Carter's Crisis

To the Editors:

President Carter [July 23] has tried being Moses, Isaiah and Jesus Christ all at once, when what we need is a Caesar. John R. Warren San Antonio

In his speech, Carter exhibited admirable characteristics of openness, honesty and humility, all of which are essential to a democratic society. In time of crisis we must be extremely careful in accepting the leadership of those who claim to have all the answers.

Jacob Weitzer North Miami Beach, Fla.

Why, oh why, didn't our founding forefathers make stupidity an impeachable offense?

Don Colasanto Bridgewater, N.J.

A nation that must rely so much on the guidance of one human being either has yet to mature politically or is in the midst of witnessing its own demise.

Alex R. Hybel Palo Alto, Calif.

As long as our President treats the energy shortage as a moral problem rather than an economic one, we will have an energy shortage. Carter's program again fails to meet the basic need: incentives to conserve and produce.

David Detwiler Summerville, S.C

In response to Mr. Carter's plea, "Say something good about your country," I shall gladly oblige: A presidential election is held every four years.

Virginia Haberbush Louisville

As an Englishman who has followed the presidential career of Jimmy Carter closely, I can only say that I am somewhat baffled by his continual low rating in the American popularity polls. I am convinced that he has been the best American leader since World War II.

Billy Hill Parkstone, England

Instead of stopping all foreign purchases of oil as of 1977, it would be better if the President had taken this to be the maximum current use level and allowed for whatever additional purchases could be immediately stockpiled by the Government. At the same time, storage facilities should be made available in every state, able to hold at least two years' supply, to be filled up as quickly as possible. These modifications are needed as a protection against sudden and radical reductions in available oil, due to war or other emergencies.

Paul Weiss, Professor of Philosophy Catholic University of America Washington, D.C.

Portable Craze

I fail to understand why every fad, like the playing of portable radios in public [July 23], must be scrutinized under a microscope to determine how many of a given ethnic group participate and why. "Box toting" is as much a craze as goldfish swallowing and marathon contests. This, as the others, will pass.

Janis Hines Mallard Louisville

If listening to "frenzied" music is what people enjoy, so be it. After all, nowadays people consider themselves fortunate if only their ears are assaulted.

Susan van Riper Newtown, Conn.

Three Cheers for Meatballs

For anyone who has padlocked a camp director in his cabin, stolen every piece of detachable hardware from the showers, hidden a head cook's Beetle in the middle of the archery range, run the reveille record up the flagpole . . . Meatballs [July 16] is summer camp. I'll sing camp songs with Bill Murray any time.

As for Critic Frank Rich, he can stack the dishes.

Lisa Sandmeyer Wilmington, N.C.

Napoleon or Wizard?

Here in Baltimore, the man you describe as having a Napoleonic complex is known as the Wizard of 33rd Street, and that Earl Weaver is [July 23]! Once you catch his "Oriole fever," there's no getting rid of it.

Scott Lillard Lutherville, Md.

Whoever wrote the title "Baltimore's Soft-Shelled Crab" knows more about baseball than about crabs. The softshelled crab, having just shed his protective shell, is the most vulnerable and timid crustacean, and usually hides in the sea grasses and shallows. Not a very apt comparison to fiery and aggressive Earl Weaver.

Louis F. Cahn Baltimore

Supreme Court Without a Label

I don't think you meant it this way, but is there a better way to compliment the Supreme Court [July 16] for objectivity on a case-by-case basis than labeling it "neither liberal nor conservative," "distinctly nonideological" and "unpredictable"? In short, what's wrong with being "a court with no identity"?

Paul Malinowski Grand Junction, Colo.

Sex in the Soviet Union

I'd much rather have a Soviet lack of preoccupation with sex [July 23] than go to the other extreme and have an American obsession with it.

Tina Sharia Sicklerville, N.J.

Fyodor Dostoyevsky long ago portrayed "violence, alcoholism and sex" in Russian life. Wife beating and child and animal abuse, as well as the pathological patterns studied by Soviet Dissident Mikhail Stern, filled Dostoyevsky's books, giving readers a grim and apparently still true portrait of Soviets at work and play.

Susan Maxson San Diego

Staats, Staats

It was Comptroller General Elmer Staats, not Staab, who said those nice things about Patricia Harris as Secretary of HUD [July 30].

Eli Gordon Bayside, New York

Apologies to Comptroller Staats, repeat Staats.

Batty over Dracula

You made a mistake in not having a woman review the movie Dracula [July 23]. Mr. Schickel either did not grasp or simply ignored the film's best asset, Frank Langella's sex appeal. Any woman who sees the film will go "batty" over its leading man.

Deborah Berry Valparaiso, Ind.

Such devastating charm! And those eyes! More, more, more!

Annie Opitz Reno

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