Woman Veep

To the Editors:

In response to those who are asking, "Is the nation ready for a woman Vice President?" [NATION, June 4], I say, "Try it." To have a woman Vice President, or for that matter a black President, could have better effects than people think.

Christina Chin San Francisco

Nominating a woman for Vice President in order to get votes still reeks of exploiting women. Cannot the candidate's skill and integrity be the basis for the choice?

Karen L. Mulder

Thornwood, N. Y.

You wonder if America is "ready" for a woman Vice President. That is not the question. This nation is always ready for the ablest candidate, male or female. Women, however, have apparently failed to exhibit the required qualities. Your report makes it evident that women will fail again. The question is not when will America be ready for a female Vice President but, rather, when will a woman be ready for the vice presidency?

Donald Waterworth

Newfolden, Minn.

At this stage in our civilization's progress, the masculine approach has become ridiculous and can only end in the demise of the human race. It is time we paid attention to the ideas of the other sex.

John E.I. Cults

Mahwah, N.J.

Whether a woman carries the vice-presidential laurels in the '84 elections is irrelevant. The vast potential of women, once let out of the bottle, can never be forced back. Men who might run scared to the polls to vote against a woman Vice President will gradually be outnumbered by women doing just the opposite.

Barbara Ann Markel

Tel Aviv

Women are emotional. They are also unaware of the exigencies of life, and they lack objectivity.

Joseph B. Delia Polla Philadelphia

Having a woman for Vice President sounds great. We would not have to pay her as much as a man.

Heber F. Whyte

Warden, Ill.

Stop encouraging women to seek the presidency or the vice presidency or any position that will take them outside their homes.

Charles O. Carr

Cleveland

You describe my 1970 quote on women's "raging hormonal imbalance" as baroque sexism, citing my lurking "atavistic suspicion" that women are not stable enough to occupy positions of leadership. I do not want to get deep into the science of sexual differences, but it is the male hormone, testosterone, that makes the man, with his drive and macho behavior. The ambitious female politician or leader can come about only by an inborn androgyny, produced by a high level of that male hormone with its attendant aggressiveness. This male trait, admittedly not a very attractive one, is the single aptitude womanly women just do not have, and this is agreed to by both male and female scientists.

Edgar F. Berman, M.D.

Lutherville, Md.

Having women in leadership roles is long overdue in American politics. But to believe that females in positions of power might be "nicer" than their male counterparts is naive. Cruelty and inhumanity are not exclusively male domains, just as compassion and respect for human dignity are not restricted to women. Instead of looking for dubious areas of distinction, we should look at an individual's capabilities, regardless of gender.

Mark N. Steinberg

Anaheim Hills, Calif.

The Democratic leadership is pondering the wrong question in considering the merits of a woman vice-presidential candidate. If the party had any sense, it would discard the presidential contenders it now has and run a woman for that office. Once nominated, she could placate the few conservatives left in the Democratic camp by naming Walter Mondale, Gary Hart or Jesse Jackson as her vice-presidential running mate. Such an unorthodox ticket would probably stand no less chance than the one that is now being considered.

Michael Jernigan

Auburn, Ala.

I am a staunch Republican. However, should the Democratic Party select San Francisco Mayor Dianne Feinstein, I not only would vote Democratic but would, for the first time in my 63 years, become an active campaigner.

Meyer Nelson

Seal Beach, Calif.

If any woman in this country has in-depth, firsthand knowledge of the presidency, it is Rosalynn Carter.

Martin Ward New York City

D-Day Tribute

I want Americans to know that many of us are still as grateful today as we were 40 years ago, when the Allied troops landed in Normandy [DDAY, May 28]. We thank with love the parents who sent their sons to our rescue.

Andree Vandeneynde-Quinet

Furnaux, Belgium

You say, "The Americans dominated the drama. The invasion, in a way, was a perfect expression of American capabilities." I agree that every man there was a hero, but not all were Americans.

Stephane Ferraton

Zurich

Your retelling of D-day reminded me of my landing on Juno Beach with the Canadian 3rd Division. My first contact with the French occurred when I encountered the village cure. He had a sour look, perhaps because a shell had torn a hole in the spire of his 17th century church. "Bonjour, Monsieur le Cure," I greeted him. "Are you happy that we have come?" "Yes," he replied, "but I will be happier when you leave." Memories like this give me mixed emotions when I march with my fellow veteran survivors.

Joseph S. Honan

Banstead, England

I protest your observation that one of the lessons of D-day is that "war is cruel and wasteful but sometimes necessary." No, war is only cruel and wasteful. You obviously have not learned the lesson.

Dieter Sauerbrey

Buchenberg, West Germany

The G.I.s shown huddled to avoid enemy fire as they approached shore are not headed for Omaha Beach. The scene is of the 89th Infantry Division crossing the Rhine.

John Searle

Sylvania, Ohio

Reader Searle is correct.

Cigar Constituency

As a cigar-smoking Democrat, I agree with Hugh Sidey [NATION, June 4]. Walter Mondale should be photographed with his cigar. The public should see that a supporter of the Equal Rights Amendment, social justice and a safer world is also a cigar lover. For too long now, cigar smokers have been stereotyped as macho and uncaring.

David G. Pak

Somerville, Mass.

As a Cuban-born cigar smoker, I was glad to see your comments on the virtues of cigars. However, as a voter, I was unmoved. I am still for Ronald Reagan.

Juan A. del Cerro

Miami

Mexico's Message

Both Mexico's President De la Madrid and the Inter-American Dialogue group miss an important point in their approach to Central America's problems [WORLD, May 28]. It is true that the roots of insecurity in Central America are primarily economic, social and political, and the solutions lie in economic and social development. However, it will take decades to change a situation whose roots go back hundreds of years. Meanwhile, the Soviets are constantly exploiting the situation by offering quick solutions to gain power over these oppressed people. It is as necessary to stop the Communists as to correct the social injustices.

George J. Y. Hsieh

Republic of Nauru

Three cheers for the Mexican President for explaining the facts of life to our leaders. I hope President Reagan had his hearing aid turned up.

Ward Chase

Cambridge, Ont.

Land Reform's Report Card

El Salvador is trying to solve its internal problems with political cure-alls that are transforming the country into a dependent welfare state. Redistribution of the wealth through expropriation is simply , destroying what little wealth and confidence there is in the country [WORLD, June 4]. Land reform, where there is not enough land to go around, has perpetuated the frustrations of the landless majority and has led the nation into an irreversible state of sub-subsistence flowerpot farmers.

Abdiel Galindo

Madison, Wis.

Watch Your Gender

You refer to Mario Thomas, Bella Abzug and Shirley MacLaine as "liberati" [PEOPLE, June 4]. Next time please try "liberatae."

Edward R. Cunniffe Jr.

New York City