‘Abroad in New York’

Francis Morrone’s “Abroad in New York” is one of the most consistently entertaining regular columns of any appearing in a New York daily of the last 10 or more years.

Mr. Morrone’s review of the life-career of the great American mosaicist Hildreth Meiere is more than a little impressive for its depth [Arts & Letters, October 14, 2005]. And yet, I beg to quibble with him as he writes: “In a Byzantine church we expect mosaic … ” True. “… the most famous mosaics in the world are in a Byzantine church, St. Mark’s in Venice.” Doubtful.

This on the authority of my teacher Meyer Schapiro.The order I prefer is: Sta. Maria Maggiore (4th century CE), Rome, San Vitale (CE 547), Ravenna, Sant’Apollinare in Classe, Ravenna.

Santa Maria I have seen, and cast my lot with my professor. And, I throw it in the ring: the great synagogue in Sepphoris (Tsipori) (early 5th century CE),in the Galil of Northern Israel. The “mosaica,” which everywhere adorn the Upper Basilica of San Francisco (13th century CE), Assisi are stupendous. Stupendous. I have seen these too.

We studied those of Rome and Ravenna for months! And no word of Venice. Pace, Francis, but what are its dates? And from the Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 edition, 1929 (volume 15, pages 834-835, plate I), St. Mark’s in Venice:

“The technical skill of the Byzantine mosaicicts was preserved in Venice for centuries but … by the 16th century, the period of this mosaic, only sterile and clever attempts to imitate paintings were produced.” You see, Meyer was always right!

ALLEN TOBIAS

Brooklyn

‘CUNY’S Chancellor Enters Fray’

Jacob Gershman’s otherwise accurate article on October 17, 2005, about a recent statement by Chancellor Matthew Goldstein on academic freedom omitted an important fact [“CUNY’S Chancellor Enters Fray Over Academic Freedom,” Page 1].

On October 11, Chancellor Goldstein announced that he is a signatory to the academic freedom statement organized by the Global Colloquium of University Presidents. Both the full text of the chancellor’s statement and the statement issued by the university presidents can be found at www1.cuny.edu/rd/academicfreedom.php

MICHAEL ARENA

University Director

Of Media Relations

The City University of New York

‘Redford’s Poison’

Andrea Levin missed a chance to describe Jose Saramago fully as she excoriates the “poisonous,” lying documentaries of the Sundance Channel [“Redford’s Poison,” Opinion, October 14, 2005].

He is a Nobel (far from noble) fiction writer and an acknowledged communist. Communist parties throughout the world have always welcomed their propagandists to lie for the “cause.” A must read is the 2004 edition of “Double Lives” by Stephen Koch (Enigma Books), with a forward by Sam Tanenhaus.

ELLIOT EISENBACH

Manhattan

‘Boost of Term Limits’

The New York Sun’s reporter Julia Levy’s October 3, 2005, article says that reports and surveys show that most New Yorkers are in favor of term limits [“Surprise Boost of Term Limits in a New Poll,” Page 1].

After my years being involved in Manhattan politics, I find that voters who may favor term limits usually exempt their representative or executive.

This year, New York City citizens complained about the huge amount of political literature they were receiving in their mailboxes, but this volume of mail was generated not just from a few candidates, but from the plethora of candidates running for many positions.

City office term limits set in motion a form of political musical chairs. Conceding the advantage of incumbency, let’s allow the voters to decide how long they want their elected public officials to remain in office.

Incidentally, Tammany Hall had its form of term limits for elected executives and legislators: They were called judgeships.

ALAN FLACKS

Manhattan

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