Henry Cisneros

* Frank del Olmo (Commentary, Dec. 15) states that Henry Cisneros’ indictment “is much ado about something that isn’t as important as it looks right now.” His column is disturbing in the way it tries to compare Cisneros’ indictment with that of other former Cabinet members in a way that resembles the current fraud that has overtaken the White House in its fund-raising, with “we didn’t do anything that everybody isn’t doing, including the Republicans.”

Del Olmo is correct in elaborating Cisneros’ past accomplishments, but unfortunately he seems to be condoning his more recent transgressions. What a message for our youth and future leaders.

President Nixon also had incredible accomplishments, but his lies and paranoia have overshadowed his image and rightly so. When will ethics, honesty and character become, again, the guiding principles on which we judge our lawmakers, judges, doctors, civil servants and our neighbors?

ROGER A. SMITH

Pasadena

* I appreciate Del Olmo’s commentary for putting Cisneros’ recent indictment into its proper perspective. While I am tempted to conclude that once again another Chicano/Latino role model has fallen from grace, Cisneros’ commitment to the poor, as evidenced in his role as HUD secretary and mayor of San Antonio, continues to make him a role model to me. My work in Central America and my exposure to the abhorrent economic and social conditions there, not to mention my exposure to the tragedy of our own inner-city conditions, force me to take such a position.

While I cannot justify adultery, machismo, manipulation and lying to our trusted officials, I also cannot justify the absence of Latino leadership and the country’s seeming neglect of the poor, and the rampant gang activity in our inner cities. If this country’s Christian tradition is any criterion, Jesus said a lot more about our treatment of the poor than he did about adultery.

FATHER MASSEO GONZALES

Torrance