Jody Williams

What an inspiration to see the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Jody Williams and her International Campaign to Ban Landmines (Oct. 11). The humanity of this cause and the lack of ego and pretense with which Williams lives her purpose gave me pause. I agree with her assessment of President Clinton as “neither a leader nor a statesman” and applaud her shifting the media spotlight away from herself and onto obstacles and solutions.

Her fearlessness in the face of government, stating her position with single-minded clarity and simplicity, speaks well for the victims she speaks for. Like Mother Teresa, also a Peace Prize recipient, she has served what each has called “the poorest of the poor.”

Matthew 5:9 states: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” There are surely many daughters in the mix. It is time for Clinton--and all others still in opposition to the land mine ban--to heed the call.

JEANINE D’ELIA

Granada Hills

* * The case for a Korea exception on land mines (editorial, Oct. 14) would sound better if we were not the leading supplier of arms to developing nations. We sell almost as many arms as all the other nations put together. I would interpret this to mean that we are by far the leading promoter of war in the developing nations.

We appear to put profits above lives with little concern about the terrible suffering we may cause. No, I don’t imagine the large number killed and maimed by land mines bothers us very much.

QUENTIN C. STODOLA

Redondo Beach

* * Finally, there is more attention being paid to these dread purveyors of maiming and killing global family members. My president does not speak for me when he concentrates on our military members on duty in South Korea, inasmuch as I understand that the military are briefed on locating these oh-so-deadly weapons, while global families have no such choice. How, then, can we continue to manufacture land mines here in the U.S.?

EVELYN SEARS

Culver City