Letters

(2 of 2)

Debating Human Destiny

Your article on psychologist Steven Pinker's new book, The Blank Slate, discussed the author's views on how much of human character is shaped by genes and how much by environment [SCIENCE, Oct. 28]. I am always amazed when I hear the phrase nature vs. nurture. What about free will? For most of us, neither nature nor nurture governs our ability to choose freely, at least not in a democratic society. Genetics, environment and upbringing can powerfully influence us to choose a specific path, but we are still able to choose an alternate one. To say we are all at the mercy of our genes and our upbringing is silly.
JILL HUNGERFORD
Neenah, Wis.

Re nature vs. nurture: back in the '50s, when I worked with Lenny Bruce, he used to tell this story: An infant child born to a pair of brilliant astrophysicists gets lost in the woods. Raised by a pack of wild dogs, he finds his way back to civilization years later and goes on to graduate with honors from M.I.T. But a year after that, he gets killed chasing a car.
ORSON BEAN
Venice, Calif.

A World Awaiting War

George W. Bush, Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld are decidedly outside the normal run of statesmen who have held high office in the U.S. And the things that make this Administration different will contribute to a terrible war in the near future [Iraq, Oct. 21]. America is behaving like an imperial power, extending its economic and political hegemony and riding roughshod over any opponent who may get in its way. Bush doesn't care whether these organizations and nations have legitimate grounds to question his economic, political and strategic objectives. Such behavior cannot fail to promote war. And there will surely be a terrible war, not only for American service members but also for the average Iraqi conscript and all the other innocents caught up in this conflict.
PETER MARSHALL
Bangkok

I've been living in Israel for almost 14 years. I saw and felt the fear of the Gulf War in 1991. It was awful. In such a war, when you feel like a hunted rat, never being able to fight back, there are no heroes, no matter what they tell you afterward. Should a new war break out, Saddam's remnant Scuds will certainly fly again toward Israel. And this time they will carry bioweapons. Saddam and his fellow dictators don't deserve pity. There is much truth in the saying that every nation gets the government it deserves. The poor Iraqi people should have turned Saddam out long ago. Usually I don't believe in force, but in this case there is no other way. In order to build a safer world, it's absolutely necessary to get rid of Saddam.
GABE DEARBORNE
Kiryat Bialik, Israel

If the U.S. gave Saddam Hussein substantive financial aid to improve the lot of his people aid equal to the value of the war that would have been fought would Saddam become more or less of a threat? Folks who have nothing have nothing to lose. So give them something.
SELBY FRANK
Caledon, South Africa

Pathetic Fallacy

Re "Tools Of War" [IRAQ, Oct. 21]: America's exuberance about the sophistication and infallibility of its weapons is a pathetic display of ignorance. After all, Iraq has been stigmatized, embargoed and banished to the economic doldrums for the past 10 years, so why does the U.S. need such weaponry against a marginal opponent? The obsession with military power has prevailed over reasoned actions. This is the posture not of a great nation but of a frightened one unable to rise above tragedy. Bush can certainly destroy Iraq. He has the military might to do so but not the moral decency to act otherwise. Regrettably, war with Iraq will not buy the U.S. one iota of security.
C. DON PALMER
Winnipeg

Musical Footprints

It was with sadness that i read of the death of Ray Conniff [MILESTONES, Oct. 28], a gifted musician, composer and bandleader. Lesser people leave footprints in the sand; Conniff's, however, are indelible. I first heard a Conniff record in 1957 and since then have been a collector of his recordings even today.
JACK HEYMANN
Pretoria

Slapstick or Just Sick?

So Johnny Knoxville, star of TV's Jackass, has made a film of the same name [MOVIES, Oct. 28]. It's disturbing that the Jackass concept of people deliberately injuring themselves while performing dangerous stunts is not restricted to the sadomasochism section of adult-video stores but instead is aimed at teenagers. I'm all for freedom of expression, but if pain and degradation are supposed to be funny, what's next? Since Knoxville seems to enjoy pain and danger, he should stop staging bizarre antics and become a fire fighter. Then he could get his kicks while doing some good.
SANDRA RODRIGUEZ
Mexico City