Quotes of the Day

A Race to the End
Is there not a fourth option for the end of the battle for the Democratic nomination [May 5]? If Barack Obama wins the majority of pledged delegates and the Democratic National Committee decides to hand the nomination to Hillary Clinton, he could declare himself an independent candidate. That would guarantee a loss for Clinton but could result in the building of an all-inclusive New Democratic Party.
J. Gerard Janssen,
Toronto

I think the current race is the best, most riveting election campaign I have witnessed as an adult. I'm 56. Never before have I seen a primary campaign come down to the wire like this year's Democratic contest. Back in January I was hoping for the same thing on the Republican side. Sure, hard-fought contests are bruising for all concerned, but I believe the nation will be better off next January, when the new President takes office, because of the election fights that took place this year. Now if only we could shorten the campaign season.
Dave Peterson,
Tucson, Ariz., U.S.

Joe Klein is almost correct when he states that the ABC News debate in Philadelphia "will go down in history for the relentless vulgarity of its questions". But the questions weren't so much vulgar as they were vapid. The only thing moderator Charles Gibson forgot to do was follow Barbara Walters' infamous example and ask Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton what kind of trees they would be.
Holmes Brannon,
Woodland Park, Colo., U.S.

Joe Klein feels certain that Pennsylvania voters based their choice on "low-information signaling" and the social body language of the candidates. The bias and sheer presumption of this piece is astounding. Did Klein consider for a moment that maybe those who voted for Clinton think her just as capable as Obama of having a high-minded conversation? Most voters embrace hope and are ready for change, but the reality is that both Democratic candidates can offer these things. Obama may need to first more candidly address mundane, equally urgent issues affecting many of us. It's as if we're being invited to take the philosophy course without having any idea what the tuition will be.
Erin McLaughlin Griffin,
Kingston, Pa., U.S.

I am a Catholic American with an Arabic name and take great offense at the comment you made about Obama's name. There isn't any such thing as an "Islamic-sounding name." The language is Arabic.
Julie Behlok,
Rochester, N.Y., U.S.

In an earlier article, Klein said that that the African-Americans who support Barack Obama will sulk and stay home if Hillary Clinton is nominated. What does he think we women feel? We have waited all our lives to see one of us — qualified, experienced and capable — run in the national election with a chance of winning. Still, I don't think the divides fracturing Democrats right now are too difficult to bridge. We are not so unwise as to sulk, stay home or vote for John McCain.
Cecilie Bodnar,
Canandaigua, N.Y., U.S.

Whatever the case, it's abundantly clear that this protracted race will harm the Democrats. Senator McCain in the White House would be the bitterest of lessons. Under his administration, more blood and billions will likely be squandered. If my fellow Americans elect another Republican, we can expect further warmongering to obscure the sinking ship of the U.S. economy. I can't imagine a more patriotic gesture at this point than to elect a President who isn't anchored to past ways and solutions.
Michael Driver,
Ichihara, Japan

Deathday Wishes
Nancy Gibbs' eloquence on the death of her father left me breathless [May 5]. Yet the concept of a Deathday is not merely a quirk of J.K. Rowling's literature: Jewish culture has celebrated the Yahrzeit for centuries. It is a day of joyous yet sorrowful memory of those gone, during which people gather to support the bereaved with sweet recollections of the dead. My grandfather died when I was 7. Every year his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren partake of a meal in his name, those who remember him speaking of him to those who do not. I am 22 now and in no danger of forgetting him.
Lily Weiss,
Lawrence, N.Y., U.S.

A Bias Against China?
In previous issues, TIME has indeed given much time to the political aspirations of some Tibetans, despite their violent protests. But in "Why China's Burning Mad," peaceful protests were marked as "virulent nationalism" with little serious reflection on the nature of the protesters' beliefs [May 5]. The suggestion that such protests are a result of government propaganda or education is misleading. In fact, thousands of overseas Chinese, who are not affected by any so-called "patriotic education," marched on streets to make their voices heard. The root cause of so much dissatisfaction among the Chinese people is the sense of being treated unfairly by Western media. There is a great need for the Western media, the Chinese government and its citizens to have constructive dialogues to build a mutual understanding. After all, the West needs China as much as China needs the West.
Zhong Guo Ren,
Singapore

Mia Farrow, a western celebrity who has publicized the Darfur crisis, is quoted widely by the international media denouncing China. Why must this genteel lady cause harm to do good? At a recent preaching stop in Hong Kong, Farrow again bashed the Chinese, but evaded questions on the U.S. role in humanitarian crises in the Middle East. It's hypocritical double standards like these that spark this "virulent" Chinese nationalism.
Man-piu Lee,
Hong Kong

Like other western journalists, Simon Elegant tries to attribute the anti-Western protests in China to xenophobia. But he fails to explain why people in the U.S. and other countries share the Chinese people's outrage. Unless the West can come to terms with the fact that China is going to be a major global power, the notion that China will be a destabilizing force is more a self-fulfilling prophecy than an inevitable outcome.
M. Loo,
Washington

The western world should know that using the Olympics as a forum for criticizing China is both counterproductive and unfair. The Chinese people are proud of their achievements of the past couple of decades and, though much still needs to be done, they are progressing at an impressive pace. Engagement is the only way to influence both the people and their government. While muted in their public criticism of their political leaders, the Chinese people are surprisingly frank in admitting their shortcomings, though they tend to accept restrictions on political freedom as a necessary trade-off for the economic gains they have achieved, at least in the major cities. Given time and patience, the West's more positive values and practices will osmose into their collective social consciousness. Unfortunately, so will our less desirable and wasteful ones.
Sigmund Roseth,
Mississauga, Canada

It's astonishing to me how many in China seem incapable of acknowledging the plight of Tibetans. India has dozens of insurgencies, but its democratic politics have largely accommodated such dissent. China thoroughly crushed Tibet, squelched its culture and ultimately forced the country's spiritual leader into a sad exile. As the Olympics draw near, they continue to demonize the Dalai Lama even after he has decried the violence in Lhasa. Despite all the bloodshed, he has been supportive of Beijing hosting the Games. The Chinese point fingers and accuse the outside world of trying to ruin their coming-out party, but, instead of making effigies of Jack Cafferty and intimidating dissidents, they should properly consider the legitimate grievances of people in their own country.
R.R. Sami,
Tiruvannamalai, India

TIME's Global-Warming Cover
I am a retired marine, and I would love to hear you explain to the survivors of the campaign on Iwo Jima just why you had to use "our photo" with a tree [April 28]. I work in an environmental-protection field, have a degree in biology and can not only spell ecology but understand the implications of human actions on our environment. I think you may mean well, but your judgment leaves a bit to be desired. Please leave the ecological subjects in the realm of science and the patriotic war and flag symbols in theirs.
Mark Ronning,
Fergus Falls, Minn., U.S.

Raising the flag on mount suribachi was a sign of victory for our military in a hard-fought battle. Our country lost more than 400,000 soldiers in WW II. If global warming ever causes that many deaths, then you can start Photoshopping pictures.
Meredith Lea,
Bloomington, Ill., U.S.

Feeling the Pain
As an obstetrician who has always tried to empower women to choose to deliver the safest — yet hardest — way, I must applaud you for your article on the rise of C-sections in Asia [March 31]. The article conveyed well the life philosophy that lies behind the process of natural birth. However, I do object to the image of "stupefied" or "groggy" patients on the operating table. Cesareans are normally done under spinal anesthetic — the woman is fully awake and numb from the lower ribs to the toes. The woman is aware of what's happening and very much "there" when her baby is born. Still, many hospitals in Asia do administer general anesthetic rather than this more targeted version, which is not a good idea.
Sally Ferguson,
Hong Kong