Wellesley Controversy

Granted that the discussion surrounding Barbara Bush’s commencement speech at Wellesley College is a healthy process as your editorial suggested (“First Lady vs. Wellesley: Good Debate,” May 7), but the nature of that discussion reflects very poorly on the women there. First, it is shortsighted of the women at Wellesley to limit accomplishment and leadership in society to the realms of business and government. And secondly, it is very insecure and defensive behavior that has to speak ill of another woman’s choice in order to affirm the value of her own.

The family is a vitally significant and foundational institution of this nation, upon which the success of many of our other pursuits (including George Bush’s) depends. A full-time, even lifetime, commitment to nurturing and building the family is influence and leadership in the fullest sense of the role.

The choice between a career in the work force or a career in the home is a difficult and emotional one. To hear women on both sides of that choice continually downgrading the other as if the choice were actually a plain and simple one only makes one wonder how sure of their personal choices these women actually are.

Women have the potential to provide significant leadership in more than one role. What’s so horrible about that? These efforts would be better served if women stopped viewing other women’s choices as negative comments about their own and went about the business of providing leadership in their respective roles.

KARL D. EDWARDS

Los Angeles