . a crossed-up cowlick?

Steve Burr

San Diego

D-Day for the Disabled

I was appalled by the attitude toward the handicapped that you conveyed in "DDay for the Disabled" [May 30]. The major emphasis was on the exorbitant amount of money that it will take to carry out this bill.

Did you complain about the money expended during the Viet Nam War in disabling America's youth? Or about the billions spent on nuclear weapons that can be potentially disabling to future generations?

Anne Flanagan

State College, Pa.

Schools do not have children. People have children. The general public may have an obligation to promote education. However, the people who use the schools should pay for those services they need or want.

"Special" education may be required because of physical or mental disability or lack of home training, but the billing should be equally "special."

Bernice Davis

Indianapolis

Butterless, Eggless, etc.

It is too bad that Reader Senterfitt [May 30] won't divulge her Depression Era recipe for "an eggless, milkless, butterless cake." We had it and called it "Cheap Cake" during W.W.I and I'm pleased to send the recipe along:

Mix in saucepan: 1 cup sugar; 1/2 tsp. salt; 1 cup water; 5 tbsp. lard (try more modern shortening!); 1 1/2 cup raisins: 1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon; 1 1/2 tsp. each, cloves and allspice.

Bring to a boil, remove from stove and add: 2 cups flour, 1/2 tsp. baking powder, 1 tsp. baking soda sifted together. Beat to mix well.

Bake in greased pan about 1 hour at 325DEG.

It's no longer cheap but it is eggless, milkless and butterless.

Florence N. Cadigan

Redwood City, Calif.

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