Quotes of the Day
I hope the Israelis know there is a non-Israeli who fervently prays for their success [Jan. 12]. Hamas provokes, as always, and waits for the world to condemn Israel. I don't know why people cannot see through this cheap trick.
Vani Valluri, SECUNDERABAD, INDIA
I want the Jewish people to have a homeland as intended by the U.N., and the Israeli people have the right to defend themselves against terrorist tactics. Yet given the painful history of the crimes against the Jewish people, it saddens me to see the disproportionate response by Israel. Israel should hold to the highest standards of human rights and fairness. It should be careful that it does not become what it seeks to defend itself against.
Greg Bergh, CAPE TOWN
Where was the outrage and media coverage when Hamas militants began firing rockets daily into Israel even before the cease-fire was over? If Hamas had believed Israel's threat to retaliate if the attacks did not stop, maybe the death toll would have been limited to Israel.
Miriam Goldman, MINEOLA, N.Y., U.S.
The Israeli government claims that the military operations in Gaza are a last resort to stop rocket attacks by Hamas and that all alternatives have been investigated. What about this: giving Palestinians a state and a future? It would only cost some land. Do Israelis value land more than hundreds of Palestinians' lives? Being strong does not mean winning wars but achieving peace. Is the Jewish state really as strong as it is depicted?
Mohamed Kebaili, PARIS
In Defense of George W. Bush
Michael Kinsley's essay on Bush's failures fails to take into account legitimate concerns over growing terrorism before the Bush Administration [Jan. 12]. He dismisses the 1993 World Trade Center attack and the 2000 U.S.S. Cole bombing — which killed 17 U.S. sailors — to create the image of a fear-mongering President. Kinsley scolds Bush for not keeping his promises, but Kinsley must realize that these circumstances call for extreme measures.
Raza Syed Hoda, ITHACA, N.Y., U.S.
Seeing the Fluorescent Light
Thank you, TIME, for giving us solid reasons to be hopeful on the crucial energy issue [Jan. 12]. With incentives for energy efficiency, the economy would hum with millions of local projects requiring little or no government planning. Moreover, by choosing a relatively low-tech policy that the world could readily copy, we would at last become leaders in climate protection.
Egan O'Connor, SAN FRANCISCO
Energy efficiency can also have its downside. The California building codes you praise ("airtight shells") have harmed some who have reacted to the chemicals trapped inside. The much-touted compact fluorescent lightbulbs can increase symptoms in people with migraines and other conditions. Plus, if they break, they can release toxic mercury. And when one burns out, you can't toss it in the trash; you have to waste gas driving the bulb across the county to a toxic-waste disposal center.
Karen M. Campbell, SACRAMENTO, CALIF., U.S.
I'm 24. the challenge of my generation is not only to create practical solutions for conservation but also to do what our grandparents did: put on a sweater.
Michelle Sisson, FAIR OAKS, CALIF., U.S.
Democracy in Action
In your article about democracy in Asia, you stated that "a fundamental function [of government is to] protect citizens from harm" [Jan. 12]. This is just what the Israeli government is doing. After repeatedly warning Hamas that it would attack if Hamas continued to rain rockets on Israel, Israel attacked. The Palestinian people governed by Hamas are suffering terribly, but the Hamas leaders refuse to stop the attacks. They care more about trying to destroy Israel than helping their own people. Why is the Indian government blamed for not protecting its people when Israel is condemned for doing exactly that?
Judy Rotem, RAMAT GAN, ISRAEL
- In Defense of George W. Bush; Seeing the Fluorescent Light; Democracy in Action