Getting Out of the Canal-- Slowly

To the Editors:

It has taken the U.S. almost seven decades to formulate a treaty and to realize the immense injustice and disgrace inflicted upon the Panamanians [Aug. 22]. If Americans can put behind them historic mistakes such as slavery and Nixon, why not the same with the Panama Canal? Donna Leusner Camden, N.J.

Since all Panamanians will be given the opportunity to vote on the treaty, it would be interesting to see the results of the American taxpayers' judgment on this giveaway, were they afforded the same chance.

Jane C. Smith Albrook Air Force Station, C.Z.

Your cover tells it like it is; Uncle Sam is "taking a bath" on this deal.

Jim Livengood Anderson, Ind.

Using Ronald Reagan's arguments for the U.S. to keep control of the Panama Canal, perhaps we should lay claim to Western Europe. After all, much of postwar Europe was "bought, paid for and built" by the Marshall Plan.

Ken Kristl Calumet City, Ill.

Teddy Roosevelt, where are you now that we need you?

Lewis J. Walker Stone Mountain, Ga.

Any reference to Ferdinand de Lesseps and the Panama Canal always brings to my mind the palindrome: a man, a plan, a canal, Panama.

Joseph S. Oppe West Palm Beach, Fla.

It would have been just as correct to attribute the causes of malaria and yellow fever to "noxious jungle vapors and immoral living" as to "bacteria-carrying mosquitoes." In fact, malaria is caused by protozoa-carrying mosquitoes, and yellow fever by virus-carrying mosquitoes.

Jonathan Sack Gainesville, Fla.

Son of Sam

The motives of a Son of Sam [Aug. 22] may be unfathomable, but the progress from hidden psychopathology to murder has one brilliantly clear turning point--easy access to guns. A free society has to tolerate a lot of misfits, freaks and senseless behavior, but should draw the line at gun freaks. Senseless behavior mixed with senseless gun laws produces senseless killings.

Larry Riedman Washington, D.C.

It's a shame someone did not shoot him dead before he was captured. And now--oh essence of stupidity--it will be tax moneys from all of us, even from Social Security pittances like mine, that will be used to keep him in an asylum.

Cornelia S. Mazerski Inverness, Fla.

The liberalization of laws that would allow more adoptees to identify or find their natural parents is something I favor. However, I can see no social value whatsoever in proclaiming to the world the names of these parents.

Publicizing the name of Berkowitz's natural parents adds nothing to our understanding of him. For whatever reason he was given for adoption, his natural parents, their families and friends should not now have to share in his infamy.

Kathleen A. Johnston Columbus

I had expected to see Berkowitz's picture on the front of TIME magazine, but was pleasantly surprised when I saw Uncle Sam sitting in the Panama Canal.

I applaud your staff for not giving a criminal undue publicity. The public wanted to know the story, of course, but to print the picture of a murderer on the cover of TIME would have been to sensationalize and indirectly condone his crimes.

Kathleen Lang Ann Arbor, Mich.

New Format

Re your new format [Aug. 15]: welcome to the 20th century.

Tam W. Deachman Vancouver, B.C.

I did not want to comment on your new typography without giving it a fair trial. Now I simply must tell you that it does not make TIME either more readable or more impressive. On the contrary, it makes your pages look stodgy and uninviting--even a little formidable.

My advice: forget it! You looked plenty good before and I can't understand why you thought a change was indicated.

Hugo W. Schroeder Randallstown, Md

Bring Back the Fun

The entire movie industry may well have missed the point on the bonanza of Star Wars [Aug. 22]: the reason for the success of Wars is not the sci-fi appeal; it is the fun of the movie. Star Wars is a movie of today, like the romantic movies of yesteryear.

Mark Trahant Fort Hall, Idaho

Looking In on Amy

President Jimmy Carter [Aug. 15] may not want any pomp and ceremony, only casual informality, connected with his term in the White House, but could he please grant the leaders of other countries who visit our nation the dignity of not being dragged upstairs to be presented to his darling daughter? More than enough already!

Mrs. Archie B. Ammons Houston

Saving Lives

After reading the article "Natural Life Preservers" [Aug. 22], I was shocked and sickened. To think that rescue crews, physicians and such are not required to know these procedures!

If they were, my husband (who drowned this June) would probably be here with me now.

Nancy Neuhalfen Lansing, Ill.

Pot, Booze or Pills

I believe we are clouding the real issue in a marijuana smokescreen [Aug. 15]. The questions of whether it is more or less harmful than alcohol or is physically addictive are not important. The real question is: Why do we feel we have to exist in a semicomatose state, whether it be from pot, booze or pills?

Linda L. Callon Pittsburgh

Nazi Goons

Re "First Amendment Blues" [Aug. 15]: Since when have our courts interpreted the First Amendment literally? If a prankster has no constitutional right to yell "Fire!" in a crowded theater, then certainly Nazi goons have no right to march in Skokie, Ill. If freedom of speech and of the press does not apply to Deep Throat or Larry Flynt's Hustler, then it should not apply to the hate-mongering literature and rabble of the Ku Klux Klan or their Nazi comrades.

T. Walter Heiser Milwaukee

Although the looters of New York City can never be excused for their wanton destruction of personal property, we find the tyrannical actions of the Marquette Park racists and the Nazis of Chicago's South Side to be far more heinous. We would rather walk among the looters of human possessions in total darkness than the pillagers of human rights in the brightest sunshine.

Jon Cederberg Paula Mabrey Los Angeles

Just the Facts

When it comes to TV news broadcasts [Aug. 22], I can live without weathermen who sound like fugitives from a sideshow, beautiful anchor people, "analysts" who produce instant wisdom for any calamity, and minicamera coverage of criminals in action.

You can also spare me Roone Arledge, his fast-shifting formats, sensory overloads, oldtime double-play combinations and Cosellian catalysts.

In the words of another TV character, Sergeant Joe Friday, "I just want the facts, ma'am, just the facts."

Richard Rotberg Skokie, Ill.

With the installation of Roone Arledge as head of ABC News, Paddy Chayefsky's prophecy in the film Network is coming to fruition. Move away from the stolid, dependable anchor man to the roving thrill seeker and give the viewer lots of visual stimulation.

Mark A. Kelley Lancaster, Pa.

Another Cold Winter?

Your weather story [Aug. 1] attributes to the long-range forecasters of the National Weather Service a winter prediction: "yet another supercold one." We have made no such statement, nor do we believe that anybody has demonstrated grounds for making or asking people to believe any such statement.

Winter weather varies quite irregularly from year to year. About all one can reasonably say is that the odds against the recurrence in 1977-78 of a winter pattern similar to and equally as severe as last year's must be rather long. We would set them at more than 30 to 1.

Donald L. Gilman, Chief Long Range Prediction Group National Weather Service Washington, D.C.

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