READERS write

Letters from readers are solicited for publication in this regular montbly department. They should be short and all must be signed by the writer. Only initials of the writer and the state or country of residence will be published. Opinion expressed in published letters need not necessarily reflect that of the REVIEW or the Mattachine Society. No names of individuals will be exchanged for correspondence purposes.

REVIEW EDITOR: Well, you've said your pious little piece again and I suppose all the queer-haters approve, but I wonder how the homosexuals feel. You tell us that "The law as it exists must be respected and obeyed" (March letters column), but I say that this is nonsense. Prohibition was destroyed by the millions of decent, liberty-loving American drinkers who simply ignored it, and the present vicious sex laws will eventually be destroyed by the millions of decent, liberty-loving American homosexuals who refuse to have their private lives dictated by a bigoted public. Thoreau wrote on the necessity for civil disobedience. Emerson wrote that anyone trying to enforce the fugitive slave laws should have his head split open with an ax. All through American history there has been the insistence that the individual is superior to the state and that he has the right and duty to resist injustice. We have the right and duty to express our love as we see fit, and I for one intend to fulfill this duty to the best of my ability. The Mattachine Society cannot advocate violation of the law, but you do not have stoop to such hypocritical humbug as the statement quoted above. Fortunately your preaching will be ignored just as completely as the law is. John Sheldon, Ph.D., California

REVIEW EDITOR: I enjoyed so much the visit to your office and wanted to stay longer, but here's a check to help out "poor ole Mattachine" on its birthday. Sorry that it is not much, and so late... Mr. A. L., New York

REVIEW EDITOR: Irenew my subscription with pleasure. Your review is very necessary. Would you agree a commentary concerning a letter from J. B. J. raises the question: "What is hidden beneath the 'moral face' of America?" We can answer: "Much hypocrisy and a lot of sufferings." What IS of utmost importance is the human beings, their happiness and the liberty of souls. Nothing good must be founded upon

violence. I do not admit our forefathers died to perpetuate the injustice and persecution. It would be just the contrary of "Christian principles." Christ hasn't said "Who will use the spear will perish by the spear."

The aim of Mattachine is to spread bet ter understanding between men and, in particular, a better treatment for the most persecuted minority. Besides, we can be sure that violence will do more for annihilation than tolerance. If we desire peace in the world let us begin by establishing peace between groups in America and giving to minorities the personal rights they need. There is a principle in politics about the right for nations to dispose for themselves. Mr. M. M. B., Province of Quebec

REVIEW EDITOR: For the most part your magazine is most enjoyable, but I do resent some of the slushy stories. However I do thank you very much for publishing Dr. Omer Stewart's work.-Mr. J. S., Province of Quebec

REVIEW EDITOR: Do you plan to have a local chapter in Miami in the near future? I am quite sure one is needed here and· I would contribute to it. I have problems that have been worrying me all my life, but I have no one I can trust to discuss them with.Mr. C. H. H., Florida

REVIEW EDITOR: I have read the report of Dr. Richard Robertiello's lecture be fore the New York Area Council of the Mattachine Society. The following two questions occur to me. Is it possible that Dr. Robertiello, if he sees and reads the Mattachine REVIEW, might be willing to reply? 1. Are all character defenses evidence of emotional disturbance or illness? If not, on what basis does one draw the distinction between those defenses that are signs of emotional illness and those that are not? 2. I presume that homosexual behavior is called "compulsive" by psychiatrists because (continued on Page 34)

mattachine REVIEW

A letter from Mr. J. B. J. (page 25, May REVIEW) brought the following reply from Rolf, editor of the 28-year-old Swiss homophile monthly, Der Kreis:

OPEN LETTER TO MR. J. B. J. of TACOMA:

As The Circle, a Swiss homophile monthly, now in its 28th year, exchanges copies with the Mattachine REVIEW we have read in their latest Interim the two letters you wrote to the Mattachine re their publications. Without going going into details we should very much like just to point out two things in your second letter-as they look to a European reader.

You state that what the Mattachine (and the people it stands for) need is not so much understanding but "annihilation." To a European this word has very vivid memories. The best-hated man in the 20th Century, Hitler, whenever it suited his book, had people "annihilated" by the millions, whether they were Jews, Gypsies, political antagonists or, last but nor least, homosexuals. We feel sure that you-like any decent human being-hated Hitler as much for these "annihilations" as did the rest of the free world. And yet you make use of a word which to a European mind has only one connotation. The use of this word is doubly unfortunate as some lines later in your second letter you quote "the moral Christian principles" for which your American forefathers fought and died. What should, just to give one example, be the punishment by law for adultery or pre-marital intercourse-both of which decidedly belong to the same moral Christian principles mentioned by you. If you are able to give me a valid explanation why these two "moral crimes," as mentioned just now, go scot-free in the 20th Century United States and homosexual intercourse between consenting adult males is still heavily punished-you would be the first one to give a valid explanation.

Of thirteen Western-European countries ten have adopted the Code Napoleon by which homosexual intercourse between consenting male adults is no longer punishable by law; only three other countries (Germany, Austria and England) still punish this one moral sin, if you will insist on sin, by law. And I do not think that you will maintain that the moral standard of countries like Sweden or Switzerland, to name but two, is considerably lower than the one of the United States.

We are asking the Mattachine Society to forward this letter to you, if your name is still on file from the two letters you wrote to them.

Yours sincerely

for The Circle

signed Rolf

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