‘Terminator’

Re “Scaring Up Fun and Fears,” May 7.

Leave it to the Times to fabricate a story where none exists, simply to jump on the most recent bandwagon, the Littleton, Colo., shootings. Your story of terrorized children leaving the new “Terminator” attraction at Universal Studios Hollywood, is a prime example of a reporter going to find a story, not finding one but writing one anyway. One child--one child--was all [Jeffrey] Gettleman could find who was scared by the new attraction.

I worked for years at Universal and can assure you that even a ride as tame as E.T. or the now closed “Flintstones” show has its share of children who leave overwhelmed by the experience, and there was absolutely no violence in those attractions. It makes a person wonder: Does The Times want to report the news or create it?

There are many problems in Los Angeles today. Surely Gettleman’s time could have been spent on something more important that was actually happening.

BART SUMNER, Valley Glen