SONNY BONO

Regarding the sad death of Sonny Bono and the revelation that he had a
secret problem with addiction (Nov. 20), perhaps he would be alive now if he
could have been more open
about the problem.

In contrast to his youthful persona, Bono showed his intelligence and
competence as a congressman, powers he could have brought to bear on his
problem, if he did not have to hide from the hysterical zero-tolerance
regime. In a climate of compassion, he could have sought help, possibly
avoiding his collision with the reality of our shame-based attitude toward
drugs. No amount of punishment and prison is going to solve the real
problem, and we now have one of the world's highest incarceration rates,
mostly for drug "crimes."

JIM ROSENFIELD Culver City

Never did I think that I would come to the defense of Sonny Bono. For
30 years the poor guy suffers pain from a bad back, then he center
punches a tree and is killed. Then his wife disses him in death. What
was he supposed to do about his bad back for 30 years?

PHILLIP SHELTON Redondo Beach

So Bono may have been on drugs when he died. And his mood swings were
so bad his wife almost left him. So much for the pundits who called
him an American hero and the incarnation of the Founding Fathers.

ROBERT SCHMIDT
Culver City

Checked-by: Rich O'Grady