Excellent Editorial

Please convey my thanks to the author of the excellent editorial (Nov. 13) on discrete mathematics, "Excitement of Numbers." By conveying to your readers the exciting and changing nature of modern mathematics you are doing a great service to young people, educators, and, consequently, to the subject of mathematics itself. S. GILL WILLIAMSON Professor of Mathematics University of California San Diego

I would like to congratulate you for this excellent editorial. We have quietly sat by and seen our beloved city described as not a very nice place to live. I have lived here for more than 30 years and, like most of my neighbors, our home is paid for and we could relocate anytime we chose to. We love our city. If any tribute is made, it should be to those citizens (and there are many of us), who are constantly doing those unnoticed little things that make it possible for us to have a city to call home.

We noticed your excellent editorial about the Civil Rights Restoration Act. This is a note of appreciation also for your coverage of issues which affect the health of women and children. Thank you so much. SHARON FOLLICK Reproductive Rights Task Force Chair National Organization for Women West Covina Chapter

Thank you for your excellent editorial "The Governor and the Medfly" (Feb. 22). However, as you suggest, it is probably too late for the governor to be able to allay any fears over aerial spraying. Moreover, it should not surprise our public officials if their words are met with incredulity. After all, they have been lying to us regularly for so many years that we scarely believe anything they say. And even I am capable of reading the health warnings on the malathion spray I use for my own plants.

I simply want to go on record in support of your excellent editorial. The French government did what should be done--our government could and should learn from this. Abortion is legal, whether through prescription or through surgery. The inventor calling the action "morally scandalous" is succinct. For me, those two words also describe these picketers of reproductive health care clinics. GLORIA CAMPBELL Los Angeles

I would like to congratulate you for this excellent editorial. We have quietly sat by and seen our beloved city described as not a very nice place to live. I have lived here for more than 30 years and, like most of my neighbors, our home is paid for and we could relocate anytime we chose to. We love our city. If any tribute is made, it should be to those citizens (and there are many of us), who are constantly doing those unnoticed little things that make it possible for us to have a city to call home.

Your excellent editorial proposed some bold moves on the part of many people and institutions--including the media--concerning the presidential election of 1988. What was so obviously missing was a commitment that The Times would take the lead in such "bold moves" for the print media. Your newspaper could provide such influence. It is recommended that you follow up the editorial with a blueprint, outline of how/what The Times will do to help improve this "long march," and to inform the people of the United States not who is ahead in the polls or the fund-raising, but who the candidates are for real.

Thank you for your excellent editorial "The Governor and the Medfly" (Feb. 22). However, as you suggest, it is probably too late for the governor to be able to allay any fears over aerial spraying. Moreover, it should not surprise our public officials if their words are met with incredulity. After all, they have been lying to us regularly for so many years that we scarely believe anything they say. And even I am capable of reading the health warnings on the malathion spray I use for my own plants.

May we applaud you for the excellent editorial. We appreciated the editorial for it was so contrary to the spirit of people like Sen. Jesse Helms (R-N.C.) who continue to cast aspersions about our loyalty to our country (Part I, April 21). It is unfortunate that a senator of his caliber continues to miss a key issue: that we were victims of an unjust incarceration by our own government--the United States. I suspect that there will be many letters and expressions decrying the reparations.

In your otherwise excellent editorial, "Banks Wearing Blinders" (Feb. 8), you describe the U.S. banks as "unwitting links" in the international money laundering trade, as if they stumbled into this $1.5-trillion-a-year (your figure) bonanza by accident. Gimme a break. WILLIAM D. WOLFF Los Angeles

I simply want to go on record in support of your excellent editorial. The French government did what should be done--our government could and should learn from this. Abortion is legal, whether through prescription or through surgery. The inventor calling the action "morally scandalous" is succinct. For me, those two words also describe these picketers of reproductive health care clinics. GLORIA CAMPBELL Los Angeles

May we applaud you for the excellent editorial. We appreciated the editorial for it was so contrary to the spirit of people like Sen. Jesse Helms (R-N.C.) who continue to cast aspersions about our loyalty to our country (Part I, April 21). It is unfortunate that a senator of his caliber continues to miss a key issue: that we were victims of an unjust incarceration by our own government--the United States. I suspect that there will be many letters and expressions decrying the reparations.

We noticed your excellent editorial about the Civil Rights Restoration Act. This is a note of appreciation also for your coverage of issues which affect the health of women and children. Thank you so much. SHARON FOLLICK Reproductive Rights Task Force Chair National Organization for Women West Covina Chapter

Your excellent editorial proposed some bold moves on the part of many people and institutions--including the media--concerning the presidential election of 1988. What was so obviously missing was a commitment that The Times would take the lead in such "bold moves" for the print media. Your newspaper could provide such influence. It is recommended that you follow up the editorial with a blueprint, outline of how/what The Times will do to help improve this "long march," and to inform the people of the United States not who is ahead in the polls or the fund-raising, but who the candidates are for real.

Please convey my thanks to the author of the excellent editorial (Nov. 13) on discrete mathematics, "Excitement of Numbers." By conveying to your readers the exciting and changing nature of modern mathematics you are doing a great service to young people, educators, and, consequently, to the subject of mathematics itself. S. GILL WILLIAMSON Professor of Mathematics University of California San Diego

Your excellent editorial "Aim the Policy at the Next Generation" (May 7) gives valid reasons why withdrawing most favored nation trading status with China to make a moral point about human rights would be a mistake. Now kindly tell me why South Africa could not be substituted for China in this editorial. Except that that doesn't fit the liberal agenda. FRANK W. HEISER Riverside

Re " 'Pursuit of happiness,' " editorial, Dec. 18 Your otherwise excellent editorial inexplicably left out two items in the federal budget: the war in Iraq and the Pentagon's budget in general. Generations will pay for Iraq to the detriment of our national infrastructure and health. Do we need all our overseas bases? Whom do they benefit? Is it possible that if we change some of the ways we behave toward others in the world, hostility toward us may go away? Bevan Manson Santa Monica