Dragging Death in Texas

Re “3 Charged in Texas After Black Man’s Grisly Death,” June 10: The murder of James Byrd Jr. in Jasper, Texas, is a shameful reminder to all Americans of the racism and violence that persist in our country. Teaching tolerance and conflict resolution to our children should be a primary concern to all parents and educators, and the prosecution of hate criminals should be a top priority for our government.

Maybe Ken Starr’s special prosecution budget could be diverted to a more useful purpose instead of finding out what Monica Lewinsky reads.

SHARON BERKE

Pacific Palisades

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Having read accounts of many who have claimed memberships in racial supremacist organizations, I have this question: Why is it that the most vociferous adherents of racial supremacist beliefs are, for the most part, the poorest, most pathetic examples of what that race can produce? If those three accused of Byrd’s torture/murder claim to be “white” (much less human), then I’ll be green!

J. ALAN ROSENSTEIN

Laguna Beach

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According to The Times, the murder of Byrd was a crime that “should be incomprehensible” (editorial, June 11). Although the horrific deed was [allegedly] committed by three ex-cons with ties to the Ku Klux Klan and the Aryan Nation--hardly typical Ameri- cans--your editorial tried to paint it as “America’s shame” and raising “questions for all Americans.”

Perhaps The Times should find itself some editorial writers less prone to project their own sense of guilt onto the rest of us.

GIL COURT

Whittier