Quotes of the Day

A Spiritual Solution?
I find it ironic that anyone in medicine would question whether faith and belief can heal when a good part of medicine's effectiveness can actually be traced to the power of belief: the placebo effect [Feb. 23]. Scientifically, we can see that creating a positive belief in the possibility of being healed can actually facilitate healing.
Alfred A. Barrios,
Culver City, Calif., U.S.

How can you publish an entire feature on faith and healing and never once mention Christian Science? Christian Scientists have been healing reliably through prayer for more than 100 years. Many of these healings are documented and well known to the medical community.
Carole Jackson,
Oxford, N.C., U.S.

As a cancer survivor who has been through chemo-radiation therapy and surgery, I can attest to the myriad difficult psychological and social issues cancer patients have to grapple with. In my opinion, health professionals who are able to recognize that physical illness is often accompanied by complex emotional and spiritual challenges, and who can competently and sensitively address these concerns in order to take care of the whole person, are the most likely to achieve the desired clinical response with better patient satisfaction.
Yang K. Chen,
Englewood, Colo., U.S.

Readers looking for a link between spirituality and health might also take a look at Alcoholics Anonymous. The organization has accumulated about 2 million members since 1935, who have, among other actions, taken the step and "come to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity."
Gary K.,
St. Joseph, Mo., U.S.

Celebrating Segregation?
After reading Laura Fitzpatrick's article on Savannah State University, I was struck by a familiar pattern [Feb. 23]. When African Americans talk about African-American segregated institutions, it's with a degree of pride. Yet when there is a segregated all-white institution, there is usually an undertone of racism. Since separate but equal is not to be tolerated, I am confused. Which is pride, and which is racism?
Stephen E. Johnson,
Madison, Wis., U.S.

Don't Interfere with Iran
Re "Talking And Listening to Iran": I can fully agree with those who believe the U.S. has no justified reason to interfere with domestic policies and practices in Iran [Feb. 23]. Obviously, people there resent our objective of imposing our desires on them. Doing so just creates more enemies of the U.S.
David Bartholomew,
Dundee, Ill., U.S.

It may be hard to believe but, as in many nations, the domestic front matters more to Iranians than the phantom menace of Israel and the U.S. Iran's economy is crippled by debt and inflation and a government that has grown moribund and ineffectual. That is the real situation with which Iranians contend.
Soraya Sharif,
Melbourne

A Matter of Omission
I am writing to you as a reader of TIME magazine for over 30 years and a dedicated subscriber for almost as long. I wish to convey my outrage and disappointment at the minimal coverage of the Australian bushfires [Feb. 23]. Surely a natural disaster of this magnitude deserves more extensive coverage in the magazine than the token items in Briefing. Is the death of hundreds of Australians not newsworthy enough? Or do you simply not care?
John Zic,
Punchbowl, Australia

I am amazed at the paucity of coverage on the bushfires in Victoria. This was Australia's greatest peacetime disaster — an experience of absolute horror on a massive scale — and you gave it one page, of which only half was text. Coverage of Australia in the U.S. media is negligible and TIME is no exception. As a subscriber for over half a century, I find this very disappointing.
Michael Wilson,
Pymble, Australia