AFRICAN-AMERICAN MEN SING AMERICA

The Million Man March was a rare example of unity of purpose and reconciliation. It was a spiritual and moral reawakening. FRANK O. DOLEZAL Las Vegas

CONGRATULATIONS ON "WE, TOO, SING America" [COVER STORIES, Oct. 30]. Your cover photo and articles helped capture the essence of the Million Man March. The five profiles of returned marchers highlighted what I and many friends have known for months: the march was beyond Minister Louis Farrakhan. It was about diverse, hardworking black men, who struggle daily for their economic and spiritual lives, coming together for a mass healing. Thanks to--and in spite of--Farrakhan, brothers peacefully converged on Washington to renew their energy and translate that energy into tangible results back in their home communities. WYLITA BELL New York City

SPEAKING AS AN AFRICAN AMERICAN, I must commend Farrakhan on his Million Man March. Like many blacks, I did not agree with the messenger, but I had to agree with the message. I pray that all people heard the call to stop the violence and senseless killing. Black Americans do not need any one person to speak out; we need only the support of those we elect, just as white people do. But this wall between the races must be eliminated before we destroy each other. HAROLD R. HOLLOWAY St. Augustine, Florida

IN HIS TWO-HOUR SPEECH, FARRAKHAN said that the real evil in America is "white supremacy." If the tables were turned and blacks were in the majority, wouldn't they seek a priority position over whites? It may be that Farrakhan is interested in a better life for blacks, but his main concern is power and influence for himself. He uses an arsenal of hate, malice and jealousy to gain power. MORRIS B. HART Schaumburg, Illinois

I HAVE NEVER HEARD A NOISE AS LOUD AS the silence of the many black men who came together without violence or hate. Even the suggestion that African Americans who embrace Minister Farrakhan's message must join the Nation of Islam or adopt anti-Semitism could not drown out the beauty of hundreds of thousands of black men united in peace, love and respect. All America should be proud. TONYA DELORES BARNES Stone Mountain, Georgia

THE MARCH WAS AN AFFRONT TO ALL THE good and decent people of America who have worked so hard for civil rights and racial harmony over the years. It must be condemned in the strongest possible terms. It is incredible that in 1995 a black separatist and avowed racist like Farrakhan can gather hundreds of thousands of men under the guise of atonement and yet hardly receive a ripple of criticism from across the political landscape. All this chatter about separating the message from the messenger is outrageous and disgusting. There is no separating the message this man brings. LUCI SHAW Colonia, New Jersey

THE SCENE IN WASHINGTON CAN ONLY be described as thoroughly miraculous. I realized that the indomitable strength of the race lies in their collective pain. But what I saw on the news later subverts human decency and truth. It is a travesty that the credit due Farrakhan for delivering these black men to the steps of the Capitol in peace, in spirit, in love was rhetorically taxed by the media and politicians. White America should be so lucky as to have a leader who could bring a million of its men together to atone for their transgressions. ROBERT CORSINI Los Angeles

IWAS HAPPY TO SEE SO MANY BLACK MEN participating in the march. I am glad to see any individual or group take responsibility for the family. This is a huge problem in American society today--not just for blacks but for all races. Until we act responsibly, we are going to continue to see high teenage-pregnancy and -suicide rates, drug use by our children and a growing lack of respect from the youth of America. KELLY CHENAULT Mechanicsville, Virginia Via America Online

LOUIS FARRAKHAN AND BENJAMIN F. Chavis Jr. may not be the model citizens we would like to see leading black Americans toward an ultimate unity, but we have to applaud their efforts. They are working to produce positive results, and all Americans, black and white, should support them. SEDRICK WOODS Kansas City, Missouri

I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER FARRAKHAN THE opportunity to borrow my copy of Schindler's List. I know he will be shocked to realize that the most brutally and continually oppressed people in the history of mankind are not black and have never made a march on Washington; on the contrary, they are white and were forced to march into Auschwitz. JOSEPH LUKAWITZ Loon Lake, New York

THE MILLION MAN MARCH WAS A BEGINning. No, it didn't include other colors and races, but it was a step in the right direction for the black man. HELEN K. YOUNG Blythe, California

THE MARCH AND SPIRITUAL RENEWAL for African Americans are very positive, but the prejudice Farrakhan preaches is not right. I do not understand how anyone can support hate. MARJORIE CLARK, age 16 Albany, Oregon

I AM A MIXTURE OF SWEDISH, GERMAN and French. I was born in an underprivileged neighborhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and grew up in the 1930s and '40s with immigrants from many European countries. We were all struggling to integrate into the American mainstream while trying to work our way out of our various ghettos. It wasn't easy. That's why I lost patience with the blacks and accused them of whining. They have had the same opportunities in this country as ridiculed white European immigrants and impoverished white women. We had no welfare state, but we did have strong family ties. It is encouraging to read that the blacks are trying to strengthen theirs. RUTH B. CUNNINGHAM Napa, California

THE BALKAN MISSION

TIMING MAY BE THE REAL REASON WHY President Clinton is making plans to send troops to Bosnia [THE BALKANS, Oct. 30]. Intervention appears to be more of a 1996 campaign move than a legitimate effort to exercise foreign policy leadership. Unlike U.S. actions in Haiti, intervention in Bosnia has been viewed as too risky by the politically concerned until now, when foreign policy credentials are important to a re-election bid. Timing may also be the reason why NATO's European members have not taken responsibility for stability in their own region before now.

NATO's original goal of defending Western Europe from Soviet aggression needs to be redefined in order to confront the demands that face Europe. The post-cold war world requires that nato accept responsibilities outside the scope of its origins. This new role must include providing for its own regional security and accepting U.S. leadership, without the condition of committing resources only if the U.S. intervenes. U.S. leadership must be more decisive and work to instill foreign policy confidence if NATO is to be an effective alliance and successful in Bosnia. JOHN F. STAMPFLI Mission Viejo, California

A SPLIT BETWEEN RICH AND POOR

AM I MISSING SOMETHING? THE ELEphants want to take money and health care away from the poor elderly and give it to the wealthy [THE ECONOMY, Oct. 30]. What's wrong with this picture? If Newt Gingrich and his gang think the $245 billion tax cut is going to encourage an outpouring of philanthropy, they are sorely mistaken. History has proved that the haves do not take care of the have-nots. Or maybe Newt et al. want the cut because it benefits them personally. KATE DOBBS Indianapolis, Indiana

I DO NOT AGREE WITH ALL THE PROPOSED changes, but I cannot condemn them, because only by conquering those challenges can we be like our forefathers. The Republican Party is working toward returning our country to the leader it can be, rather than allowing socialism to destroy all our assets. SHAUN BEST Magnolia, Arkansas

DANCING IN THE DARK SHADOWS

I READ WITH INTEREST THE ARTICLE "Prime-Time Tunes" about CDs featuring sound tracks from TV programs [SHOW BUSINESS, Oct. 30]. The first TV sound-track album to attain gold status was produced under my auspices more than 25 years ago. It was the music from the afternoon series Dark Shadows. Unlike most of today's TV sound tracks, this album contained only Charles Grean's original music from the show and was devoid of appearances by major stars. We used the people in the series and cut it for under $10,000--cheap even in those times. Today the record business is a whole different ball game, and the sales potential of the CD depends as much on who performs the music as on how successful the show is. That's why even CDs spawned from megahit shows can still turn out to be sales disasters. BOB RENO Beverly Hills, California

TROUBLE IN PARADISE

AS A PAST VISITOR TO THE GALAPAGOS Islands, I know that no photos or stories can do justice to the unusual ecology and wildlife of this incredible place. To read about the troubled future of the Galapagos was very disheartening [ENVIRONMENT, Oct. 30]. Once again, human greed and lack of foresight are made evident by the destruction of this invaluable ecological reserve. Its value has to be recognized and respected. CYNTHIA A. MULVEY Cincinnati, Ohio

GALAPAGOS: A GLIMPSE INTO OUR PLANet's future and another lost opportunity. PETER J. COURI JR. Peoria, Illinois

YOUR ARTICLE STRENGTHENS A BELIEF I have long held, that human beings are a singularly vicious, selfish and shortsighted species whose status as rulers of the world seems to contradict Darwin's theory of survival of the fittest. Continued disregard of the planet we live on will surely cause us to be "naturally selected'' right out of the picture. SCOTT KNUDSEN New York City

FROM 1979 TO 1986 I WORKED AS A NATUralist guide in the Galapagos Islands. Back in the old days, lobster was plentiful, and we could snorkel at night to provide people with the delicacy for lunch or dinner. Sea cucumbers were not harvested but merely pointed out to underwater enthusiasts as part of the unique marine world of the islands. The 16 species of shark were regarded with passing awe, as they are among the shiest of Galapagos wildlife.

In early 1985, before the Marine Resources Reserve was established for the Galapagos, a foreign fishing vessel was noticed. This ship apparently had permission to fish for shark among the islands. We were suddenly disturbed by the sight of hundreds of shark fins drying on lines strung above the vessel's main deck. That was only a hint of what the future was to bring. Now, because of overfishing, there is a ban on lobstering and the sea cucumber is threatened.

The Galapagos are a treasured natural resource for Ecuador. But many different agencies and individuals have an interest in the islands, and it is very difficult for all to agree on anything. The unrecognized heroes of this situation are the superintendent and staff of the Galapagos National Park. Overworked and underpaid, they accomplish small miracles. Most of the workers are native people who realize that the future of the islands lies in maintaining a pristine environment for its wildlife. Sad to say, the islands might benefit enormously from being completely closed to outside influence for a few years. BILL HENDRICKS Renton, Washington