Don’t Bury Your Heart at a Wounded Knee

Mike Downey’s column on Feb. 2, “Harding’s Fall Really Big Push?” suggested that the only thing Tonya Harding ought to be charged with “is criminal taste in men.”

Mr. Downey’s opinion demonstrates what most females do by the age of 3 or 4: That all they have to do to melt most men into complete idiocy is turn on a sweet and innocent look, smile and bat their eyelashes. A few tears don’t hurt, either. Tonya is a champion--not only at skating, but at manipulating, too.

As the investigation proceeds and more facts are made public, I suspect that Mr. Downey will realize he was fooled--and probably not for the first time in his life. We females all do it from time to time, some more (and better) than others.

ANNIE TURNER

La Crescenta

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Mike Downey’s crush on Tonya Harding is cute and his stonewall defense of her in light of the ever-increasing evidence of her guilt is amazing.

This guy would have loved Lucrezia Borgia and Nell Gwyn.

T.S. KERRIGAN

Pacific Palisades

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The lead article in the Feb. 6 sports page, “Panelist: Harding’s Rights Are First,” illustrates the confusion surrounding the standards that should be applied to the Tonya Harding situation. Richard Pound, a Canadian lawyer who is a member of the International Olympic Committee, is quoted as saying that unless there is compelling evidence, such as a confession or a conviction, there is no basis for overturning the results.

Mr. Pound is wrong. He uses a criminal law standard rather than a civil law standard to judge the case. Civil laws require only that there be some reliable evidence to support any decision of the IOC.

Tonya Harding is not a sportswoman. She does not typify the Olympic ideals. She clearly has violated the Olympic oath. She should be barred from participation.

JACK ALLEN

Pacific Palisades

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If we are to follow the current trend in national affairs, it is clear that Tonya Harding should represent the United States in the Olympics. When the attack on Nancy Kerrigan took place, Harding was not present and claims to have had no previous knowledge of the plan.

Just as ex-Presidents Reagan and Bush continued to represent their country, Tonya Harding should represent us in the Olympics.

PHYLLIS NOSTDAL

San Diego