Quotes of the Day

Pointing Fingers over Georgia
Zbigniew Brzezinski certainly knows his subject when it comes to relationships with the Russians [Aug. 25]. I would expect his practical experience to be more useful than the predominantly theoretical knowledge Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice relies on. It is unfortunate that President George Bush's actions in Iraq play into the Russians' hands. How can we criticize their aggression and belligerence when the U.S. under Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney acted similarly with respect to Iraq? I do hope Barack Obama and John McCain follow Brzezinski's advice, and I hope NATO and the rest of the international community can persuade Russia to leave Georgian territory or make the political and economic consequences as painful as possible.
Andy Paquet,
Uniontown, Ohio

As a student majoring in history and an immigrant from the Caucasus, I was astounded that Brzezinski piled all the blame for the Russia-Georgia conflict on Russia. He should have pointed out that for decades, Ossetians and Abkhazians were discriminated against by the Georgians. When the U.S.S.R. was beginning to collapse, Georgian nationalists began to blockade Ossetian and Abkhazian towns. Mikheil Saakashvili, Georgia's democratic leader (as Brzezinski calls him) — whose police officers were using force on nonviolent protesters just last November — was goaded by the U.S. and NATO into waking up the Russian bear. It looks as if Georgia will now pay the price.
Armen Hovhanesyan,
Westwood, California

I fear Russia as much as the next guy, but I have a good memory. What would the U.S. do if Russia suddenly started alliances with Mexico, Bolivia, Cuba and other Latin American states and began setting up missiles there? Fortunately, we have an answer. President Kennedy faced the Soviets during the Cuban missile crisis. Why should the Russians be the ones to blame for the current crisis? We ought to look in the mirror and at the Texas cowboy in the White House.
Albert Reingewirtz,
Havertown, Pennsylvania

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin was wrong to call the dissolution of the Soviet Union "the greatest geopolitical disaster of the [20th] century." The greatest geopolitical disaster of the 20th century was the establishment of the Soviet Union.
Richard W. Underwood,
Houston, Texas

Both Russia and Georgia are guilty of atrocities. However, Georgia's heavy shelling of South Ossetia, including civilian areas, must preclude it from being seen as a "victim." I would expect that type of language from Fox News, but I expect a powerful media outlet like TIME to report the truth in an unbiased manner.
Chris Pappas,
Lubbock, Texas

Pride and Predators
In "A Question of Honor," Samantha Power suggests that aggression like Russia's is prompted as much by a desire to redress humiliation and recover national honor as it is by economic and security interests [Aug. 25]. In fact, honor comes from creating values, not expropriating or plundering them. What best serves any nation's "economic and security interests" is freedom, not force. Human beings cannot create under compulsion. Countries that impede creation impede the self-sufficiency and prosperity on which real security depends. If nations deal with one another as exploiters rather than traders, the result will be a perpetual oscillation between stagnation and violence as each country tries to become a graver threat, not create greater value. Such a world view renders concepts like "honor" meaningless.
Ashley K. Roy,
Madison, Wisconsin

The Measure of the Medalist
I am happy for Michael Phelps' success in the swimming events at the Beijing Olympics [Aug. 25]. But it is not apt to compare Phelps with Mark Spitz and the seven gold medals Spitz earned at the 1972 Munich Olympics. Spitz did not have the technological advantages of super-speedy pools and laser-sleek swimsuits. Nor did Spitz wear a streamlined swimming cap to cover his hair. In fact, he swam those events with a mustache. Spitz won his medals the old-fashioned way. It has taken more than 30 years of innovation and technology for anyone to come close to his Olympic success.
Mark D. Reese,
salt lake city

Mexico's Cocaine Chaos"]
Drug violence in Mexico is a consequence of the misguided war on drugs and the fact that drugs are illegal in the first place [Aug. 25]. If drugs were legalized, the profit incentive for criminals and drug-related violence would largely disappear. This would leave the fighting of drug abuse to medical and social-welfare professionals, which would free up police to deal with real criminals instead of those deemed criminals solely through the idiosyncrasies of the law.
Stephen V. Gilmore,
Charlotte, North Carolina

Class Should Not Be Dismissed
In his essay on affirmative action, Michael Kinsley argues that class distinction is a social problem we "currently don't have much of" [Aug. 25]. What about so-called legacy college admissions, preferential scholarships, cronyism and hiring practices that often involve far fewer than six degrees of nepotistic separation? I would suggest consulting those at the bottom of the ladder before making such a bold statement consigning the problem to virtual nonexistence.
Lane R. Garland,
Winder, Georgia

Kinsley says affirmative action was designed only to overcome the inequities of race. But the concept has also been justly used to benefit other disadvantaged groups, such as women and the handicapped. There is still a place for affirmative action if those who benefit are as qualified as other applicants.
Harvey Fenigsohn,
Worcester, Massachusetts

A Meaty Debate over Goat
I have enjoyed goat dishes from indian restaurants for some time now, but I always wondered why goat wasn't more widely available [Aug. 25]. Yours was a great article about how the food we love makes it to our kitchens and dinner plates. In such a politically correct climate, I want to salute you for publishing this story. I expect PETA will be lining up to run you all out of town.
Jay Ruane,
Lansdale, Pennsylvania

Your article espousing the slaughter and eating of goats was repellent. Vegetarianism is advancing because it's irrefutably beneficial for the planet. Soy, nuts, beans, flax and grains can easily supplant animal flesh as our source of protein. Spare the goats, and enjoy some oats.
Brien Comerford,"]
Glenview, Illinois

Obama's Star Status
It is absolutely true that there are worse things for a leader to be than a celebrity [Aug. 18]. It is much easier to lead if you are loved and admired. But once you become a leader, celebrity is no longer of much use; you need to know what you are doing. In Obama's case, with his lack of experience, that is a valid concern. He may turn out to be great, but can we afford to gamble? McCain may not be Winston Churchill or Ronald Reagan, but he has a history of experience to bet on.
John Waugen,
Anaheim, California

McCain and the Web
While I personally can't imagine life without my Macs, eBay, YouTube and email, it doesn't matter to me whether a presidential candidate is Web-savvy or not [Aug. 25]. The most important question for me is whether a candidate can navigate the U.S. out of troubled political and economic waters, not whether he can navigate the Net. That can always be left to staffers.
Maura Graber,
Ontario, California