Maher’s Comments

* Re “Political Incorrectness Strays Into Boorishness,” Commentary, Jan. 26: Bill Maher’s comparison (dogs and retarded children) was entirely benign; it’s Tony Peyser, not Maher, who brings up the images of tying children or dogs up in backyards and putting them to sleep when they become “difficult.” Companion animals should be--and many are--treated as well as children. Within their mental capacity, of course.

As for “ex-Duchess” Sarah Ferguson’s retort about hearts and souls: It’s clinically provable that dogs have hearts. “Souls” are a matter of faith; it’s not provable that dogs don’t have them. Or that people do.

LEN DIAMOND

Westminster