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An Under-30 Uprising I enjoyed reading your article "Why Young Voters Care Again" [Feb. 11]. It is great to see people under 30 enthused about voting in this year's presidential election. I hope they will stay inspired beyond this November. It is important to remember that politics does not end at the voting booth and that the President needs the cooperation of Congress in order to fulfill most campaign promises. Citizens don't have to wait until the next election to make their voices heard, especially if they are unhappy with what is going on. Robert Hanlon CHELMSFORD, MASS.

Senator Barack Obama speaks of hope, and here is a generation of teens and twentysomethings finally listening and getting involved, realizing they can help shape the future. The hope Obama speaks of lies not only in the election of a new President but also in the mere fact that the youth of America care. They are our future leaders, and their political participation is just as important to the nation as the election itself is. Harmony A. Trevino, Program Coordinator, Hands of Hope, CYPRESS, CALIF.

Although Obama and Facebook have helped organize us, they are not the reason we care. We know the importance of a healthy economy because we are starting worldwide companies. We feel the importance of foreign relations because we are serving overseas, staring the enemy in the eye. And we understand the magnitude of global warming because we are the ones who will be here when the ice caps melt. Look at the faces on the cover. Each one says, "I may be young, but I know what I'm doing and where I'm going. Do you?" The candidate who can answer that is the candidate who wins our vote. Adam Gangelhoff RAPID CITY, S.D.

Obama does have a lot of youth support, and he seems young, fresh. But you made insufficient note of Senator Hillary Clinton's youth supporters. While many of our organization's members can't vote, we are dedicated to doing everything we can to help elect Clinton. Don't forget that she received a big portion of the youth vote in Florida, where the Democrats agreed not to campaign. Let's look at this race evenly. Thomas R. Senecal, President, Teens for Clinton, BOWIE, MD.

I Commend TIME and Rick Stengel for recent cover stories recognizing the powerful role that service plays in political engagement, academic achievement and workforce readiness. It is natural for youth to care (and vote) once they understand the issues beyond the schoolyard. The key to expanding this movement is to make sure that young Americans from all backgrounds and every grade have the same opportunity to bring their energy, commitment, idealism and creativity to the big problems facing our country and the world. Steven A. Culbertson, President & CEO, Youth Service America WASHINGTON

As a 64-year-old widowed grandmother, I am thrilled that young voters care again. I can't fathom, however, why young women aren't incensed that in the 232-year history of this country, we have never had a woman President. To the young lady who said she wouldn't vote for Clinton because she might lose, I ask, How will you feel 60 years from now when women say they won't vote for your granddaughter because she might lose? If past generations of women had been so lily-livered, the young lady you quoted wouldn't have had the chance to vote or go to college. Judith M. Williams, BANGOR, MAINE

The Surge's Shaky Success Michael duffy and Mark Kukis wrote an informative article on why the surge has worked [Feb. 11]. But I feel they overlooked another reason that the violence in Iraq subsided: millions of Iraqi refugees have fled neighborhoods to escape sectarian cleansing. Our military personnel have fought bravely and well during their deployment in Iraq--I'm not calling into question their service--but much of the sectarian violence has stopped simply because in many Iraqi neighborhoods there aren't any enemies left to kill. Jim Bettag, DE SOTO, MO.

Saying that the surge is working is akin to saying we found WMD in Iraq and New Orleans has been rebuilt. The measure of success for the surge was to have been progress in passing legislation in Iraq. Despite the expenditure of billions of dollars and the lost lives of more than 900 brave soldiers and countless Iraqi citizens, very little has been accomplished on the political front. Larry Nicholl, NAUVOO, ILL.

Tech for Tots Lev Grossman needn't fear unnecessarily that at 3 his daughter is too young for computer gaming [Feb. 11]. Not all young gamers go on to become computer nerds or serial killers. Computers can be a very positive experience for a young child. We got our first computer in 1988, when our youngest son was 4, and it was love at first sight. He's now 24 and works as a software developer. We always encouraged all his diverse interests; he played varsity soccer and sang in the school choir in high school and spent a student year in Japan when he was in college. With the right parental support, you never know how far a child's early fascination can take him. Barbara Kelsey, CRYSTAL LAKE, ILL.

Doctor's Orders Dr. Sanjay Gupta reported on a study that concluded that alcohol and exercise may help your heart [Feb. 4]. Among other things, it found that those of us who exercise and don't drink alcohol are no better off than couch potatoes who drink moderately. This does not pass the smell test. I'm 61 years old, have exercised since high school and just don't like the taste of alcohol. I can probably outwalk drinking nonexercisers half my age, including the study's authors. Danny Bernstein, ASHEVILLE, N.C.

A Star Fading to Black? I loved Josh Tyrangiel's article on Amy Winehouse, "Trouble Woman" [Feb. 4]. He summarized the dichotomy of her character eloquently, without condoning or condemning her behavior. We can't help pitying and chastising her in turn. At the same time, her talent and the truth from which it springs should not be denied. We can only hope that she learns to rectify the struggle that feeds her art without somehow letting the art excuse or enable her personal maelstrom. Regardless, she's a modern great, period. K. Wilson, HAMPTON, VA.

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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