Prophet

Jim Murray rightfully enjoys the reputation of a masterful, insightful writer who just happens to appear in the sports section. His piece on Rick Mears ("Who Is That on the Pole--Again?" May 26) finally reveals the real Murray: closet prophet. SHELDON KRONFELD, San Diego

It looks like a double-header in January. Bush is killing uppity Arabs, while his best buddy, Gorbachev, is killing uppity Lithuanians. Ronald Reagan is a prophet in his own time. Democracy is exploding all over the world. PAUL A. CAVALLO, Ramona

Leo, the eccentric hero of Mark Stein's offbeat little play, may or may not be a modern-day prophet, but he's beset by the trials and tribulations of prophets immemorial in Access Theatre's funny-sad, and ultimately uplifting, production. Convinced he's found the universal solution to life's problems, Leo can't understand the apathy and disbelief he encounters from the world, even from his own family. Especially his own family.

In their review of Amos Elon's "Jerusalem: City of Mirrors" (Book Review, Oct. 1), Roger Friedland and Richard Hecht essentially revise history by writing: "The Muslims claim the cleared platform of Solomon's Temple as the launching pad for Mohammed's night journey to heaven. In fact, the Koran does not mention Jerusalem by name and the city was probably identified with the sacred text's 'far distant mosque' only a century later by Damascus-based Umayyad sultans to whom Mecca was denied."

"A Step Toward the Light" picks up the shovel to further excavate and widen (not deepen) the subject of life after death. Anytime children are featured, interest is enhanced, but why so surprising their experiences with God? Isaiah, a prophet of God, wrote: ". . . and a little child shall lead them," and David in Psalms, ". . . Thou whose glory above the heavens is chanted by the mouths of babes and infants . . ." MARY ANN BAILEY Torrance

Having been sacrificed at the altar of Led Zeppelin as a young nubile, I know of whence I speak. The Coverdale/Page collaboration is akin to hearing "Whole Lotta Love" sung at a karaoke bar. The music is there (well almost, R.I.P. Bonzo), but the ethereal voice of the prophet leading his people onto Misty Mountain is sorely missed. Jimmy . . . Babe . . . I'm gonna leave you--Robert, oh Robert when are you going to California . . . CINNAMON DE GENARO Topanga

Groups of youths set fire to schools and cars in a sixth consecutive night of violence across Denmark, mostly in immigrant neighborhoods, police said. Forty-three people were arrested. The vandalism started last weekend, and some believe it intensified with the reproduction of a cartoon of the prophet Muhammad in Danish newspapers Wednesday. The unrest spread across Denmark, with youths lobbing rocks at police and firefighters in Copenhagen, Aarhus, Ringsted, Slagelse and other cities, officials said.