Quotes of the Day

Political spouses are very important [Sept.24]. The American voter is looking for a candidate whose significant other is intelligent, compassionate and, most important, an asset to the U.S. We don't want a President's spouse to be outspoken, domineering or suffering from Leona Helmsley syndrome — an inflated sense of superiority. Judith Giuliani is a classic example. If Rudy is the Republican nominee, she will be a deficit to him. Elizabeth Edwards and Michelle Obama mean well for their husbands but probably would not be so outspoken if it were a closer race. Everyone knows Bill Clinton — and either loves or hates him — so he doesn't have to say much.
Robert S. Katz, STAMFORD, CONN, U.S.

Preserving Kids' Health
RE "Hyper Kids? Check Their Diet" [Sept.24] As the mother of two chemically sensitive children, I am delighted to hear the medical community has finally published conclusive evidence that children are detrimentally affected by preservatives and additives. I also applaud Claudia Wallis' emphasis on promoting a more natural diet. Unfortunately, some children's medications — including pain relievers, cough syrups, antibiotics and antihistamines — contain dyes, flavorings and/or sodium benzoate. Parents are forced to either administer these chemicals to their chemically sensitive children when their immune systems are at their weakest or have them do without. I challenge the medical and pharmaceutical communities to continue their research into the effects of additives and produce medications that are free of them.
Kerrin Smith, KIRKSVILLE, MO.,U.S.

Reading Earth's Danger Signs
I appreciated Nancy Gibbs' column about several recent warnings delivered on the state of the environment [Sept.24]. Yet even with an awareness of the crisis, I am at a loss to know what the solutions might be. Gibbs noted that even drastic reductions in greenhouse gases would not be enough to prevent the melting of the Arctic ice cap. We need to know the maximum amount of harmful waste that can be tolerated globally and devise a concrete plan to stay within that limit. This may necessitate enormous changes within our society.
Claudia Schaer, CALGARY, ALTA., CANADA

What Would Jesus Censor?
It is hard to believe that the TV academy yielded to the Catholic League and censored Kathy Griffin's Emmy Awards speech because she said she didn't thank Jesus Christ [Sept.24]. It is a very painful reminder that we are losing our democratic freedom of religion, speech and the press and are moving toward a dictatorship in which organized religion controls what we hear and see. Next, the Catholic League will censor the media from reporting sex crimes by priests and the resulting multimillion-dollar lawsuits.
Alton Hardman, ALTUS, OKLA., U.S.

Rugby as Social Scrum
South African rugby continues to be a predominantly white game, from a player and spectator perspective [Sept.24], but more and more blacks are becoming regular club and provincial players, and on a national level they are proudly supported by the white Springbok fans and spectators. No one in the government tells South African football to field some whites, Asians or other nonblacks, so why should rugby be singled out?
Richard Spencer-Cheetham, CAPE TOWN

• Preserving Kids' Health; Reading Earth's Danger Signs; What Would Jesus Censor?; Rugby as Social Scrum