Letters

Inside the World of Autism

"I hope that as a result of your report, those with autism will be treated with more compassion by the general public." MARY SHEWAN Gaithersburg, Md.

I have a 6-year-old son with autism [SCIENCE, May 6]. When his condition was diagnosed, I thought I was the only one dealing with this disorder. Now everyone I talk to has a son, brother, cousin or neighbor with autism. Bringing this topic into the open will help us find out why so many of our children are afflicted with this disorder. Thank you for helping families get the word out. KATHY RIZZACASA Dorchester, Mass.

Autism isolates not only individuals but their siblings and entire families as well. We fight to hold on to our sons who don't know us and to hold on to their brothers who hate us. We fight to hold on to a family falling apart. There are no telethons for us. The outpouring of sympathy comes not from strangers but from doctors who may label our situation hopeless. We are grateful for articles such as yours that increase autism awareness and offer us a connection. LINDA ADAMS Sterling Heights, Mich.

If we somehow cure all the children suffering from autism or Asperger syndrome, we might lose the amazing diversity of views that have so enriched humanity. For example, animal-science professor Temple Grandin, who wrote about her own autism, thought in a different, visual way and solved a livestock design problem. Perhaps we should not look to cure these children but help them with their problems and accept that their view of things may be just as right as ours. ANISH JAIN Bridgewater, N.J.

Autism is like this: Someone breaks into your house late at night and steals your precious child's mind and personality and leaves the bewildered body behind. We have a national emergency. Families affected by autism need so much, but first they need hope--the hope that medical research can bring. The Cure Autism Now Foundation www.cureautismnow.org has built awareness, pushed the government to take action and started the Autism Genetic Resource Exchange, the nation's only collaborative gene bank for autism. We know that with determination, money and energy you can hurry science. JONATHAN SHESTACK, CO-FOUNDER CURE AUTISM NOW FOUNDATION Los Angeles

Having worked with autistic children for nearly 20 years, I think the best advice for their parents is to understand that they cannot raise their children alone. Instead, they should get as much help as possible. They need to seek out good schools, energetic teachers, dedicated speech and physical or occupational therapists, willing baby sitters and all the after-school and weekend programs the community offers. These beautiful, complicated children are exhausting. The adage "It takes a village" more than applies in raising them. DANIEL J. PATTERSON Chicago

I have three beautiful sons. Two are gifted; one is autistic. My 15-year-old middle son pushes me away when I try to kiss or hug him, speaks in one- or two-word sentences and locks himself in his room for hours. He challenges the family on a daily basis. My eldest son Jesse is graduating from high school this year, has been named a student of the year, has an impressive resume and can charm the pants off anyone. Jesse is the autistic one. ELE SHNIER Scottsdale, Ariz.

>> The arresting cover photo of young Tommy Barrett, who has Asperger's, drew divergent reactions from readers familiar with autistic youngsters. "By portraying a child engaged in unusual, silly behavior, you further stigmatize those with disorders like Asperger's rather than allowing them the gentle dignity with which they should be treated," wrote an Ohio mother of an autistic child. Yet a father from Illinois praised the picture as being "dead center in portraying what this complex, multifaceted disease is. I felt as if the photo could have been that of my beautiful autistic son."

Ah, Wilderness!

Your article "How Green is the White House?" [POLITICS, April 29] included poll results indicating that 62% of Americans "are in favor of protecting wilderness areas, even if it means higher gas prices." We want to make it clear that President Bush has not proposed energy exploration in any congressionally mandated Wilderness Areas that have been set aside to remain wild and are designated for natural use only. There are 104.7 million such acres in the U.S., and President Bush is committed to protecting those lands. Meanwhile, on a case-by-case basis, the President's energy plan supports environmentally sensitive energy development on other federal lands [such as the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge] to provide America with energy security for the future while protecting wildlife and its habitat. GALE A. NORTON SECRETARY OF INTERIOR Washington

Who Needs Whom?

The real question is not whether the U.S. needs the Saudis, but whether the Saudis need the U.S. [NATION, May 6]. When Kuwait was invaded by Iraq, it was primarily the U.S., not the Saudis, that ejected Saddam Hussein. Now that Saddam is kissing up to the rest of the Arabs, the Saudis are falling prey to his charm. President Bush should take a wait-and-see attitude with the Arabs, leave Saddam alone and withdraw many, if not all, of our troops from the Middle East. If Saddam decides to attack and take control of the lands of other nations, let the Saudis come to us for help. Then we will be in a position to tell them exactly what we want, not the other way around. LANCE TROTTER Seattle

Have the French Gone Mad?

France, a cradle of democracy, had a deplorably high rate of abstaining voters (28%) in the first round of the election [GLOBAL AGENDA, May 6]. This could be one of the reasons Jean-Marie Le Pen's far-right party came in second. Le Pen is the man who called Nazi gas chambers a "detail in the history of the Second World War" and claimed that "the tide of immigration will submerge us after first having ruined us." An atmosphere of shame and embarrassment hangs over my country. LAURENT GIRAUD Aubiere, France

Massacre in Erfurt

The shooting spree by high school student Robert Steinhauser in Erfurt, Germany [WORLD, May 6], in which he killed 16 people, should finally convince the entire world that simply declaring "It can't happen here" will not protect students from such violence. The killings at Columbine and other schools have proved there is a problem that needs to be addressed. As a student, I realize that this danger demands the vigilance of teachers and students. KATHRYN HARTFORD Flemington, N.J.

In the aftermath of Steinhauser's killings, there have been endless discussions about how to stop Germans from getting hold of firearms. What we should be asking is, How can we prevent a schoolboy from feeling so alone with his problems that he feels the only way out is to shoot others? If we can tackle the human aspects of this situation, it will no longer be that important whether people may own guns. JULIE BEYST Cologne, Germany

Sweet Nostalgia

Label me a fish: I've swallowed nostalgic TV programs hook, line and sinker [Television, May 6]. Shows such as Laverne & Shirley, The Cosby Show and M*A*S*H were a part of my life growing up. Reunion shows let us escape the pressures of work and home. Our favorite TV characters evoke fond memories and may even stay with us a while. JESSICA SEDA-RUIZ Phoenix, Ariz.