Doonesbury Cartoons on Frank Sinatra

The Times has received 221 letters commenting on its decision not to print all of Garry Trudeau’s Doon e sbury strips on Frank Sinatra; 206 criticized The Times’ decision and/or praised Trudeau; 15 criticized Trudeau and/or praised Sinatra.

I commend you for canceling the Doonesbury cartoons. I’m surprised that your editors allowed the first panel to be published.

Now, as to the qualifications for Frank Sinatra to receive the medal from the President.

Sinatra has probably done more for charitable organizations than Trudeau by 10 times, maybe 100 times.

Frank Sinatra has donated two beautiful wings to the Desert Hospital in Palm Springs and holds an annual fund-raising event for the Desert Hospital.

He has appeared in more fund-raising concerts than one can count--having appeared in Israel for such events several times and similar concerts in London, Paris and other places as well.

Whatever Frank Sinatra has done in the past, he deserves the medal for, in the President’s words, “his generosity to those less fortunate.” Could the same be said for Trudeau?

It seems to be so easy to be negative and so hard to be positive.

C. ROY MANSKA

Oceanside

Editor’s Note: The Times risks lawsuits again and again because taking the risk is often the only way to get important information to its readers. Most of the Sinatra panels were withheld, not because of fear of litigation but because the newspaper was strongly advised by its lawyers that they would have substantial problems defending in court any libel suit that might have been filed.