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Why title your article "The Sword of Islam," and why use the metaphor of Pakistani rulers "waving the scimitar of Islam" [WORLD, Sept. 28], unless the intent is to portray all forms of Muslim political activism as stridently militant? It is wrong to perpetuate such crude stereotypes. Pakistan is a country in which a politically and religiously diverse populace is struggling for its survival in the face of many serious challenges. You could have given your readers probing insights into how the country is faring on all these fronts and how the different political appeals to so-called Islam are being employed. Instead, we got a superficial and biased article about another poor, backward Muslim country plagued by the scourge of religious fanaticism. SCOTT C. ALEXANDER Assistant Professor of Islamic Studies Indiana University Bloomington, Ind.
Such groups as the Taliban and the overzealous mullahs in Pakistan are correctly labeled as "extremist" but should not be referred to as "fundamentalist" or supporters of "undiluted Islamic law." True Islamic law, taken as a complete system--not the biased and distorted fragments handpicked by the media--outlines a profoundly moderate, logical and equitable life-style applicable to all. NAVID RASHID Washington
MUSIC AND THE INTERNET
Your article "Free Music Online" [PERSONAL TIME: YOUR TECHNOLOGY, Sept. 21] was a shock. It clearly implied that pirating music off the Internet is O.K. It is not. It is theft, pure and simple. Providing, as you have, a "how-to" guide compounds the offense by giving the weak and misguided a rationale for their infringements: "Hey, everyone is doing it. I learned how in TIME magazine." You really should know better. PETER R. HAJE, Executive Vice President and General Counsel Time Warner Inc. New York City
CLASH OVER REDWOODS
How sad and distressing to read of the latest transgressions against the environment and the death of young activist David Chain while he was attempting to save the redwoods in California [ENVIRONMENT, Sept. 28]. The most basic disagreement between the environmental movements and the business community continues to be the rights of landowners and companies to profit from their investments vs. the need to protect and preserve the source of those profits. I consider myself an environmentalist, but until we find a way to make the environment an economic issue, we'll never be able to battle the lure of economic gain derived from its riches. When the Sierra Club, Greenpeace and the rest can "sell" the environment to the business world, my kids just may have a world left that is fit to live in. STEVE WEST Nashville, Tenn.