On 1-24-97 FRANK TOPPING wrote to RON MCDERMOTT:
   FT> Education is many things -- a friend of mine once brought
   a stack of photos to work his merchant seaman father had
   taken in mainland China during the 30's.  ...one photo
   shows a woeful looking young man kneeling with head bent
   before a Japanese officer holding a sword.  The next
   photo showed ...
 
   FT> Another shot showed a rather simple but attractive young
   chinese female tied to a post, ... The next pkoto showed he
   minus ...
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   Nice piece of descriptive writing, Frank. It conjured up
   powerful and compelling images.
 
   But it was uncalled for. It would have been quite
   sufficient for your argument to note that atrocities occur.
   Had you thought it absolutely necessary to elaborate, I
   suggest it would have sufficed to note that beheadings and
   mutilations took place. You went out of your way to startle
   your readers with a disturbingly graphic description of
   these atrocities.
 
   I found it offensive. Furthermore, there surely must be
   a few youngsters who occasionally read in this international
   echo to see what The Teachers talk about amongst themselves.
   Do you wish to leave these youngsters with such images?
   What about a rape, surely a common occurrence during wartime
   and times of oppression? What graphic details would you have
   included had you been depicting a rape, Frank?
 
   Your shockingly graphic description reflected poor judgment
   and poor taste. Do you not think your writing skills might
   be better employed CONSTRUCTIVELY advancing your arguments?
   The next time you feel the urge to shock us in this echo,
   suppress it, won't you please, Frank?
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