To the Editors:

The latest opposition of the Dark Ages-style Muslim mullahs to the Shah's government [Sept. 18] comes as no surprise to those of us interested in progress and in seeing Iran enter the 20th century. The mullahs' theocratic demand to watchdog parliament in the name of democracy is a mockery of the right to freedom. The mullahs ought to be reminded that their "overseeing" the parliament is just as repugnant as the ban on the freedom of the press, for which they criticize the Shah's regime. The separation of church and state is essential to democracy and freedom, and its realization is long overdue in Iran.

Jan Zamir Mount Prospect, III.

Since World War II, the U.S. has supported the worst dictatorships in the world under the pretext of fighting Communism. Yet this policy has always pushed these countries into the arms of Communist nations. Iran is no different from China, Cuba or Viet Nam. Because religious people cannot be called Communists, the people of Iran are now being suppressed under the guise of modernization. Imagine where the Iranians could seek help if America did not assist them.

Jeffrey E. Koziol Lombard, III.

Once again the Carter Administration finds itself in a moral dilemma: Do we tolerate the Shah's fascist savagery as long as he satisfies our anti-Communist needs?

Dan Searby Bethesda, Md.

There is an ever present belief in the Western world that Islam is contrary to modernization and progress. The current development and modernization in many oil-rich Islamic nations prove that progress and Islam can go together. If you call legalization of gambling, striptease, pornography and homosexual rights social reforms and modernization, I would say no to such progress.

Akbar M. Ali Irving, Texas

The Soul's Cry

My reason leads me to accept Mr. Morrow's point in his Essay "On Crime and Much Harder Punishment" [Sept. 18] that a full-scale return to the death penalty would be "ethically shaming and emotionally exhausting" for the American people. The U.S. would have to endure criticism not only from foreign nations, but also from within. Our blood lust could well supersede that of Rome during the persecution of Christians.

But as the nephew of a murdered uncle, the "uncivilized" responses are still present within me: my soul cries out for vengeance.

Glen M. Vey Albany, Ga.

Why is everybody so concerned about the rights of a killer? Capital punishment is not cruel and unusual because it perfectly fits the crime of murder.

Robert Itkin Marietta, Ga.

It is a truism among convicts that "capital punishment means that if you have the capital you don't get the punishment." Given that, what makes Morrow assume that swift justice would mean anything more than swifter pardons for the Richard Nixons and swifter retaliatory lockups for the Joan Littles?

Michael Hogan Colorado Humanities Program Denver

When we become civilized enough to do away with the reason for the death penalty, then we will be civilized enough to do away with the death penalty.

Gregory Moran Palm Springs, Calif.

Let's get down to insisting on speedy and certain punishment--that is psychologically sound and socially just to both offender and victim. For truly dangerous and vile criminals, let the punishment be prison, never capital punishment. Let's assign other offenders to labor and service to the community. This kind of loss of liberty and leisure is punishment; yet the offender would be making some kind of social retribution. Please, let's not build any more jails.

Katherine Koenig Jesuit Volunteer Corps Baltimore

Opportunities

Your story on the "$30,000 Diplomas" [Sept. 11] interested me because the proceeds of those tuitions are used by my colwould be overlooking his primary duty to provide a steady flow of reliable products at competitive prices and still maintain the high standards of quality and service required for efficient operation.

Peter A. Kersten Nashville

Nicaragua's Plight

Your report about Nicaragua's situation [Sept. 11] describes the heroic fight of an entire people on their way to freedom. Call them Sandinistas or rebels, all of them are heroes and are working to make their country free, not a family farm any more.

Humberto Moya Morux Alajuela, Costa Rica

Somoza's dictatorship defies our philosophy of human rights, but the first principle of our foreign policy must be the security of the U.S. If we jeopardize our own security by permitting Communist bases around us, no freedom and no human rights will be safe in any country of the world.

Aldo Cammarota Los Angeles

Well, look who gave asylum to the Nicaraguan guerrillas: the new owners of the Panama Canal. Yes, the people of Nicaragua cheer the guerrillas, but that is only because the devil they have is the only problem they can see.

William Dyer Billerica, Mass.

The Plague

In your review of Barbara Tuchman's book A Distant Mirror [Sept. 18], you mention that it was widely believed at the time that the bubonic plague of the 14th century was caused by poison put into the wells by Jews.

In his book, Magic, Myth and Medicine, Dr. Donald Atkinson describes how Balavignus, a Jewish doctor in the Strasbourg area, "following the sanitary laws set down by Leviticus . . . had all refuse burned. Naturally the rats left the ghettos and gravitated to gentile quarters in search of food. The Jews consequently suffered less from the disease than did their Christian neighbors . . . This was so noticeable that the Jews at once fell under suspicion." So the Christians murdered nearly all of the Jewish population.

Mary Beillen Chicago

A Sinking Ship

It is naive to assume that U.S. corporations are desegregating their South African operations [Sept. 18] out of concern for the welfare of their nonwhite workers. If this were the case, we would have seen Sullivan codes decades ago. The real reason is that American executives recognize apartheid as the sinking ship it is and seek to put just enough distance between themselves and the South African government to avoid going under with it.

Loren Davidson Chicago

The U.S. companies in South Africa present a continuous driving force in the fight against apartheid. They give blacks a fair chance in a country where fair chances have been rare.

John Goff Tiburon, Calif.

The employee of Ford's assembly line at Port Elizabeth shown in your photograph is attired for the job he is performing, that of grinding, not welding, as indicated in the caption.

Alvin E. Church Long Beach, Calif.

Satin Shorts vs. Fatigues

Arriving in San Francisco after having spent the past two years on an isolated Army post, I was unaware of the social status running [Sept. 11] had attained. This innocence led to alienation when I declined all invitations to "go run in the park." Not only did I lack satin shorts and expensive sneakers, I did not speak jog-ese. Here I've been, dressed in fatigues and combat boots, double-timing in platoon formation without realizing the social significance of my actions.

It is enlightening to know that the Army has required such transcendental activity for soldiers.

Gloria F. Nickerson Sergeant, U.S.A. Novato, Calif.

That runners often ramble on about the benefits of their sport is simple testimony to a very sad fact of contemporary life: the experience of well-being and profound physical vitality is a rarity in our culture.

Will Johnson Mill Valley, Calif.

If all the runners were put on treadmills, think of the energy that could be generated. Isn't there some way to harness all that power?

Jane Hastings Minneapolis

Thanks to Mr. Trippett for finally pricking the Achilles' heel of the righteous runner. The only thing worse than an evangelical runner is a reformed smoker.

Jack Krentzlin T itusville, Fla.

Investment in Tennis

What is so troubled about a game, tennis [Sept. 11], that commands such a fine audience, attracts so much youth? If technique, physical and mental fitness and talent are means toward large financial rewards, it is only a credit to the game that lures thousands away from harmful pastimes and overall boredom. I only wish there were more Flushing Meadows, because in today's world I cannot think of a nobler financial investment.

Emmanuel L. Vafiadis London

It is very noble of the 15 former greats to call for tennis to clean up its act, but I'm sure they would like to have said that it's too bad the big money came after they were all over the hill.

Ralph Neely Jr. Athens, Ga.

I would like to point out that if a tennis player is fined $6,000 for "not using his best efforts," his earnings must then be shown in their proper perspective.

Stacie Hartnett Bradenton, Fla.

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