Quotes of the Day

As a former illegal worker in the U.S., I must say I found your article "Undocumented and Undeterred" about immigration compelling [April 27]. It is true we are living in difficult times and on occasion this might trigger a hunt for scapegoats to blame for the economic crisis. But in the end, the only thing that will get us out of this mess is to pull together — legal and illegal, American and non-American. This is a global problem, and massive deportation will only make things worse. Where do you think these deported immigrants will find jobs? Maybe with the drug gangs south of the border? Or perhaps with the pirates off the coast of Somalia? Let's not forget that a newly recruited pirate, extremist or mercenary for a drug cartel is much worse than an honest, hardworking immigrant looking for a better life.
Pablo Cortes, INNSBRUCK, AUSTRIA

Home from Home?
Re "How to Do Seminyak" [April 27]: Why would a tourist travel to Bali to have dinner in an Italian restaurant, brunch at a place with Australian-inspired cuisine, dinner in a Japanese restaurant, breakfast with Italian coffee and panini, tea with scones, clotted cream and jam, and in the evening tapas and papas bravas? It seems that the writer has no interest in finding out that Indonesian food also exists and is very, very good.
Jaime Alcántara, LLÍBER, SPAIN

All at Sea
I am struggling to understand how a bunch of ragtag youths in small fishing boats can hijack oil tankers and huge cargo vessels [No Surrender to Thugs, April 27]. The crews of these vessels must be properly equipped and allowed to take the appropriate measures to see off the pirates, or the current ludicrous situation will become a complete farce. As it stands, the pirates stand to gain huge amounts of money in ransom payments, but there is very little downside to their operations, so the piracy is only going to spread.
Vincent Bristow, KNYSNA, SOUTH AFRICA

Hey, Wanna Join Our E-Study?
Re "Logging on to the Ivy League" [April 27]: Granting degrees to students who qualify through online study is merely acknowledging the actualities of university study today — notes and exams are taken on computers. Grading and advice to students could easily be done via the Internet, and the cost per student would be reduced dramatically. The social-policy aim is the creation of educated individuals. The technology isn't important.
John Leone, SAN DIEGO

Back to Basics
The only way to decrease the rate of Cesarean sections is to go back and teach residents the art of obstetrics, which includes the proper use of the forceps and the vacuum extractor [The Trouble with Repeat Cesareans, April 27]. We should also stop the interference of lawyers in the management of deliveries by making litigation very difficult. During the 1960s the institution with the lowest rate of cesareans was considered the best for training residents. Neonatologists agree that increasing the rate of cesareans does not necessarily mean better babies.
Fayez Suidan M.D., AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF BEIRUT, MEDICAL CENTER, BEIRUT

• Home from Home?; All at Sea; Hey, Wanna Join Our E-Study?