Quotes of the Day

Mandela's Lessons
Our current presidential candidates should take some lessons from Nelson Mandela [July 21]. Like most Americans, I am disappointed by the lack of leadership in this country and the lack of long-term solutions to the present state of the nation. I imagine it was the belief in his ideals and principles that kept Mandela alive under unspeakable hardship. Our current and prospective leaders should never forget that idealism and consistency — not the week's polls — are what truly distinguish great leaders.
Michael Osorio,
Orlando, Florida

Mandela would not be so lionized if he weren't black. The hype that surrounds him is based on the remorse of Western liberals for the sins of their great-great-great-grandfathers.
Jerzy Frenkiel,
Frederiksberg, Denmark

Thanks for sharing with us some immensely inspiring and beautiful insights into the mind of one of the greatest ever leaders of the world. There is a lot for everybody to learn. I hope the dictators in Zimbabwe and Sudan read this piece and learn — and then act like true leaders.
Anju Chandel,
New Delhi

During his time in jail, Mandela was an important symbol of opposition to apartheid. But "the closest thing the world has to a secular saint"? On most practical measures, South Africa has gone backward since Mandela's presidency. The African National Congress (ANC) has been in power since 1994 and is as unlikely to be replaced via the ballot box as President Robert Mugabe's government is in Zimbabwe. South Africa's real saint is Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu.
Julius Bergh,
Nerang, Queensland

The fight against apartheid is over. Journalists should now be focusing on the performance of the ANC after 14 years in power. On its watch, South Africa has seen increased unemployment, a widening of the gap between rich and poor, lowered educational standards, declining health services, an uncontrolled AIDS pandemic, a justice system in disarray, an inept police force, the second highest murder rate and the highest rape rate in the world, ethnic cleansing of white citizens, the national electricity provider unable to satisfy power needs, and more than half of municipalities approaching bankruptcy. Cynics now predict that South Africa will become the next Zimbabwe. This is Mandela's real legacy. He is the genial, smiling fig leaf that duped the world into believing South Africa would prosper under an ANC administration.
Allan Banfield,
Hatfield, England

As a South African who lived through the miracle birth of the "Rainbow Nation," I too revere and cherish Mandela. However, I find Richard Stengel's assertion that "in London on June 25 ... he rose to condemn the savagery of Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe" astounding. His "condemnation" amounted to four words: "tragic failure of leadership" — a meek scolding indeed from the world's greatest moral leader. How different things might have been if Mandela, years ago, had put politics aside and stood up to lead the world in fierce condemnation of Mugabe's brutal regime. Mandela's courage and presence brought democracy to South Africa. It is a tragedy that Zimbabwe hasn't been given the same opportunity. Instead, millions of Mandela's fellow Africans have been left to face torture and starvation, and a once beautiful country has been destroyed.
Barbara Silverman,
London

The cover picture of Mandela brought tears to my eyes. His confident smile affirmed that while we may go through difficult times, there is hope for the future as long as we embrace the ideals of this wonderful man.
Maggie Lew,
Grand Island, New York

Hear Us Roar
Michael Kinsley makes the mistake of dismissing the anger of Hillary Clinton's supporters rather than analyzing its causes [July 21]. For many, the Democratic race was the culmination of decades of strong, deeply personal feelings about feminism and civil rights, with candidates whose experiences resonated meaningfully with voters. How does one "get over" that? And when will Barack Obama thoughtfully address gender inequality in a speech, as he has with racism, faith and patriotism? A winning coalition in November could result if efforts are directed toward understanding rather than dismissing the concerns of these voters.
Stephanie Hornbeck,
Alexandria, Virginia

Re Kinsley's comments on Clinton supporters lacking "progressive passion" and going "off in a snit" to pursue yachting: Wow, do I feel chastised. Maybe I'll sell my yacht and donate the proceeds to the Democratic National Committee. What on earth is this progressive passion? The Nobamas want exactly two things: a leader who is qualified and one whom they can trust. Obama does not qualify on either count. I'm a Democrat for McCain. May the best man win.
Benita Canova,
Gloversville, New York

I find it galling that Clinton's supporters keep demanding to be heard. They lost because they had poor strategy and poor cohesion among the campaign leadership and failed to keep Bill Clinton on a short leash. If they think they will get a better deal from McCain in terms of moving a progressive agenda forward, they are sadly mistaken.
Eugene M. Giudice,
Chicago

Pakistan's Pluses
Your story about Pakistan's new government was characteristically one-sided [July 21]. You said that "Pakistan is reeling from rising radicalism and a slumping economy." You went on to call Pakistan "a failing state" and a sanctuary for terrorists. Why not focus on some good news? In the February elections, Pakistanis totally rejected religious extremism, voting instead for democracy and the rule of law. Pakistan's economy is hardly the only one in the world faced with rising food prices and unemployment. Nor is it the only Asian nation where radicalism, terrorism and extremism are rife. The extremists in Pakistan are a minority in a small area. Pakistan is not a failing state and never will be. Pakistan has paid a high price for being a friend of the U.S. in an increasingly anti-American world. Printing negative propaganda about it is not helpful.
Bashy Quraishy,
Frederiksberg, Denmark

Staying Safe from Wildfires
As a wildland firefighter for 40-plus years, I must strongly disagree with your statement in "Postcard: Santa Barbara" that "you can no more prepare for [wildfires] than for a sudden death" [July 21]. Homeowners can do much to reduce the risk of "sudden death" from a wildfire. Site selection, roofing and siding materials, landscaping plants, defensible space around the home — all these factors are well-known ways to mitigate much of the risk associated with living in the wildland-urban interface. For great material on helping keep wildfires in the wild, check out firewise.org. There are not enough firefighters to protect every home during a major wildfire event. The responsibility for making homes safe from fires must lie with individual homeowners.
Dick Mangan,
Missoula, Montana

Kabbalah Misconceptions
Your article "A Brief History of: Kabbalah" is a monument to the ignorance of today's popular culture. Kabbalah is the oral tradition of the mystical aspect of the Torah. Those who lack the oral tradition are at best pretenders. I hope the description of Madonna as a practitioner was a joke, because it can't be taken seriously. Kabbalah did not cohere around a book; the book was an attempt to record in writing a tradition that had been around for centuries. The Zohar may have been first published in the 13th century, but it was written by Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, a Talmudic sage who lived in about the 2nd century.
Levi Rudd,
Miami Beach, Florida

Obama the Centrist
By shifting to the center, Barack Obama is practicing a unique, diplomatic solution: compromise [July 21]. As a not-quite-17-year-old daughter of a Republican father and a very left-wing Democratic mother, I feel that our unorthodox political arguments around the dinner table — in which I declare both parents absurd — have given me an unusual understanding of centrist politics. Compromise doesn't necessarily mean compromising one's personal values but rather accepting that there is another point of view and sometimes adapting it. Maybe, just maybe, Obama is just a reasonable guy able to change his opinions when the right rationale and information appeal to him. Isn't that a trait we should be looking for in our President?
Leslie Castello,
Jacksonville, Florida

The Freedom Brigade
"The (Not So) Lunatic Fringe" by Nathan Thornburgh was a refreshingly honest and straightforward report on Libertarians [July 21]. I can take issue with only two points: First, that the Libertarian Party somehow sold some of its soul by selecting Congressman Bob Barr as its presidential candidate. I was at the Denver convention and don't agree that we sold our soul in selecting Barr. Second, the statement that we Libertarians "poach" from Republicans. That depends on what part of the country you're referring to. As a Libertarian in Maryland, I can tell you that most Libertarians here are "poached" from the Democratic Party, since Maryland is virtually a one-party state.
Lorenzo Gaztañaga, Libertarian Party candidate, Second U.S. Congressional District,
Baltimore

Gun dealer Glen Parshall feels government should do little more than "protect the country's territory." The Constitution defines a much broader role for government, including the protection of our freedoms of speech, religion and assembly. I am sure Parshall understands that, absent that seminal document, which is the foundation of our government, our country might have become a dictatorship — a form of government I'm certain he would find more odious than our constitutional republic seems to be to so many Libertarians.
Gary Nelson,
Martinsburg, Pennsylvania