Goodby, Good Riddance, Farewell?

So Dr. Timothy Leary is “thrilled” at his impending death from metastatic cancer and has “been waiting for this for years” (The Terminal Man,” Aug. 28).

That’s to be expected from the Prince of Denial. After all, drug addiction begins with the wish to escape reality.

But Leary will live on. His influence will persist in the countless young people whose normal rebelliousness was exploited by the most evil person academia ever produced. Leary may die, but a million shattered lives survive him.

ROBERT M. MILLER

Thousand Oaks

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Timothy Leary deliberately wasted his life and he urged others to do the same. Despite his media-created notoriety, he contributed little substance to the social fabric, yet he’s celebrated with a lavish piece in The Times because he’s dying of cancer.

Contrast that with the countless other people who work hard, do their jobs, obey the laws, raise their families, help others in need and play by the rules and will be lucky to get a two-line mention in The Times when they die.

The irony of it all.

JOHN BRODHEAD

La Canada

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Thank God Timothy Leary, just diagnosed with terminal cancer, plans to live out his final days with dignity.

It’s high time.

PATTI GARRITY

Manhattan Beach