Congratulations to the people of China [June 2]. Their response to the recent earthquake has shown them at their compassionate and open best. China is indeed coming of age, and it's not about the Olympic Games. It's about valuing individual human lives. The contrast with Burma's reaction to its recent cyclone is staggering. This is no reflection on the Burmese people, but a disgraceful reproach to the rulers who cling to power at whatever price, even the sacrifice of their own citizens.
Jenny Evans, BUNDABERG, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA
The grassroots heroism in the wake of the earthquake was on an epic scale, and perhaps for the first time in the history of this republic, secrecy was replaced by transparency, and bureaucracy was outpaced by efficiency. The blood-stained backpacks amid the debris of collapsed school buildings were a rude reminder to central government that a more intensive crackdown on multilevel corruption is needed. The Chinese people have empowered themselves through their volunteerism and compassion. However, their lives — and livelihoods — will remain shaky until the authorities truly understand that "Each man's death diminishes me, / For I am involved in mankind."
Daan Pan, DIAMOND BAR, CALIF., U.S.
Is it too audacious to hope that the recent earthquake — and the Olympic Games — might convince the Chinese to abandon their ancient, inefficient writing system — the real Great Wall of China — and adapt the Roman alphabet?
Alex Farkas, SUNNYVALE, CALIF., U.S.
South Africa in Crisis
The recent spate of xenophobic violence in South Africa [June 2] is shocking and embarrassing to witness. Apart from the official reasons given, the problem boils down to "have and have not." Many South Africans — those who have built a life with the fruits of their labor — have suffered heavy losses through violence and theft. The criminals are said to be opportunists and not necessarily part of an organized group, but the relative inefficiency with which the government dealt with the violence poses the question: How long before mobs turn on the middle and upper income groups to kill them or drive them out of the country? And what (if anything) will the government do to protect the heartbeat of its economy?
Ryan Moore, JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA
The recent incidents of xenophobia in South Africa not only reveal the brutality of some criminals, they also show the government's difficulties in fighting poverty. Although South Africa's economy has been growing constantly, people in the townships — especially migrant workers from Zimbabwe — do not really benefit. I wonder whether the attacks will impact on South Africa's staging of the 2010 World Cup.
Adrian Lobe, STUTTGART, GERMANY
The Clintonian Revolution
Your article on Obama's debt to the Clintons discredits Barack Obama [June 2]. Whether you like him or not, he deserves the credit for his success, not the Clintons. Let's stop praising the Clintons at any cost and move on. The Clinton era is over.
Stephen Nettles, ACWORTH, GA., U.S.
Thank you for reminding us of the influence of Bill Clinton. The Democrats have always had a problem with protecting their positions with intellectual rigor. Bill showed them how to do it.
Malcolm Mumford, PASADENA, CALIF., U.S.
The person who made Obama was George W. Bush.
Philip Koerner, NEW LONDON, N.H., U.S.
Burma's New City
Your recent article on the building of a new capital city in Burma [June 2] intrigued me. Amazingly, Naypyidaw, a new city of one million, was built from scratch in just three years. Now that Cyclone Nargis has made many tens of thousands of people homeless, I will watch and hope that the Burmese government puts as much effort into creating new cities for these people as they did in creating a city for themselves.
Jeremy Stern, LONDON
Our Wallets, Ourselves
Your story should have been titled, "How the President Could Encourage, Cajole and Bully Congress to Try to Fix the Economy" [June 2]. For each of your economic issues, the President has little, if any, direct or unilateral power. No doubt every President has secretly shared Theodore Roosevelt's daydream: "If I could only be President and Congress too for just 10 minutes." But without an explanation as to the President's actual powers, your article sets up yet another generation of Americans to be disillusioned when their chosen candidate fails to produce the promised manna that he or she was never constitutionally capable of delivering.
Britton Morrell, EATON, COLO., U.S.
The simple answer to our tax-system chaos is to abolish the IRS and adopt the Fair Tax. If everyone "who stays in America pays for America," there would be no reason to fund bloated federal bureaucracies to pursue tax scofflaws. Every person would pay 23% on every new car, suit, pair of shoes, radio or home. In return, individuals and companies would pay no income tax. With no disincentives to earning more, investment would boom. The stronger dollar would also deflate the price of oil, killing two birds with one stone.
John P. Kuchta Jr., VIRGINIA BEACH, VA., U.S.