Quotes of the Day

The Great Arctic Grab
As a university student of ecology and evolutionary biology, I would prefer that the Arctic remain largely untouched and unspoiled [Oct. 1]. But since profit-driven exploitation of this increasingly accessible area is inevitable, substantial fees should be imposed on corporations and nations that profit from what ought to be considered world heritage. Moneys collected could aid biodiversity conservation and ameliorate poverty. But it's more likely that we will see the traditional unholy alliance of nationalism, greed and business as usual.
Fred Drumlevitch,
Tucson, Ariz., U.S.

It is a shame that our world leaders, when faced with an imminent crisis, can think only of their wallets. The rapid melting of the Arctic ice cap is the most obvious consequence of a global climate change that has the potential to cause increases in species loss, infectious diseases and extreme weather events. Instead of focusing on how to solve this impending tragedy, politicians are fighting to exploit it.
Elina El-Badry,
Gaithersburg, Md., U.S.

Who owns the Arctic? It belongs to mankind as a whole, not to the region's border states. Devising a treaty to enforce that is very simple: you just have to copy and paste the basic agreements of the Antarctic Treaty System, which has kept greedy people off that continent for decades.
Jean Lehouchu,
Nice, France

After reading James Graff's article "Fight for the Top of the World," I asked my 5-year-old son, "Who owns the Arctic?" He thought for a moment, smiled and said, "Santa Claus."
Holmes Brannon,
Woodland Park, Colo., U.S.

Sticks and Stones
While it is true that the U.S. right has made political hay from MoveOn.org's ad asking if we should call General Petraeus "General Betray Us," it is also true that most Americans found the ad offensive [Oct. 1]. It was outside the bounds of acceptable political dialogue, unless you happen to be 17 years old. And Michael Kinsley's defense of the ad was equally offensive. People can disagree with the general, but he deserves respect, earned by his service to the country and the high position he has attained.
Richard Kapanka,
Greensboro, N.C., U.S.

I am a longtime Republican, but I agree that the candidates and talking heads who are tripping over one another to crusade for Petraeus' honor need to take a step back and realize how silly they look. Rudy Giuliani's attempt to link Senator Hillary Clinton to the ad was a few paces beyond ridiculous. On the other hand, Kinsley weakened his credibility somewhat by lambasting by name several conservatives who have indulged in excessive "umbrage" but giving no examples of how politicians on the other side of the aisle have done the same. Kinsley made an excellent point, but he wants to take shots only at the right while sparing individuals on the left.
Daniel Jensen,
Ann Arbor, Mich., U.S.

Kinsley missed the point. The "umbrage" is a product of a divided American public. A thoughtful look at the issue would explore how and why dividing the electorate has become the political tactic of choice. When sarcasm as literary device becomes good enough for publication in TIME, I begin to understand why pundits, shock jocks and political-action committees own the message. In an age when conflict passes for entertainment, we have come to expect journalism to point out the car crashes for us. Please excuse my complaint — who am I to disturb the sweet music of the lyre? Who am I to point out that Rome has begun to burn? Sarcasm — isn't it lovely?
Gregory Behan,
Alexandria, Va., U.S.

Those of us who served in uniform indeed took righteous "umbrage" at one of our own being called duplicitous and basically unfit to wear the uniform. None of us are perfect, but by God, we did our best to serve our civilian masters without genuflecting. Shame on Kinsley for missing the point behind the outrage and doubting its authenticity.
Kenneth M. Currie, Lieut. Colonel, USAF (ret.),
Indian Harbour Beach, Fla., U.S.

Every American should be able to speak his mind. That's the benefit of living in an open society. But let's conduct debates without personal attacks. I believe this Administration has made huge mistakes that we will be trying to repair for years to come. Let's challenge the Administration's policies without calling the sitting President an idiot or one of our generals a traitor.
Jeff DuTeau,
Kansas City, Mo., U.S.

Senator John Cornyn should resign for co-sponsoring a resolution condemning MoveOn.org's free speech. This is the sort of fascism that is a far greater threat to Americans than terrorism. The Senate has the gall to question basic American freedoms while its members are under investigation for bribery (Ted Stevens) and sex scandals (Larry Craig and David Vitter).
Dale Stevens,
Montgomery, Texas, U.S.

I'm a Republican, and I want us out of Iraq. But the ad crossed the line. Kinsley sits at a desk typing away while Petraeus leads people who take bullets for you and me. It's not trite; it's reality. Agree or disagree with the war, but don't insult those standing in harm's way so we can have this debate in the comfort of our homes.
Mark Carpenter,
San Antonio

From the Beltway to the Tetons
I just finished reading 10 questions for Lynne Cheney, and I am as appalled by her arrogance as I am by her spouse's [Oct. 1]. When asked if the negative press affects their personal relationship, she answered that it's easy to ignore "if you know that what you're doing is the right thing." That strikes me as revealing either terrible naiveté or a stubborn sense of entitlement. Not only has this self-righteous thinking gotten the U.S. into a no-win war, but it has also stripped us of constitutional rights, including the right to privacy. Perhaps doing the right thing would involve soul searching — and listening to the constituency on a few issues.
Karole Scott,
Cocoa, Fla., U.S.

Cheney noted that "we have been safe for six years." She did not mention that almost 4,000 U.S. service members and tens of thousands of innocent Iraqi civilians have lost their lives. But history might note that.
Lawrence J. Martin,
Elburn, Ill., U.S.

The Cheneys can retire peacefully with great wealth to their beautiful home looking out at the Teton Range, while hundreds of thousands of soldiers remain in two wars looking out at heartbreaking death, maiming and destruction. But who said life is fair?
Bob Gellman,
New York City

Pakistani People Power
In the name of democracy, Pakistanis must be granted some level of participation in choosing their Premier [Sept. 24]. Selecting Pakistan's next Prime Minister in the backstreets of London or the hallowed halls of Washington is surely a step backward. Rather than debate which of Pakistan's erstwhile Premiers — both of whom have been tried, tested and found wanting — should be anointed, Britain and the U.S. should support a truly democratic process with an emphasis on justice, accountability and honesty. Otherwise, the common man looks set to remain sidelined, while the likes of a U.S.-sponsored Nawaz Sharif or Benazir Bhutto and al-Qaeda-Taliban partisans will reign supreme from their respective corners.
Burhan Khan,
Beckenham, England

Setting the Record Straight
Re "The Real Running Mates" [Sept. 24]: I am very disappointed that TIME would publish incorrect information from another publication that stated that I never worked outside the home. Never was I interviewed for TIME's article, but it was certainly written to imply that I had been. For the record, after receiving my law degree from the University of Kansas, I was a research attorney for a justice of the Kansas Supreme Court. Later I accepted the position of an assistant vice president and trust officer at a bank. After our first child, I worked again in a trust department until shortly before the birth of our second child. Simply put, I have worked both in the home and outside of the home, just as a vast majority of American women have. Thank you for letting me clear up these errors so they don't appear in print a third time.
Mary Brownback,
Topeka, Kans., U.S.

Shaking Through the Ages
The article on belly dancing by pregnant women noted that "the ancient art form is being practiced by moms-to-be to stay fit and ease their way through labor" [Sept. 3]. I took a belly-dancing class decades ago because it was a fun "night out with the girls" that included exercise, music, camaraderie, snacks, a little wine and gorgeous costumes. It was better than the gym, shopping or the bar scene. But we were taught that belly dancing was originally a way for Middle Eastern women to stay fit and ease labor, and only later did it develop into a form of art and enticement. I like that version better — the wise women of antiquity and all that.
Darlene Baker,
Onoway, Canada

Growing Up on TV
James Poniewozik's cleverly perceptive essay on the new CBS reality series Kid Nation made this baby boomer choke back tears for the good old days [Oct. 1]. Back in the 1950s and early '60s it was neither unlawful nor uncaring for adults to say that children should be seen but not heard. Kids got to be kids as they ran around outside playing hide-and-seek under the stars without worry of being snatched, molested or organized into youth activities, while parents sipped beer or pop while playing Yahtzee with their pals after hand-washing the dinner dishes. Nobody felt slighted, and nobody called child protective services. How sad and ironic that television — primarily responsible for making a mishmash of family life — should inadvertently be the one to call attention to the current sorry state of affairs by dragging the poor little ones off to a ghost town all by themselves. Don't adults get it? Kids nowadays live in ghost towns without ever having to leave home.
Greg Joseph,
Glendale, Ariz., U.S.

Is the uproar over kid nation about abuse or fear that the children will succeed and put parents out of a job? We cannot hold our children's wings all their lives and then expect them to know how to fly when we let them go. Kids need parents, but they also need the freedom to learn and grow. Let them experience the sting of failure and the joy of success. And trust them!
Danica Conway,
Longmont, Colo., U.S.

Poniewozik's article was a quick yet deeply gratifying read. In one page he managed to sum up the rationale and angst we "helicopter" parents have about our parenting style. On the one hand, we feel it is right to sacrifice deeply for our children, and on the other we have a nagging suspicion that there is a good reason no previous generation raised children this way. It doesn't take a sage, however, to know that children aren't designed to raise themselves. I pray that CBS has taken adequate precautions to protect the children involved.
Dorothea Dougboh,
Carteret, N.J., U.S.

Murakami's Magic
I was thrilled to see the article on Haruki Murakami [Aug. 20]. As a student of literature, I am an avid reader, but I have never come across a writer as engrossing as Murakami. His style varies from descriptions of everyday events, such as cooking spaghetti, to intellectual discussions with total strangers to heart--stopping, beyond-reality experiences. His images are at times so vivid and meticulously detailed that reading them is like watching a movie. When I started reading A Wild Sheep Chase, I made a pencil dot in the margin next to every memorable phrase or description. Eventually each page was marked with so many dots that I decided instead to reread the book — which I've done about seven times. His works are like symphonies that one enjoys listening to over and over again.
Mel Leyde,
Sophiatown, South Africa