Letters

The Choice

As an undecided voter, I relied on your magazine to help me make my final decision. Your impartial, nonpartisan depictions of George W. Bush and Al Gore echoed my frustrations with the candidates [CAMPAIGN 2000, Nov. 6]. Thanks for the overview of the relevant issues and how they would impact voters. Like many other Americans, I was fed up with the negative advertising and meaningless character attacks that are so prevalent. This was the first time that I cast my vote in a presidential election, but the frustration caused by the decision-making process made me feel the experience was less than worthwhile. NHUT MINH LY St. Robert, Mo.

Voters' consideration of the candidates should have included not only their positions on current issues but also their probable decisions on future ones. While we don't know for sure exactly what those issues will be, the signs are clear that we will face questions about genetic manipulation, cloning, euthanasia, artificial intelligence and the creation of entirely new species. How will national leaders weigh the moral aspects of these questions? Probably not too differently from the way they view other issues of human life and dignity. Attitudes toward abortion are a key. Given the lack of political consensus in this regard, it's hard to see what the government may allow in the future. JOHN D. SMITH Daphne, Ala.

As a recent college graduate with a degree in political science, I read your stories about the presidential candidates with great interest. Your reports had the ability to influence some potential "swing" voters, and I commend you for your excellent job in reporting the facts. This presidential campaign has sparked lively debate among my friends, and I attribute a lot of this interest to your magazine. Without TIME, many arguments would not have taken place, and many young voters would have missed out on being educated on the issues. ALLISON KORTNY BROWNING Statesboro, Ga.

Thank you very much for your coverage of the candidates' positions. I'm sure I wasn't the only person baffled by their stands on various issues. As a college student surrounded by strongly opinionated people, I knew that I should have had an idea about which candidate I preferred. Yet even after looking at the candidates' views and positions, I still wasn't sure whom or what to believe or whether my vote would make a difference in the long run. Politics has become such a contest of appeasing the middle ground and getting the vote that it is difficult to see beyond the game that is being played. JAMIE S. JOHNSTON Evanston, Ill.

A choice? Don't make me laugh. This was a contest between corporate and corporate, self-righteous and self-righteous, military and military, executioner and executioner. Neither of these pandering career politicos offered our planet and our country the radical changes needed to save them. An instant-runoff voting system should be implemented by 2004 so that presidential candidates presenting a diversity of opinions can have a shot at winning. MIKE FLYNN Burlington, Vt.

I have always enjoyed TIME because your articles are complete and cover many aspects of the issues. However, I was disappointed to see a picture of Vice President Al Gore and Governor George W. Bush on your cover with the title THE CHOICE. To fail to include Ralph Nader and Pat Buchanan among the presidential candidates was against the principles of democracy. There was a variety of choices for President, not just two. DAN SVIRSKY Indianapolis, Ind.

Road to Prosperity?

I read your interesting article on the road-building project in the Amazon rain forest [ENVIRONMENT, Oct. 16], and though I would not deny that human penetration of the rain forest is a major cause of fires, people need to realize that the Amazon is a rich undeveloped area. There are millions of people living in rural Brazil, where slash-and-burn agriculture could be prevented if farmers had economic alternatives. Brazil may wisely use the Amazon rain forest to increase the living standards of millions. So long as we respect the environment, I don't see any reason we shouldn't pursue this course. Today we have access to new technology that may allow development with minor damage to the environment. We must take a proactive approach while working to preserve the forest. LUIS EDUARDO M. MONTEIRO Elk Grove Village, Ill.

Over a Barrel

Your report on Hugo Chavez Frias, President of Venezuela and host of the 40th anniversary summit of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries [BUSINESS, Oct. 9], served to support my view that developed countries should desist from blaming OPEC for economic problems that may result from rising oil prices. OPEC countries are entitled to use their natural resources to develop economically. They do not need Western countries dictating how much they want to pay for a barrel of oil. If the Western countries cannot afford to buy oil from OPEC because of the high prices, then they can do themselves a favor by finding alternatives to oil. Western leaders need to realize that OPEC countries are no longer willing to be shortchanged. UWEM ITE Lancaster, England

Rah! Rah! Rah!

Thank you for your story on the boom in high school cheerleading [LIVING, Nov. 6]. You will never know what you have done for my daughter and the many other girls and boys across the country who devote their time, energy and spirit to a sport they love. It gives young people a sense of pride, accomplishment and determination that they will be able to utilize later in life. Involvement in this sport leaves them very little time to hang out at the malls. All the hard work of the young people and their coaches should be heralded. JANICE ROMEO Manalapan, N.J.

Last Words

I was appalled by the insensitivity Roger Rosenblatt showed in his commentary about the human need to write based on the revelation of the Russian submariner's last message to his wife [ESSAY, Nov. 6]. The situation aboard the Kursk should not be trivialized by relating it to existential musings on the subject of why people write. Lieut. Captain Dimitri Kolesnikov wrote to tell a truth we all suspected: the crew of the Kursk did not die instantly, as Russian authorities claimed. How could Rosenblatt fail to have addressed the issue that Russia does not value life any more today than it did at the height of the cold war? IRENE DRATVER Austin, Texas

Segregated Sisterhood?

As chairman of the oldest and largest umbrella organization for women's sororities and fraternities in North America, I question the timeliness and validity of your article "Blacks Need Not Apply" [RACE, Nov. 6]. You failed to prove that sororities at many colleges in the U.S. remain racially exclusive. The unsubstantiated testimony of two students from a sorority at one university is insufficient evidence. While there will always be insensitive members in any organization, it is neither fair nor appropriate to make rash generalizations based on isolated incidents. Today's sorority chapters reflect the diversity of their campuses. No woman is denied entrance into N.P.C. sororities because of her race, creed or national origin. MARIAN K. WILLIAMS, CHAIRMAN National Panhellenic Conference Indianapolis, Ind.

As an African-American student at the University of Texas at Austin, I was neither shocked nor surprised by the sorority incident in Georgia. The same thing has happened numerous times on this campus. I am, however, intrigued as to why African Americans want to be in white Greek-letter organizations. There are several historically black fraternities and sororities, steeped in black culture and pride, that are a very important part of black history. People join a group because they want to be a member of a brotherhood or sisterhood. Why would you want to be in a club in which you must fight racism among your "sisters"? It is disappointing that a black student was rejected because of her race. However, in our race-conscious society, it is not a surprising occurrence. JAKQUELYN TAYLOR-SULLIVAN Austin, Texas

Teens Before Their Time

Your article on premature puberty in young girls [HEALTH, Oct. 30] said that "some researchers believe" components of plastics are possible culprits. This speculation is quite at odds, however, with the overwhelming weight of the scientific evidence. The most comprehensive study ever conducted with laboratory animals on one of those components, Bisphenol A, found no connection whatsoever between exposure to Bisphenol A and accelerated development, including early onset of puberty. Parents, teens and preteens should know that they can use plastic products with complete confidence in their safety. LYNNE HARRIS The Society of the Plastics Industry Inc. Washington

I began menstruating when I was eight years old. I attribute the early onset of puberty partly to stress. My parents had divorced, my mother returned to work--changes that made me quite uncomfortable. In the fourth grade the teacher asked the class what a period was. I raised my hand and shared everything I had learned about girls' getting their period. But he was talking about the dot at the end of a sentence. Oops! TERRI LEE SCOTT Hilo, Hawaii

The earlier onset of puberty among some young girls also affects the feelings of those who are not experiencing such changes. There are still lots of "late blooming" girls today who may be anxious about their bodies because of their friends' early development. NINA BECK Hawthorne, Calif.