PUBLIC FORUM A FITTING TRIBUTE.

transpose the loss of Columbia and her crew into mythology, wouldn't it be most rewarding to name a new constellation of seven stars the Constellation Columbia, with its seven tragedy-bound heroes getting their wish to dwell among the stars for all eternity, as their souls were released to stellar heights the instant their bodies took flight? This would be the most fitting tribute of those who perished on STS-107.

- Leigh Datzker

Woodland Hills

In this balance

So I have been made to understand this space shuttle tragedy did not happen like the original space shuttle tragedy. Different parts of the crafts malfunctioned - the launch rocket in the first, the shuttle body itself in the second. Though of course questions of malfeasance or incompetence are now under intense investigation, the same horrible losses 17 years later are appalling, inescapable facts.

It was also pointed out to me, very astutely, that this event screams into question the wisdom of expending so much for such incredibly distant, far-flung results. Should we really spend billions and lose possibly scores more lives just to colonize Mars someday and develop Star Trek-type space stations when we shall always have war, famine and pestilence as our eternal human struggle on Earth? How do the benefits and the sacrifices weigh in this balance?

- Kathryn C. Durfee

Agoura

Warning ignored

Re ``Challenger tragedy changed space program'' (Feb. 2):

The O-ring that failed, causing the Challenger disaster, was not ``faulty,'' as NASA wants everyone to believe. It was misused. O-rings, to function, need to be pliable and will become solid and brittle at low temperatures. The contractor's engineers tried to have the launch postponed due to the low overnight temperature, but the National Aeronautics and Space Administration flight-control officials ignored the warning.

Nobel physicist Richard Feynman, a member of the blue-ribbon committee investigating the disaster, demonstrated the O-ring problem in a televised hearing. He also refused to sign the official committee report that exonerated NASA, but was allowed to add a dissenting appendix.

- Jim Henderson 

Lancaster

A good start

Re ``Fragment of a fig leaf'' (Editorial, Jan. 30):

You can hardly call someone ``naive'' who has made the kind of sweeping service changes for her district that Councilwoman Wendy Greuel has. Her recent efforts on behalf of ethics reform are equally commendable and are born out of her freshman can-do attitude. This is a breath of fresh air for our sorely misguided local political machine.

As you say, it may just be ``baby steps in the right direction,'' but a journey of a thousand miles begins with the first steps. I applaud Greuel for taking those first steps. I feel confident that she will keep walking in the right direction.

- Frank Sheftel

Valley Glen

New school calendar

Re ``Students first'' (Editorial, Jan. 31):

People assume that a 180-day school calendar is better than a 163-day calendar in all circumstances. Not true. This misguided new calendar adds no instructional minutes to the school year. What it adds are more students at any one time on already overcrowded campuses. It adds to the number of teachers who must travel from classroom to classroom to teach. It adds to the number of struggling students who won't be able to get extra help because it limits space for summer school and special intersession classes. It adds to the number of interrupted tracks and will sacrifice some students for the benefit of others. It adds to the number of families who have to live with the nightmare of having kids on different school schedules.

This current calendar change was pushed through without any input from parents and teachers. Parents who heard through the grapevine about the calendar protested at the school board meeting, and their schools miraculously were taken off the target list. Imagine if district officials had asked all parents about the calendar. I bet not one single school would be changing. My fear is that this calendar will prove as unworkable as teachers and parents predict, and we'll have to scrap it after a year or two.

- John Perez

President

United Teachers Los Angeles

No, not great

Trude B. Feldman praises Reagan as a great man (``Reagan at 92'' Viewpoint, Feb. 2). Reagan fought tirelessly to repeal a woman's right to control her reproductive capacities. He embraced the religious right, supporting their racism, anti-Semitism and hatred of gay Americans.

Reagan reneged on his promise to abolish the new federal agencies created by Jimmy Carter (the Energy Department and the Education Department) and expanded many unconstitutional government programs. No. Reagan was not a great man. He turned his back on individual rights and the principle of equal justice under law. Ultimately, he will be remembered as a political hack who could tell a good joke. Only the joke was on us.

- Ray Shelton

Glendale

HMOs' bottom line

They take money out of your check all your working life. Then when you retire, they tell you there is no money to pay for your health care. The politicians have been dipping into our Social Security and Medicare trust funds since the beginning to balance the budget or finance wars. They are elected to represent the people in their district, but instead they represent big business and special-interest groups. Just like Enron executives, they cook the books and snow the public.

Meanwhile, a lot of elderly people can't afford to buy prescriptions and food at the same time. I suspect cutting Medicare is good for rich doctors and health maintenance organizations' bottom line.

- Ted Pearson

Valencia

Nam revisited

Re ``Tactic of the left'' (Your Opinions, Jan. 28):

As an anti-war demonstrator, I will answer Michael Hannin's question: ``Why we had no business being in Vietnam in regards to SEATO.'' Ho Chi Minh established an independent nation with support of 98 percent of the people on Sept. 2, 1945. They were not allowed to become a member of the South East Asia Treaty Organization.

Now, Michael, answer me this. Why did our country break these laws and rules: Nuremberg Judgment, Geneva Codes, Genocide Convention Article II Section C, Tokyo Tribunal (Annex D, Item 9), Department of Army Field Manual No. 27-10 and the U.S. Constitution? Our country's involvement in that war was pure evil. My answer is not huh, but rather, duh.

- Dick Denne

Toluca Lake

Just the facts

Re ```Dragnet' new and old'' (Jan. 28):

Thank you for the wonderful story and great pictures. As a Los Angeles resident who watched the show from 1952 to 1970, I look forward to seeing the story of the Los Angeles Police Department. The program always shows the dedication of the police.

I have seen the previews in the movie theaters several times. I hope the new show will be more accurate than the preview. The preview mentions ``the city of Los Angeles with 25 million people.'' I know our city is big, but not that big.

- Richard B. Fremed

Granada Hills

Fair and logical tax

Re ``State Senate will reject fee hike, Brown predicts'' (Jan. 30):

Persons having the wealth to afford expensive, oversize automobiles are the fair and logical sources of revenue so desperately needed by California. I suggest an annual tax predicated upon engine size and weight of vehicles classified by the state as passenger cars.

The tax would be 10 cents per cubic centimeter of displacement for engines over two liters and 10 cents a pound for curb weight in excess of 2,500 pounds. The owner of a 5,000-pound sport-utility vehicle with a five-liter engine, for example, would pay a yearly tax of $250 based upon weight, plus $300 based upon engine size. I suggest the same tax on pickup trucks having more than three doors unless the owner can very conclusively prove that the vehicle's principal use is for business.

- Robert S. Campbell

Woodland Hills