Nixon Urges Aid to Russia

Although I have a personal dislike for Yevgeny Yevtushenko and am generally embarrassed by Nixon, both men are right on in their challenge to our country to develop a more vital relationship with present-day Russia (“Give Us a Hand, Not a Handout,” Commentary, March 15). Let us heed their advice!

The late eminent English historian Arnold Toynbee urged us to do this back in 1967. He observed that Russia and America had a unique historic opportunity to bless the world if we could make a positive partnership. But that if we failed, the world would be cursed and the blood would be on both our heads.

In developing such a creative partnership, Toynbee warned both countries to beware of three deadly sins: The sin of pride, the sin of idolatry (making anything more important than individual conscience), and the sin of impatience.

The irony of these days is that, thanks to glasnost , Russia has managed to acknowledge and throw off the tyranny of the first two sins, while we Americans have not even begun to confess, let alone repent, any of our own.

Should we default in receiving Russia in these critical, vulnerable days, the blood that will flow worldwide from a future despotism will be on our American heads alone. Russia is asking for a creative partnership, not an exploitative seduction. Her physical wounds will heal our spiritual blindness.

EUGENE KOVALENKO, Ventura