Editor:

Calling Timothy Leary a "psychedelic scout master" and "'60s acid guru," Jon Roig (Mutato's "Will '60s acid guru Timothy Leary end it on the 'Net?," April 25) was utilizing euphemisms for the more appropriate titles like LSD pimp and pied piper of self-destruction that should be attached to Leary. Normally, the impending demise of a man is cause for reflection on that man's achievements and the good from those achievements. In Leary's case, his achievements can be measured in the amount of death and injury caused over the years by LSD and other drugs.

Leary's advocacy of LSD use represented one of the worst facets of the counterculture. It brought him fame and fortune, while others, particularly young people, were left to deal with the damage done to their minds and bodies by drug abuse. Jerry Garcia, a man who represented most of what was good about the counterculture, was still trying to remove the crushing burden of drug addiction at the time of his death. While Garcia and others bear the responsibility for placing the monkeys on their backs, Leary did his best to encourage them to put them there.

Now, like an exhibitionist ghoul, Leary has floated the possibility that he might pollute the Internet with his live suicide. However Leary leaves this world, his end game of self-promotional hype should not obscure his legacy of death and suffering. Goodbye, Mr. Leary, and may God have mercy on you.

Craig Westphal
accounting junior