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Divorce Doesn't End Parental Responsibility

The editorial "An Intolerable Situation," June 10, quotes the Rockefeller panel's conclusion that "Children do best when they have the personal involvement ... of a father and a mother, and when both parents fulfill their responsibility to be loving providers." I heartily agree. Let's include in this pro-family focus the needs not only of those children in intact families, but also children of divorced parents and those born out of wedlock.Society needs to accept the premise that both fathers and mothers are important to, and should take responsibility for personal involvement with, their children in or out of marriage. Those unfortunate men (and women) who perhaps never had good, loving relationships with their parents need to be provided with instruction on how to be good parents. There are many legal obstacles to fathers having access to fully participate in their children's lives. These should be removed. Custody orders and support orders should reflect the importance to the children of meaningful time with both parents and then be realistically enforced. Welfare laws should not discourage parents living together. Divorce costs should be kept at the absolute minimum and not impoverish or be punitive to either party. Family resources must be available to help meet the needs of th e children. Kathryn Humphrey, Wilmington, Del.

World food insecurity Regarding the article "Rain Pares Size of US Wheat Harvest," June 13: World carryover of grains, the most significant measure of food security, has dropped from an all-time high in 1987 when it was enough for 102 days of use to just above a 60 days' supply, a dangerously low level. Those of us who are more affluent may look on the drop in the US harvest as meaning a rise in the cost of meats and breads and cereals. But for millions, the meaning will be that already inadequate diets will be even poorer and the likelihood that starvation or diseases associated with inadequate nutrition will strike many more families. The continuing low level of food security points to the need for more attention to problems of overpopulation and of the efficiency with which we use what food we have. John A. Freeman, Brevard, N.C.

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