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I am as irritated as anyone else at Sinn Fein's refusal to condemn Irish Republican Army atrocities [WORLD, March 11], and at clumsy attempts by radio and TV commentators to get it to do so. However, there is much more to the matter than merely seeking to establish that there are politically incorrect attitudes among Sinn Fein spokespeople. There is also the effect on the mind-sets of those who organize or execute such atrocities. Every time Sinn Fein officials fail to condemn I.R.A. violence, they are implicitly asserting the right not of only the I.R.A. but also other groups to carry out such actions. Sinn Fein blames Prime Minister John Major for the breakdown of the peace process (and there is enough truth in this to make us all stop and think); Sinn Fein blames the I.R.A. for ending the cease-fire. But must not Sinn Fein itself take much of the blame for the escalating violence and the consequent deaths? DANIEL BENNETT Tyrrellspass, Ireland
SEASONS INSTRUCT US
Pico Iyer in his praise of changing seasons displayed a deep fascination for nature and an understanding so lacking in modern life [ESSAY, April 1]. Oh, how has modern man lost the imagination to capture the awesome rhythm of the seasons, of night and day, light and darkness, sun and moon? It's a poor existence indeed if we cannot find the time to stand and stare at all the loveliness and mystery, small and great, that surrounds us--like the coming of spring. GRAY PHOMBEAH London
WOMEN ON THE FIGHT CARD
I read with interest the article by Steve Wulf on women in the boxing ring [SPORT, April 1]. The fact that women are making their mark as professional fighters should not be construed as a step forward for them. Boxing embodies those elements of society that we should deplore: violence and greed. Can boxing now become a legitimate sport because two women have made the "big time"? I think not! KEN CAMPBELL Winnipeg, Canada
TAIWAN'S VOTERS HAVE SPOKEN
Reading about the tension between China and Taiwan [WORLD, April 1] made me realize just how naive I am. I thought this modern world we live in had learned from its mistakes, that World War II, Vietnam and other such events belonged forever to the past. Now, with Bosnia, Rwanda and the hundreds of other less publicized places where war, torture and oppression rule, it seems that today's world isn't all that different from the one of some 50 years ago. I thought I would be fighting not for peace in a foreign land but for such causes as freedom of speech on the Internet. Unfortunately, the fight for peace is far from being won, if it isn't already lost. DANIL HIRIDJEE Paris
The democracy of Taiwan is special. It is a germ of democracy that will fool China's immune system if China insists on taking us on. David will once again win the battle over Goliath. MING-JING HWANG Taipei Via E-mail
The loud noises made by the Chinese war games have been superseded by the noise of the Taiwan election results. If the Chinese leadership didn't hear it, they must be totally deaf. TONY KETTLE Corner Brook, Newfoundland Via E-mail
GAMBLING BACKLASH