‘Heroism of the Hmong’

“Heroism of the Hmong” [Opinion, November 26, 2004] was forwarded to me by one of my fellow aviators of the 1960s .

I was part of a small group of helicopter pilots in 1964 that worked closely with the Hmong and as a consequence got to know General Vang Pao quite well. Mr. Lipsky’s comments about him are quite accurate, and he is truly a remarkable leader.

I worked closely with the Hmong from 1964 to 1971 and always had the greatest respect for their contribution to the war effort. Though our pilot group expanded dramatically, I maintained a relatively close relationship with VP, as he was affectionately known. A meal at his home was truly a memorable occasion.

America truly owes these people a debt of gratitude, and I was heartened to learn of the recent resettlement of a large number of Hmong from Thailand to America.

The tragic shooting in recent days should do nothing to detract from what we owe the Hmong, and, as Mr. Lipsky rightly points out, all the facts of the case are not known.

PHILLIP GODDARD
Belmont, St. John
Barbados

‘Derangement Syndrome’

Political hatred has a rich history in American politics [“Derangement Syndrome,” Mark Steyn, Opinion, November 8, 2004].

My parents had been confirmed Franklin Roosevelt haters and many of my California schoolmates shared their parents’ hatred for my family’s beloved Richard Nixon.

In the 1960s, the war protesters expressed bipartisan hatred for both Lyndon Johnson and Nixon. Liberals hated Ronald Reagan and conservatives really hated President Clinton.

President Bush, however, has achieved an entirely new status in American politics, one that, judging from his post election press conference, he truly revels in, but one that his supporters and the press seem determined not to address. George W. is feared.

The depth and breadth of the fear being expressed by Blue Voters is palpable and goes way beyond the Bush hating that the talking heads on Fox enjoy chuckling over.

ROBERT AVILA
Competitive & Market
Intelligence Center
Deloitte Consulting LP
Manhattan

‘Conservative Crossfire’

What makes John P. Avlon so sure that the longtime Republican attack-ad maven, Arthur Finkelstein, was merely being “bitter” when he made so much of conservative Christian power in a recent interview [“Conservative Crossfire,” Opinion, November 19, 2004]?

Israelis are not only widely pro-Bush; like most of the world, they increasingly recognize that the Christian right is at least as strongly pro-Zionist as the American Jewish community itself.

So when Mr. Finkelstein ranted about Christian power, he was reassuring Israelis – and warning Arabs and Europeans – that American grassroots support for Jerusalem is as great as ever.

A man with Mr. Finkelstein’s political and vocational history is too shrewd to lose his composure in public, or to allow passion to distort his political focus.

It seems to me that Mr. Finkel stein knew exactly what he was doing when he went to Israel and made waves about America’s Christian right.

SETH A. HALPERN
Scarsdale, N.Y.

‘Bollinger’s Blindness’

I am not a college counselor but an English teacher. Occasionally, high school seniors talk with me about their college choices and ask me to write recommendations on their behalf.

Some of my best English students have attended and now attend Columbia University, and I know of many outstanding professors there, but it is becoming increasingly difficult for me in good conscience to recommend it as a place of distinguished learning [“Bollinger’s Blindness,” Editorial, October 22, 2004].

The failure of President Lee Bollinger and the board of trustees, with a few honorable exceptions, to care in any true and honest way about the growing atmosphere of intimidation and academic distortion is enormously distressing.

HELAINE L. SMITH
Manhattan

Kramer on Wine

Occasionally, I send important political missives to the editors of The New York Sun – but today the important issue is wine writing [“Modern Wine,” Matt Kramer, Food & Drink, November 24, 2004].

The Sun’s choice to have Mr. Kramer provide wine commentary every week is an inspired one.

He is probably the best all-around writer on wines we have, and I’m happy there is finally a New York city venue for his writing every week. Bravo.

JOHN GILLIS
John Gillis/Architects
Brooklyn

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