Quotes of the Day

Violence in Gaza
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 those who employ terrorist tactics. Yet given the painful history of the humanitarian crimes against the Jewish people, it saddens me to see the disproportionate response by Israel in dealing with the situation in Gaza. Israel should hold to the highest standards of human rights and fairness. Instead, in my view, it practices bullying tactics. The Israelis should be careful that they do not become what they seek to defend themselves against.
Greg Bergh,
Cape Town

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 — and in rejecting the needless and dangerous expansion of nuclear power.
Egan O'Connor,
San Francisco

Another underutilized energy-efficiency tip: for new construction, orienting buildings correctly and optimizing window locations can cut energy use by a quarter or more. These are savings from Day One — and at no extra cost.
Dave Deppen,
San Rafael, 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.

Sons of Liberty
your article on democracy in asia misunderstood why a Thai middle class that once rallied against military rule brought down two democratic governments in Bangkok [Jan. 12]. Supporters of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) were those who could no longer tolerate the massive abuse of power of an elected government so mired in corruption. Yes, the protesters wore the colors of the beloved monarchy, but they were targeting a gang of crony politicians, not the institutions of democracy itself. Rather than impede democratic progress, the PAD phenomenon has clearly advanced civil society in Thailand. Despite the dissolution of fraudulent parties and the emergence of a more stable government, the PAD will no doubt remain watchful.
Anik Amranand,
Bangkok

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 fearmongering Republican 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.