‘Cold Warriors’ Draw Criticism

It was with a feeling of revulsion that I read the article “Regrouping in the Cold War” (Times, March 16).

My disgust was caused, not by Times Staff Writer Mike Ward’s journalistic style, but by the subject. How depressing it is to be reminded that there are among us radical groups such as the John Birch Society, members of which continue to embrace McCarthyism.

Fortunately, the great majority of people in this country reject the kind of political depravity espoused by such organizations as the Birchers. The only redemption I find in the article is that I can offer it to my students as an example of what Samuel Johnson meant when he said: “Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel.”

TIM KARAMITROS

Sierra Madre