I greatly appreciate your article on the new approach of using genetics to understand human origins (“Beyond Stones & Bones,” March 19). As an undergrad hoping to study evolution from a genetic perspective, I’m thrilled by all the questions this article answers and raises. The mystery of Homo Floresiensis, the “Hobbit” discovered in 2003, extends beyond the reconciliation of small skull size with high brain complexity. When and how they came to migrate out of Africa to the island of Flores adds to the enigma. Did they leave with the primitive H. erectus 1.8 million years ago, and if so, how did its brain become so much more advanced? Or did they migrate later with more modern humans 100,000 years ago? Could the ancient Hobbit population have any relationship to the Rampasasa pygmies living in Flores today? These questions are being debated by scientists, and until all the conflicts are reconciled, we won’t know the full impact of H. Floresiensis on current understanding of human origins. Elizabeth Brown Clinton, N.J.
“Beyond stones & bones” reminds me that just as chimps were not our ancestors, DNA is not evidence of evolution. The very complexity of DNA—one square inch could store the information of 7 billion Bibles—is powerful evidence of God’s creation. The similarity of DNA between chimps and humans is evidence of a common, all-wise designer, not a hit-or-miss accident of evolution. Humans were created in the image of God. Bananas share 50 percent of their DNA with humans, but that doesn’t mean they’re half human. Allen Hoegermeyer Hooper, Neb.
In her article on evolution, Sharon Begley acknowledges that many readers will want to believe that the “hand of God” was instrumental in guiding evolutionary change. Actually, that’s not a wise choice for the theist subscriber. Supreme beings who have the ability to create whole universes out of nothing are by definition omniscient and omnipotent. Evolution, on the other hand, is a disorganized process of “fits and starts” with thousands of dead ends and mistakes leading up to the flora and fauna of today. Omniscient deities don’t make mistakes. So a God who guides evolution is a supreme bumbler, not a supreme being. David Werdegar Naperville, Ill.
The mark of a good science writer is that when you’re done reading you can say, “That wasn’t so hard to understand.” Sharon Begley is a very good science writer. Her comparison of DNA analysis to counting typos was inspired. Her use of Biblical “begat"s to describe old-fashioned linear-style taxonomy was simply elegant. I’d recommend this article to anyone coming late to the game of anthropology. Erik Vance Washington, D.C.
As long as evolutionary biologists ask the wrong questions about our origins, they’ll continue to derive the wrong answers. Not being able to find adequate fossil evidence to support their assumptions, they now look for it in DNA. The problem is, that won’t yield the answers they are looking for either. Their approach is all wrong. Comparing genes from chimps and humans (like comparing fossil evidence) may be worthwhile in noting structural similarities, but it doesn’t adequately account for the capacity of one to use sticks as rudimentary tools vs. the other to conduct spaceflight. Tony Canoura St. Augustine, Fla.
Focus on the Family should focus on its own families and quit trying to mess with the environment (“Beliefwatch: Tree Hugger,” periscope, March 19). James Dobson brainwashes listeners into thinking the environment is of secondary importance. As a Christian myself, I actually care about things besides being on the winning end of politics. His kind has no credibility with me and displays little of the virtues of true Christianity or care for God’s creation. Please don’t think he speaks for all Christians. Sherry Lewis Newcastle, Calif.
Lisa Miller writes that Dr. James Dobson exhibited “Lear-like fury” in a letter he and other leaders sent to the board of the National Association of Evangelicals about its employee Richard Cizik. She quoted part of that “furious” letter: “If [Cizik] cannot be trusted … then we respectfully suggest that he be encouraged to resign his post.” Fury? Hardly. What’s more, although most in the media failed to note it, the board reiterated its support for a broader social agenda than just the single issue of global warming Cizik has been emphasizing. We applaud that decision. In fact, we assisted the NAE in writing its well-rounded call to civic responsibility two years ago. It’s a shame—almost worthy of Lear-like fury—that Miller didn’t see fit to report that fact. Tom Minnery Senior Vice President, Government and Public Policy Focus on the Family Colorado Springs, Colo.
title: “Letters To The Editor” ShowToc: true date: “2023-01-23” author: “James Rogers”
Your special issue devoted to the letters written by American troops killed in Iraq was the most powerful piece of journalism I have ever read (“Voices of the Fallen”). Each letter compelled me to search through the magazine’s pages to identify the picture of the service member whose words I was reading. It tore me up inside to see their beautiful faces and read their heartfelt greetings to loved ones at home. Reading about how each one died felt like the loss of a close family member. That so much wit, bravery and love has been lost with the lives of these servicemen and -women is shameful. My thoughts and prayers are with their grieving families and with the troops coming home alive but scarred on the inside and out. Jennifer Bardsley Edmonds, Wash.
I sobbed my way through this remarkable issue, devouring it from cover to cover. Now my heart is heavy. I’d like to thank the families of these servicemen and -women for allowing their loved ones’ writings to be shared so publicly. I know a lot of civil servants, but I don’t personally know anyone assigned to military duty in Iraq. For years I’ve been wondering what it’s really like for our troops, how tough everything is on them and how they cope. I was impressed both with the quality of the writing and with how openly they expressed themselves. In some cases, these writers explained to me in a couple of short paragraphs the complexities of life in Iraq that the media have not been able to relay adequately in all this time. Thank you for putting all this together. Never has it been so clear that war is hell. Tonya Atkinson Oklahoma City, Okla.
I read this incredibly moving issue in one sitting. As the pregnant mother of a toddler, I found myself particularly responsive to those service members who wrote to their children, hoping to return and see sons and daughters pore over their words, but well aware that they might not return at all. I was struck, however, with the almost total lack of diversity in the troops whose writing you chose to share. Of the thousands who’ve died while serving, I find it hard to believe that you were able to find only one woman and hardly any people of color whose families were willing to respond and share for this issue. This war is being fought by men and women from all backgrounds, and you do the country’s diversity—not to mention that of the armed services—an injustice by not showing some broader reach in your articles, particularly when that diversity is one of the many aspects of American life the troops are over there dying to protect. Leian Welch Clifton, N.J.
The handwritten “last letters” in this issue are the most profound and painful words I’ve read on this war. As an American, I’m ashamed that we have been misled into this senseless slaughter. As a father, my grief for the loss of these young people is without measure. My heart aches for their families. This should be required reading at the White House and in every house in the United States. And we should all imagine, in agonizing detail, that these are our own children. Perhaps then our country will recoil from those who would waste our most precious resource in a careless rush to war. Jason M. Zoghlin Rochester, N.Y.
Thank you for reminding the American public that there are a few citizens who have bigger concerns than high fuel prices, gay marriage and lower taxes. My son—who’s been to Iraq twice with the Army—and I could not read these letters without coming to tears. The pain we felt was overwhelming. This is not because we are too timid to face the harsh ugliness of war, but because of the frustration and anger we feel at having so few Americans carry such a disproportionate burden in this war. If Iraq is really a part of the larger war on terrorism, as our president continues to insist, then all Americans need to bear some of the burden and make some sacrifice. The men and women in uniform make up only a tiny fraction of our population but carry the entire effort on their shoulders. My sorrow for these fallen warriors and their families is matched only by my contempt for those whining Americans who aren’t willing to see their own sons and daughters in the uniforms of their country or even support the taxes necessary to pay for the war. Col. Steven C. Stone, U.S. Army (Ret.) Nelsonville, Ohio
I was deeply moved as I read the letters the fallen service members had written to their loved ones—letters that would never have been shared had they not died in combat. The families who had the courage to push aside the unspeakable pain they are suffering and share such deeply private, moving letters deserve our utmost admiration. My heart goes out to them all. It is also troubling to see our president’s signature on Sgt. Patrick Tainsh’s letter. Knowing George W. Bush was able to avoid the same dangers in Vietnam that ultimately killed these men and women makes it difficult to stomach his message of thanks on that letter. Scott C. Wade Muskegon, Mich.
In my 78 years I’ve never read anything as tragic as the contents of this issue. This war never should have been, and the agony of the wounded and the families of the fallen is a stain on the history of our country. George W. Bush should be impeached and charged with the deaths of each of the men and women who were victims. I wish I could dispel the anger within my heart, but we never seem to learn. We sat back and swallowed the line that was fed to us without questioning the real reason for this debacle. Besides the loss of Americans, we are just as responsible for the deaths of thousands of innocent Iraqis and what we have done to their country. We should be ashamed. George Scardena Toms River, N.J.
I must tell you that neither my husband nor I will open or look at anything in this issue. Your cover accentuates the feeling of dread that’s been our unwanted companion for four years. Our son is a captain in the Marine Corps. He was part of the 2003 invasion of Iraq and was involved in the battle of Nasiriya—positively the worst weeks of my life. He has had three more deployments to the Middle East since then—one to Afghanistan, where he was wounded by an IED near the Pakistani border. His unit is preparing for another deployment back to Iraq later this year. Our younger son has signed a contract to start Officer Candidates School after his college graduation in May. So we must continue to support our sons while dreading any parent’s nightmare of losing a child. They believe in what they are doing and that we must finish the job we started or all the sacrifices will have been in vain. But I can’t even stand to hear George W. Bush’s voice on TV; I change channels instantly. So I cannot read your magazine this week. Katherine Benbow Concord, N.C.
When I saw the words “Any day I’m here could be the day I die,” a chill ran through me. I don’t believe I’ve ever been so affected by a NEWSWEEK cover as I was with the letters from troops no longer here because of a senseless war. At first, I told myself that I was not going to read them because it would disturb me too much. But I finally read every letter because I believe I owed it to them. I felt sadness, anger, gratitude and pride for the servicemen and -women. I could feel their terror, loneliness and sometimes disillusionment over why they were there and if they were accomplishing anything. Thank you for placing names, faces and words to some of the fallen. I oppose the war, but feel honored to be an American because of the great Americans who’ve served and are serving our country. Patty J. Lingle Anna, Ill.
You perpetuate a myth and do a grave disservice to your readers when you say, “Hardly anyone believed Iraq’s claims that it no longer possessed any weapons of mass destruction.” In fact, the lead-up to the invasion of Iraq was accompanied by the largest protests this nation had seen since Vietnam. Experts who had been on the ground in Iraq—Scott Ritter, Hans Blix, Mohamed ElBaradei—were ignored or ridiculed in the mainstream press, forcing them to crisscross the country giving talks on college campuses and interviews on alternative radio. The blogosphere was rife with doubt. Many experts in the CIA and elsewhere expressed their doubts but were silenced or ignored. Only among the minions of the Bush administration and in the mainstream press were the myths of Saddam’s WMD promoted to an “imminent threat.” Fred M. Collier Eugene, Ore.
I was deeply touched by this issue and have not cried so much since the funeral of my baby brother, a Marine who perished needlessly in Vietnam. What I want to know is: why are you four years late in publishing this story? We have needed courageous editors and publishers during this war as much as we need the brave, selfless, profoundly humble and inspiring military personnel like those featured in your magazine. Where were your editors and publishers four years ago? Where were the college-student protesters? Where were the mothers marching? Where were the politicians? My brother truly did die in vain. Don Byrd Pawtucket, R.I.
There have been many times I wanted to write a letter to NEWSWEEK, and I always found something else to do instead. After reading this week’s issue, I can’t do anything else but write. While I am aware that my letter is completely insignificant compared with the troops’ letters home, I hope their families find some comfort in knowing that many fellow Americans have been deeply moved by their sons’ and daughters’ words. In an attempt to convey my own gratitude and heartbreak, I find that I am at a loss. Perhaps there are simply no suitable words, and a respectful silence is best. Kathleen Carrigan Pittsburgh, Pa.
Every American should read the “Voices of the Fallen” issue. It’s the first real insight I’ve been given into the lives of the selfless men and women in Iraq without the lens of politics but through their very human hopes, dreams and fears. It was as moving as it was heart-wrenching to know that so many wonderful people have had to die for a war that seems more and more hopeless. These soldiers, Marines, airmen and sailors are truly the “better men” and women, but I cannot help but wonder how many more are going to have to die. As Plato said, “Only the dead have seen the end of war.” Nathan Seder Boston, Mass.
title: “Letters To The Editor” ShowToc: true date: “2023-01-16” author: “John Demopoulos”
I was horrified to read your special investigation about the inadequate care that returning Iraq war veterans are receiving (“Forgotten Heroes,” March 5). There was Jonathan Schulze, who took his life in despair after receiving no help. There was Albert Ross, who still hasn’t been assigned a primary-care physician two years after losing his legs. And there was Marissa Strock, who went hours without pain medication after having both legs amputated. The authors of this ill-conceived war have pilloried its opponents as unpatriotic. I can think of nothing more unpatriotic than this failure to care for the brave men and women who sacrificed their lives for this country. Our leaders should be ashamed. Ron Chesbrough Hastings, Neb.
As an amputee from the Vietnam War, I would like to personally thank the new vets for their service and sacrifice. I’d also warn them that having survived the kill zone, they must now prepare for one of the longest, most frustrating fights they will ever face. Having done battle with the Department of Veterans Affairs for 35 years, I can say that it never gets any easier. There is no compensation for lost earning power or the ability to enjoy life’s simple things. The best years of your youth are lost as you heal, and you never get payment for them. My advice to these vets is to keep a record of every contact you have with the VA. Then when you must file a claim or an appeal, you won’t be shocked when you’re told your records have been lost. Whenever our leaders get on a cost-cutting crusade, one of the first things cut is veterans’ benefits. These new vets now have a lifetime connection to the system, like it or not. It is shameful that our brave soldiers are subjected to such conditions at military hospitals like Walter Reed. Let’s hope our leaders will commit to caring and providing funding for their long-term needs. Dan Manis Rogersville, Tenn.
I arrived home to find your “Failing Our Wounded” issue showing a young woman with both legs missing, wounded in Iraq. The word “wounded” is a honey-glaze word over the dismemberment, truncation and shattering of a life resulting from such a distorted war policy. While words like “troop surge,” “protect our freedom” and “progress in the war” are hoisted regularly in Washington, they are a thin camouflage for “failure.” Our young are being blown to bits. I believe this woman’s photo, with her prosthetic limbs standing at attention, ready to support her in her new life, should be placed alongside the famous Iwo Jima photo of the three Marines struggling to raise the American flag. Thank you for drawing our confused attention to such nobility and suffering. Dennis Patrick Slattery Goleta, Calif.
The VA thinks it’s acceptable that most vets are assigned a primary-care doctor within 30 days? I don’t. We owe every wounded vet transitioning into the VA system a primary-care doctor in five days. Do we care about these men and women who have given more than most of us can even imagine, or don’t we? It’s time to match rhetoric with action. It’s also time to get our priorities right. The VA thinks it would be an “irresponsible use of taxpayer money” to accept all disability claims when received and to audit the claims later. That scheme is deemed just fine for million-dollar government contractors—why isn’t it OK for the veterans we claim to so fully support? John V. Kjellman Henniker, N.H.
The VA disability system is indeed broken, but not because of the war wounded. Those of us who have had long careers in the VA bureaucracy know otherwise. Inadequate attention to monetary claims of the wounded is inexcusable, but anecdotally rare. The 400,000 backlogged claims contain only a small minority from duty-related causes, and war wounded are only a sliver of that. The vast majority of claims involve conditions completely separate from actual military duty. A veteran with diabetes or heart disease, or who has an accident at home, is compensated just as if he or she were wounded in war. That’s the source of the 400,000 claims. There is a veterans’ industry that uses the war wounded as cover for abuse of the benefit system. It’s not a small problem—it represents the largest part of disability benefits paid. The industry has learned that almost any meritless claim can be successful if the claimant is persistent enough, so the system is clogged with claims, appeals and refiled claims. The VA system will never be fixed until our elected leaders have the courage to address the politically incorrect but real problems facing the VA. Mark Rogers Pretty Prairie, Kans.
As a civilian physician and psychiatrist at a VA hospital, I have had my exposure to war limited to the experiences veterans share with me. Only in those intimate moments of terror and heartbreak can I come close to understanding what war has done to them. Yes, the system has deficiencies and moves ponderously. Yet no nation gives more comprehensive psychiatric care to the war wounded than the United States. As you point out, the number of Iraq vets with mental disorders is second only to those with bone and muscle injuries. There is a massive need for more doctors and mental-health workers to address these serious disorders, and until mental health is recognized as critical to the complete health of a person, we will continue to lose our Jonathan Schulzes—something our great nation cannot afford. Lantie Elisabeth Jorandby-Quinones Jupiter, Fla.
In 1984, as a 37-year-old twinkie-holic, I put one into a mug to see how it would hold up for a few months (“Mmmm, Tasty Chemicals,” March 5). Military moves and the storage of household goods ensued, and alas, poor Twinkie, you were forgotten. I came across my old friend while unpacking the mug collection when I was 45 and in Twinkie rehab. It was a little crispy on one edge and otherwise as good (or bad) as new. I wish I had aged that well. If only I had ground up Twinkies for face cream during those eight years. Long live Twinkies. I still sneak one now and then between aerobics, salads and cholesterol tests. Michele Philipps Wawrytko Colorado Springs, Colo.
I’m an unapologetic chemical engineer and frequently find myself bracing to read one more screed against chemicals in the popular press. So imagine my surprise and delight to read your fair and informative article about the chemicals used in food like Twinkies. Trona is mined, ferrous sulfate has more than one use and vanillin is an organic chemical most easily synthesized from petroleum feedstocks. I especially appreciate the explanation for why all these ingredients are necessary for the production of cheap, mass-produced food. Or food substitute, as the case may be. As for the comment “You wouldn’t want a diet that consists solely of Twinkies,” I couldn’t agree more. But then, you wouldn’t want a diet of only my homegrown organic tomatoes, either. Mike Schmidt Chesterfield, Mo.
“Raiders Of The Lost Tomb” (March 5) should be required reading before people view “The Jesus Family Tomb.” The film’s coauthors, Simcha Jacobovici and Charles Pellegrino, joined forces with director James Cameron to prove that the bones of members of the Holy Family had found their final resting place in the Talpiot tomb, discovered in 1980 near Jerusalem. The names Jesus, Maria, Jose, Matthew and Judah, inscribed on the ossuaries inside the tomb, prompted the writers and director to claim that these bones belonged to the Holy Family. Missing was the ossuary of James, brother of Jesus. Determined to find the missing ossuary, Jacobovici recalled his previous encounter with a James “bone box” that had been unearthed by an antiquities dealer, now being tried in Israel for fraud. He denies the charge. Considering the urgent need to find common ground among the world’s major religions, how can one justify using insufficient and spurious evidence to prove a claim that, by implication, casts doubt on the Resurrection, the pivotal article of the Christian faith? Ursula Levy Skokie, Ill.
As a Christian who religiously reads NEWSWEEK, I must admit to a little uneasiness when I came upon “Raiders of the Lost Tomb.” Not because of the possibility of its shaking my faith, but because of the debate it will prompt in both the secular and Christian communities. I’m not looking forward to the media overcoverage or the emotionally charged e-mails from my fellow believers. It’s all a waste of time. For those of us who believe, the physical cannot change the spiritual. For those who don’t, they still won’t believe. Karen Zander New Richmond, Wis.
In “Decoding ‘The Secret’” (March 5), you listed several “Progenitors of Positivity” but omitted others such as Jesus, who said, “It is done as you believe.” And Henry Ford is noted as saying, “Whether you believe you can or believe you can’t, you’re right.” All who’ve promoted positive thinking have taught it is only one step in the process of achieving your goals. I agree that the marketing of “The Secret” is brilliant and the book is just another way of saying what others have said for centuries. John Zimmerman Tulsa, Okla.
Early in my life, I learned the following “laws of detraction” that counter Rhonda Byrne and her secret “law of attraction”: you don’t get something for nothing; there’s no substitute for hard work; if it sounds too good to be true, it is; it’s almost impossible to underestimate the intelligence of gullible people. And unlike buyers of Byrne’s book, I learned these for nothing. Mike Lurski Bethlehem, Pa.
Perhaps we can airlift copies of “The Secret” to the people in Darfur and they can imagine they aren’t being slaughtered. What nonsense this is. But there is a kernel of truth in every “revelation” to make it legitimate. Here is the real kernel of truth, the real secret: take responsibility for yourself and your actions. The sense of entitlement and the pathetic urge to have and be what others are is needy and grasping. A sad commentary on today’s society. Dorothy Melvin Los Angeles, Calif.
Michael Isikoff must have been frustrated by not getting much from the Libby trial to make a story out of my testimony about lobbyist Richard Hohlt (“A Man of Mystery,” Feb. 26). First, my testimony was not, as Isikoff writes, “a scoop to unload.” Nor was it true that I “injected a new name into the drama.” Both Hohlt and I had been interrogated at length over three years by the FBI, Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald and the grand jury about my giving Hohlt a copy of my Valerie Plame column before it was published. I testified about it Feb. 12 because I was questioned in open court. It was not, as Isikoff insinuates, that I withheld from the jury information that Hohlt sent a copy of the column to Karl Rove. Fitzgerald was well aware of what Hohlt did and chose not to ask me about it or otherwise bring it to the jury’s attention. Second, Isikoff’s insinuation that I had passed privileged, secret information to Hohlt is misleading. At the time Hohltreceived my column, it had been distributed by the Associated Press to newspapers across the country. That regularly puts my column in the public bloodstream well before it is published despite the embargo on its use, quite often ending up in the hands of people I’m writing about. Robert D. Novak Washington, D.C.
title: “Letters To The Editor” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-20” author: “Barbara Mullen”
Suffering in the Shadows In 1999 I lost my 40-year-old brother to suicide. Every day I wish I could have helped in some way to save him from depression. Unfortunately, my family and I were not aware of the signs of suicide. Reading your article brought tears to my eyes (“Men & Depression: Facing Darkness,” Feb. 26). My brother had every sign listed. I could not save my brother, but your article may save thousands. I hope all who read it will spread the news and help their brother, friend, husband or father. Laura DiDia Massapequa Park, N.Y.
Men are suffering silently and are fearful of disclosing their symptoms due to the stigma associated with depression. Slowly, however, society is recognizing depression as a normal disease, much like diabetes. I know firsthand because I, too, suffer from depression. It debilitated me to the point where I almost took my life before I got help. Thank you for shedding light on this incredibly important issue. Rick Ralston, L.C.S.W. Portland, Ore.
Your article moved me to tears. Having been diagnosed with severe depression after losing my job, a broken marriage, a torrid affair and a failed suicide attempt, I was finally able to face the dreadful consequences of this debilitating disease. Admitting I was seriously ill helped me resolve other critical interconnected ailments including hypothyroidism and a vitamin B12 deficiency, both of which were contributory factors. Countless men have undoubtedly failed in taking that most important step and have become yet another suicide statistic. Seek help! Baz Greenaway Waukesha, Wis.
Halfway through your article I realized I was reading the answer to a mystery that had me stymied. Which came first—the depression or the alcoholism? I once dated a lovely, bright man who suffered from depression and self-medicated with alcohol. To his family and co-workers, it was clear only that Ken was an alcoholic, but I’d seen the “black cloud” of depression up close. When I finally persuaded him to seek help, the therapist said he wouldn’t meet with Ken unless he got sober first. I was convinced then, and am now, that Ken would never be sober without help for his depression. Sadly, he was dead “of alcoholism” at the age of 40, leaving behind a young daughter and an ex-wife. Health professionals must accept that alcohol is a coping mechanism for some depressives and devise a way to treat them until new ways to cope can be substituted. Jamie Chavez Murfreesboro, Tenn.
A reason many men are reluctant to seek treatment for depression is that a diagnosis or record of treatment for a “mental illness” or “emotional problem” triggers a steep increase in their income- replacement coverage and the cost of new life insurance. How shortsighted of the insurance carriers and underwriters! Early and successful treatment can head off deeper depression. For employers, treatment helps affected workers be productive and avoid absences. Severe depression can also be fatal. These are reasons for insurers to eliminate barriers to diagnosis and treatment. Martha Knight Port Allegany, Pa.
I’m surprised that you ignored the mood disorder known as bipolar illness, or manic-depressive disease. Much more complex than straightforward depression, it often begins with an episode of depression, but it may take years for signs of severe mood fluctuation to surface. Treatment may be different from that of unipolar depression, and untreated or undertreated bipolar disease can be lethal, with the highest suicide rate of any psychiatric illness. The keys to survival are mood stabilizers, regular therapy sessions, supportive families, strict avoidance of alcohol and drugs. It is a lifelong battle, but we can be grateful that it can be treated. George Tchirkow, M.D. Pittsburgh, Pa.
Congratulations on pointing out the hidden, costly and untreated plague of male depression. Our nationwide study of the genetics of depression sponsored by the National Institute of Mental Health included more than 1,800 people, but many men were reluctant to participate. We have a new study for both men and women, sponsored by the NIMH. It requires a confidential telephone interview and a blood sample collected at home. To learn more, go to depressiongenetics.org or call, toll-free, 877-407-9529. Myrna M. Weissman, Ph.D. Chief of Clinical and Genetic Epidemiology College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia Univ. New York, N.Y.
A Humiliating Process In “Hassle and Humiliation” (Feb. 26), Fareed Zakaria does an excellent job describing the embarrassment the United States should feel at the shabby treatment of many Arabs arriving here for the Arab and American Action Forum. The grilling these distinguished leaders received from the Department of Homeland Security was absurd. It further alienated friends of the United States who are clearly interested in overcoming the barriers that exist between their homelands and ours. If a U.S. delegation were treated similarly, we’d be quick to lodge a formal protest, and the participants would have felt every bit as angry and humiliated as this delegation. Do I feel safer because Homeland Security engaged in this silly, humiliating process? Not at all! This has most certainly made us even more disliked throughout the Arab world as an arrogant, insensitive bully. Merle G. Brouwer Clinton Township, Mich.
Although I generally agree with the tone of Fareed Zakaria’s article, I completely disagree with the core of his assumption. A reduction of the flow of foreign visitors—especially from countries on our terrorist list—does not necessarily have a negative impact on the United States. What business/economic gain do we have if we allow unfettered access to those with potential terrorist links? We shouldn’t base our screening process on the assumption that most people are peaceful, but on the hard reality that we must screen out the 1 percent that will do our nation harm. Harry Masinc Columbia, Md.
A Foremost Critic of Islam “Transparently biased” is one of the ways to describe “Only One Side of the Story” (Feb. 26) by Lorraine Ali. She gives only cursory attention to the wonderfully brave story of Somalia-born feminist and author Ayaan Hirsi Ali, who should be applauded as a courageous woman who has taken the bold, dangerous step to free herself from the bonds of a religion that would enslave her as it does millions of other women. Instead of focusing on this, the author tries to denigrate Ayaan Hirsi Ali as “single-minded and reactionary.” Where are the feminists of the world who should be rushing to lift her up as a tremendously brave, forthright teller of truth? Sadly, it seems they are fearful of being labeled as Islamophobes or, worse, threatened with the same violence that Hirsi Ali faces bravely every day of her life. G. Mark McCord Seymour, Texas
I was appalled by your article and Q&A that implied a moral equivalence between Ayaan Hirsi Ali and Islamic extremists. Hirsi Ali advocates freedom of speech and equal rights regardless of sex, sexual orientation and religion. Which major school of Islamic jurisprudence accepts a single one of those concepts? So how is it possible that Hirsi Ali “sounds as … reactionary as the zealots she’s worked so hard to oppose”? Furthermore, NEWSWEEK’s calling Hirsi Ali “a bombthrower” when she is using peaceful means to fight people who use bombs to kill innocents is an attempt to paint her as no better than a terrorist. The fact that Hirsi Ali requires armed guards to protect her from Islamic extremists will provide readers a clue to the moral superiority of her position. And perhaps meditating on the statement that receiving death threats and living in fear “suits [Ayaan Hirsi Ali] just fine” will give NEWSWEEK readers a clue as to the moral bankruptcy of such a position. Mark Casey San Francisco, Calif.
How Low Earners Can Save After spending more than 30 years helping implement a 401(k) plan for a major corporation, I enjoyed Jane Bryant Quinn’s “A Nest Egg for Low Earners” (Feb. 26). The major point was the importance of saving through “payroll deduction.” After the first or second pay period most workers don’t even notice the deduction and can adjust their expenses to fit their take-home pay. Saving a little each week adds up quickly over time. When workers retire, they’ll appreciate the nest egg they’ve created by contributing to an IRA or Roth IRA. Once the account reaches $500 or $1,000, it can be moved to a low-risk mutual fund to provide additional earnings. And these accounts can be passed on to a beneficiary, unlike Social Security. The key to this or any similar program is educating the public so workers understand the importance and advantages of saving a little at a time. Thomas J. Lienhard Westfield, N.J.
Does Jane Bryant Quinn really think that allowing people to keep more of their own money is the same as paying them to save? When I get a tax refund from the federal government, it’s not paying me. It’s returning to me what is rightfully mine. When she says the government should match part of the money that poor people save, what she’s really saying is that instead of returning to me what’s rightfully mine, the government should give it to someone else who didn’t earn it. With 60 percent of the federal budget devoted to entitlement programs, I think this country is as socialist as it needs to be. Lawrence J. Feldman San Jose, Calif.
