Letters December 14, 1998 Issue

YOUR LETTERS

"I was deeply touched by Mr. White's desire to be free of the burden he has carried since the Vietham War."

with contributions from Robert Donaldson, Lucie Lehmann-Barclay, David Robbie

Your October 19 issue about terrorism reminded me of a reference to a busy social agenda in Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck. He makes the comment "This violence exhausted us and we went back to the house for a short nap" (Penguin edition, p. 237). This use of the word "violence" in the context of a social afternoon on the ranch reminds me that our social conversation with friends should always be kind and profitable.

Robert Donaldson
Bath, Maine

I was deeply touched by Mr. White's desire to be free of the burden he has carried since the Vietnam War (see "Letters," Nov.16). My response: If you discern that self-righteousness governed either your actions or those of your assailants, then you might consider this question: "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" (Gen. 18:25) And from the Lord's Prayer, "Thy will be done" (Matt. 6:10). Together they mean to me: Dear God, I trust You to direct my thoughts and actions, and at the same time to direct the thoughts and actions of everyone else.

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