Quotes of the Day

Ethics and Extinction
I applaud the tireless efforts to save endangered species and vanishing habitats, which you address in your cover story, but we need to begin to deal with the root problem: the exploding population of human beings [April 13]. How about a sterilization credit, like a carbon credit, to encourage people not to reproduce? We need to export and help finance information about all forms of birth control in all parts of the world, including the U.S. We have no trouble making decisions to limit the numbers of other species we deem overabundant, so why not our own?
Ann B. Anderson,
Atlanta

Your cover exclaims, "Vanishing Act: How Climate Change Is Causing a New Age of Extinction," but the article does not — and cannot — say that. Climate change is mentioned only in passing, and the major causes of extinction are clearly shown to be deforestation and encroachment on habitat. The pictures in "10 Species on the Brink" show nine truly endangered species, then throw in the polar bear, which is 10 times as numerous as any other animal depicted, to try to make the climate-change link. An otherwise fine issue on extinction is thus marred by a gratuitous climate-change reference that is inapplicable and misleading. You can do better — and should.
Fred Gray,
Springfield, Va., U.S.

Your article about endangered species is timely and begs the question as to why this crisis has been put on the back burner for so long while all attention has been focused on climate change. Species extinction is real and irrefutable while the science regarding climate change is not overwhelming. Sure the climate is changing, but it may not be entirely our fault. But it is our fault that the Tasmanian tiger, the dodo and the elephant bird, among many others, are extinct and that thousands more may go the same way. So let's focus our attention on what we know: that if we don't do something quickly, more and more endangered species will die out. Our impact on the climate can be reversed but extinct species can never be replaced.
Arthur Hurwitz,
Randwick, Australia

Reefer Madness!
Kudos to Joe Klein for his piece on legalizing marijuana [April 13]. The tax revenues a legal industry could generate — not just from pot but from hemp products as well — could solve major economic issues. I may have spent much of my high school years in a doobie-induced haze (mind you, I live a happily successful life now), but I do vaguely recall something from history class about the repeal of Prohibition and the subsequent taxation of liquor playing a significant role in our nation's recovery from the Great Depression. Perhaps if our leaders were willing to show some guts in the face of the so-called moral arguments against legalization, we could make that plan work for us again.
Hugh Jones,
Seattle

I laughed so hard when Klein brought up the abuse of McDonald's until I remembered heart disease is our No. 1 killer. Perhaps we should slap the suggested 10% tax on fast-food chains instead.
Michael Lai,
Brisbane, Australia

I found Klein's article on legalizing marijuana very disconcerting. Marijuana has many negative aspects, including the fact that it is a gateway drug to more lethal and addictive substances like cocaine and heroin. We need stronger laws and harsher penalties for those who buy, sell or use it, as well as a continued education campaign about why smoking pot is both harmful and dangerous.
Steven Glass,
Oyster Bay, N.Y., U.S.

He Said, Xi Said
I read with interest the essay "China's Turn" [April 13]. It stated that "Vice President Xi Jinping, on a recent trip to Mexico, blasted his hosts for harping on China's human-rights record, saying 'there are a few foreigners, with full bellies, who have nothing better to do than try to point fingers at our country.'" Having accompanied Vice President Xi during this trip, I can assure you nothing of the sort was said to any Mexican official or audience. Some Chinese news outlets have reported that Mr. Xi made this comment during a speech to the Chinese community in Mexico. I cannot attest to the accuracy of the quote since the event was only open to Chinese citizens. I would be surprised, however, if Mr. Xi was referring to Mexico if he indeed said those words. Mexico and China enjoy an excellent diplomatic relationship, which was further enhanced by Mr. Xi's trip.
Jorge Guajardo, Mexican Ambassador to China,
Beijing