Inbox

Love Under a Microscope It has been my impression for many years that we are creatures of evolution: as far as Mother Nature is concerned, whatever works wins [Jan. 28]. Obviously, heterosexuality has won out. The sexual attractiveness of women to men and vice versa is genetic, as modified by the environment. Although many marriages are initially based on sex, the success of a good marriage relies on the ability of two people to get along. That demands a democracy in which each accepts the other as an equal and helps the other in a loving, kind way. They do not take advantage of their mate's psychological weaknesses. David Hertz, M.D. TARZANA, CALIF.

Love and romance have to do with matters of the spirit, not science. The obsession with measuring things that are immeasurable is science's Achilles' heel. Leave the mystery of love to those who know something about it: artists. Peter J. Vogel, COLUMBUS, OHIO

All but one of the articles treated humans as no more than breeding animals. Humans differ from the other animals because we have been given the gifts of reason and free will. In your attempts to bring your readers knowledge of the human condition, you labored under a curse. As William Faulkner might have put it, you wrote not of the heart but of the glands. Roger Bonilla SUNNYVALE, CALIF.

Re John Cloud's "are gay relationships Different?" [Jan. 28]: Same-sex relationships--both gay and lesbian--are different, since they are hatched in a world rife with homophobic messages that almost ensure their failure. Yet gay men face two specific challenges: homophobia, both internal and external, and the simple fact that two men are romantically involved. Young males are shaped by biology and culture to be strong, decisive and uncompromising--leaders, not followers. Homophobia is an enormous obstacle, but it is the alpha-male factor that ultimately dooms all but the heartiest gay unions. David Ezell, NEW YORK CITY

My wife of five years and I lived together for a decade before we decided to get married. We assumed that our relationship was well established and that marriage wouldn't make much of a difference in the life together that we'd come to know. How wrong we were! Marriage made our relationship grow in ways we hadn't envisioned, and it brought fulfillment and security I didn't know had been missing. For us, there was a profound difference between living together as partners with an uncertain future and being husband and wife. I wonder if Cloud and his partner might still be together, as happy as my wife and I are, if they had been allowed the same freedom to marry. John Martin, SAN DIEGO

I appreciated the scope of your reporting. But as a geriatric-care manager, I couldn't help noticing the lack of information about the elderly. I have witnessed wildly happy romances between men and women in their 80s and 90s, even those with physical difficulties or dementia. My hope is that we can drop any archaic stigmas about this phase of life and realize that it is never too late for love and companionship. Ellen D. Waldman, ASHLAND, ORE.

Caught Between Color Lines I enjoyed John Cloud's "breaking down the Black Vote" [Jan. 28]. I am from Tanzania, and like many foreigners who come to the U.S., I found--to my surprise--that I belong to a pool of supposedly disadvantaged minorities. I struggle with the skewed concept of race in America. For some reason, having black blood is almost seen as some kind of contamination. How would this racial-political dialogue play out if, say, Barack Obama were one-fourth or one-eighth black? I am reminded of the Christian teachings on original sin. However good, intelligent or capable a person you might be, there is something that still taints your righteousness. Whether we like it or not, Obama's black half will ultimately lead to the demise of his presidential aspirations. Yohanne Kidolezi, BOSTON

The Dance with Iran In "Rethinking Iran," Samantha Power asserted that Washington "supported" Osama bin Laden during the 1980s [Jan. 28]. Power repeated a canard that has been pushed by numerous conspiracy theorists. As terrorism expert Peter Bergen has stated, this is a "folk myth" without a shred of evidence to support it. The 9/11 commission came to similar conclusions and noted that the CIA viewed bin Laden and his so-called Arab Afghans as "militarily insignificant" to the war against the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan. It is unfortunate that a distinguished scholar like Power decided to repeat this legend. James McKay, ALEXANDRIA, VA.

This article focused on the history of the Bush Administration but ignored the history of Iran's mullahs. Iran's intentions have been plain and clear for decades: subvert and destroy. Why put our future in their hands? Every ounce of uranium they enrich brings them closer to having the Bomb. We must stop them. Peaceful coexistence with a Bomb-equipped Iran is a fool's dream with deadly consequences. Jerome Ellard, BIG SANDY, TEXAS

Greasy Imperialism As a diabetes nurse-educator, I am gravely concerned about Yum Brands' impact on global health [Jan. 28]. On a recent tour of hospitals in China with a delegation from the American Association of Diabetes Educators, I saw the detrimental results of fast food's rise in overseas markets. As the industry pushes its high-fat, high-cholesterol, meat-based foods, rates of diabetes, heart disease and stroke are skyrocketing. Obesity rates have tripled over the past 20 years in countries that have adopted the American diet, according to a paper in the New England Journal of Medicine in January 2007. Rates of diabetes are expected to reach pandemic levels by 2030. Given all that Americans have learned about how diet affects health, shouldn't we export that knowledge rather than buckets of fried chicken? I'd love to see creative marketing minds work on exporting meals that we can be proud of. Caroline Trapp, M.S.N., Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine WASHINGTON

Other than the growing profit margins for the food industry, the only good thing about fast-food companies' pushing meat, fat and sugar on the developing world is the financial boon it will create for another ethically challenged U.S. industry. As those chicken nuggets start clogging arteries and aiding the global obesity epidemic, millions of people will develop diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. What an untapped market for the pharmaceutical sector! Simon Chaitowitz, WASHINGTON

The Albright Effect Thank you for Publishing Madeleine Albright's brilliant insights [Jan. 21]. I've been a lawyer in private practice for 25 years. Never before have I heard it plainly said that women who want respect from male colleagues should interrupt them. The next time I interrupt a pontificating male opponent, I will not feel so guilty. Albright is a genius, and TIME deserves credit for giving her the opportunity to share what she knows. Judith Neustadter Naone, MAUI, HAWAII

Albright had it wrong in explaining how President George W. Bush will be judged. She incorrectly said "this presidency has done a great deal of damage" to the U.S.'s international reputation. She must be confusing this presidency with the media, which continually bash the very country that gives them the freedom to do so. Shame on Albright for blaming the media's mistakes on Bush. Jennifer Crake, KNOXVILLE, TENN.

TIME.COM ON THE GO On TIME Mobile, you can now read more from time.com on the Web browser of your cell phone. Go to mobile.time.com

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