Letters

(2 of 3)

A Not-So-Simple Plan

Re Joe Klein's column on the Senate's prescription-drug plan for seniors [IN THE ARENA, June 23]: I deliver meals to seniors who can afford to take their medications only every other day. If Congress can vote $77 billion to fund a war for six months, it can surely help out needy seniors. Better yet, how about eliminating the political contributions the drug companies make to politicians, so we can finally get some relief?
SANFORD A. ZAFT
Cincinnati, Ohio

The Bumpy Road to Peace

I was disappointed by the criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in "Sharon's Game" [WORLD, June 23]. Throughout his administration, Sharon has altered his beliefs about peace in the Middle East. By beginning to dismantle settlements, Sharon has been faithful to the road map for peace laid out in the meeting with President Bush and Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas, even when it has meant confronting Israeli opposition. Sharon was correct in labeling Abbas "a chick that hasn't grown its feathers." Bush ought to reconsider chastising Sharon for ordering attacks on Hamas leader Abdel Aziz Rantisi and other members of that group. The U.S. is creating a risky double standard. Yes, innocent Palestinian children may be killed, but how many poor Iraqi and Afghan children have died in the U.S. war against terrorism?
J. FREYJA HELGESON
Silver Spring, Md.

Clarification

The item "CEO Scandals: Get Your Scorecard," about the status of executives of scandal-plagued companies [NOTEBOOK, June 23], failed to note that the five indicted Adelphia Communications executives we mentioned, including John Rigas and two of his sons, are no longer with the company.

Corrections

In "The Story So Far, Book By Book," which accompanied our report on the appeal of Harry Potter [ARTS, June 23], we summarized key elements in the J.K. Rowling series. In the item describing events in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, we highlighted the magic glass ball, the Remembrall. Instead, this device figures prominently in the first book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. We also referred to the Hogwarts School headmaster as "Aldus" Dumbledore. His first name is Albus.

Our item on exotic pets that can carry infections [Notebook, June 23] referred to the sugar glider (Petaurus breviceps) as a marsupial "from New Zealand." The sugar glider is found in Australia and New Guinea.

Tumult in Tehran

I fully support the Iranian students who are demonstrating against the theocrats who run their country [LETTER FROM TEHRAN, June 23]. They should fight for their right to live free. We must show our support for Iran's young people and help them. My thoughts and prayers are with the Iranians who are taking a stand against Islamic oppression.
RACHEL HAGEN
Spanaway, Wash.

As a native of Iran who is in daily contact with my family and friends there, I can assure you that Iranian girls want to be free. Not only do they reject the black-veiled chador, but they also do not want to wear any scarf, not even a colorful one. Freedom means having control of one's life. Freedom would keep the youth of Iran from having to sneak around behind closed doors. Freedom would give them independence and justice.
SAHAR GHAVAMI
Fair Lawn, N.J.

Software and Hardball

Your story on software Mogul Larry Ellison's hostile-takeover bid for PeopleSoft [BUSINESS, June 23] accurately analyzed the consolidation trend in the business-software market. Unfortunately, people like Oracle's Ellison approach these consolidations with the wrong mind-set. They believe they can improve market share by buying out and eliminating rivals. They don't care about PeopleSoft's customers. There is, however, no guarantee that Oracle's market share will increase even if it succeeds in a PeopleSoft takeover. Such a merger may only help rival companies increase their market share and make merry over Oracle's rash acts.
SHANKAR GAUR
Rochester, N.Y.

The Last Idealist

Richard Corliss's "The American As Noble Man" [ESSAY, June 23] was a fine and accurate description of Gregory Peck, a unique man and actor to whom we owe a large debt of gratitude. I was a teenager when I first saw the movie To Kill a Mockingbird, in which he starred; I was deeply moved by it. Peck could convey more with a look or a gesture than most actors can with several pages of dialogue.
JIM LIPMAN
Livermore, Calif.

Corliss's tribute to peck seemed to lament not just the passing of a very admirable man but also the demise of men of strength and compassion in movies and in real life. Yet strong, compassionate men are as well represented as ever, perhaps in part because of Peck's shining example but primarily because it is the nature of humanity. Perhaps Corliss is hanging with the wrong crowd.
WILLIAM C. BANKS
Virginia Beach, Va.