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We live in an age of spaceships, genetic manipulation, the Internet and all kinds of unbelievable achievements. How could we not find a way to supply oxygen to that doomed submarine? The Russian ego has again proved that human lives are seemingly not worth a kopeck. The Kursk disaster was simply murder by the state. Shame on Putin! DIPTENDU CHAKRABORTY Toronto
Isn't it amazing what ego and arrogance can do? A perfect example is the acceptance by Russia's leaders of the loss of innocent sailors aboard the Kursk despite numerous offers of help from other countries. WILBUR KARIUKI Nairobi
Russia clearly asserted there were no nuclear weapons on its ill-fated submarine. One can only ask, If there were none, what did the Russians fear would be found if Western rescue assistance were promptly enlisted? We don't know if British or American rescue attempts would have saved any Russian sailors; but they deserved that chance. MIKE RICKS Bobcaygeon, Ont.
The human tragedy of the Kursk is obvious, and Western nations have learned that since Russia cannot behave in an open and honest manner when faced with a humanitarian crisis, we would be foolish to expect anything other than a traditional Soviet attitude to political, economic and military issues from the Russian government. PETER G. WILSON Whitburn, Scotland
Let's not forget. The Kursk was no research vessel. It was a warship whose missiles at one time or another probably targeted many TIME readers. Although the loss of life is tragic, the world is a safer place without the Kursk. LARRY ROBERTS Winnipeg, Alta.
Isn't it ironic that Russia had to look to the Western powers for help when the Kursk's weapons were meant to destroy Western targets? And the way Putin reacted put a real black mark on his name. Once seen as a man of action, he remained aloof from the Russian people during this crisis and stayed on holiday. SARANG KALE Pune, India
Who's Afraid of Jaws?
Your sensationalized account of the shark attacks off the Florida coast only perpetuates the general public's irrational fear of sharks [AMERICAN SCENE, Sept. 4]. I have scuba dived and snorkeled in close contact with several species of sharks, including many hundreds of schooling hammerheads and silvertip reef sharks, and have seen only fear, wariness, curiosity or indifference on the part of the sharks. They are beautiful, awesome creatures that are being decimated by shark finners and purse-seine factory ships. DAVID MCCULLOH Cupertino, Calif.
Political Notes from All Over
Here at the beginning of the century, we have the two top Democratic candidates and the Republican presidential contender touting their religiosity [CAMPAIGN 2000, Aug. 21]. More worrisome, however, is the further contention that religion deserves a greater, rather than lesser, role in the body politic. Does this signal a new Puritanism, a return to politics of the Judeo-Christian tradition as interpreted by the politicians in power? Will our lives be governed by political leaders whose religious convictions we do not share? One can only hope that this is just more empty political rhetoric. JAMES BOYCE Skopje, Macedonia