Quotes of the Day

Let the Games Begin
I recognize that your magazine caters largely to a U.S. audience, but the over-representation of U.S. athletes in "100 Olympic Athletes to Watch" may mean that some of your readers do not focus on athletes from other countries who have fascinating stories [Aug. 4].
Richard Barrett,
Honolulu

I'd like to thank Alice Park and the folks at TIME for the article on Dara Torres. As a 40-year-old father of three young ones, I have long taken pride in my training and strength. However, this past November I underwent neurosurgery to remove a tumor from my spinal cord. I now need a cane to walk and have lost dexterity in my right arm. Not only will women be cheering for Dara, but us "older" guys will be stomping our canes for her as well.
Robert Zuni,
Martinez, Calif., U.S.

If Dara Torres tests positive for steroid use, then certainly, let's all be disappointed and heap derision on her. For now, may we please celebrate her focus, competitive spirit, discipline and willpower?
Nancy Johnson,
Austin, Texas, U.S.

Beijing's Obstacle Course
In "The Olympic Challenge," Pico Iyer insinuates that the world will regret awarding China the 2008 Olympics as it did with the 1936 Games in Berlin [Aug. 4]. Why even mention that established architect Albert Speer, the son of Hitler's architect, contributed to the design of the event? China is not without indiscretions, but to equate the country with the Nazi regime is reprehensibly unjust.
Winston Wang,
Princeton, N.J., U.S.

Mr. Obama Goes to Europe
I enjoyed Karen Tumulty's article and overseas interview with Barack Obama [Aug. 4]. As a military man who spent some 35 years on active duty or working as a contractor for the U.S. Air Force, I appreciated Senator Obama's comment on our military mission: "We still have the most valuable possible resource to get the job done — and that's our men and women in uniform." That statement makes him qualified in my mind to be the Commander in Chief.
Sid Howard,
Midwest City, Okla., U.S.

Obama failed to offer much hope to the Palestinians, who were afforded just an hour of the 36 hours that he spent in Israel during his overseas trip. Even his speech in Berlin — in which he said, "The greatest danger of all is to allow new walls to divide us from one another" — fell short. Obama's true commitment to eliminating the walls that stand between nations, races and religions remains to be proved.
Saber Ahmed Jazbhay,
Durban, South Africa

McCain Takes the Gloves Off
Re Joe Klein's column "Blowing His Top": The most remarkable thing about John McCain's tirade in Rochester, N.H. — "Senator Obama would rather lose a war in order to win a political campaign" — was the satisfying grin he had one second after this despicable charge, as if he had been so pleased that he managed to make the whole statement without messing it up [Aug. 4]. His entire team must have breathed a sigh of relief.
Gayle Miller,
Cresco, Pa., U.S.

Ode to Joy
Your review of Mamma Mia! was on the mark [Aug. 4]. With so many noisy, darkly violent movies filling our cinema screens, Mamma Mia! appears as a burst of sunshine. The verve of the cast and their exuberant renditions of Abba songs are both compelling and uplifting. Any small defects are obliterated by the sheer entertainment the movie gives.
Tony Ferrier,
Hamilton, New Zealand