SUPER MAN

"Christopher Reeve has proved that courage and determination can help a person fly higher than any Hollywood special effects." EUAN B. SHARP St. Catharines, Canada

What an extraordinary article on Christopher Reeve and his battle to walk again after spinal-cord injury [MEDICINE, Aug. 26]. His courage, resolution and wit in the face of enormous physical challenges are truly inspiring. Roger Rosenblatt managed both to humanize and to exalt this man of steel. Many people will be cheering on his progress, both physical and legislative, in the years to come. While he can no longer move freely in the beautiful landscape near his home, Reeve will surely have many exhilarating journeys across the landscape of his mind. LAURA KELLY Pleasantville, New York Via E-mail

Reeve is a valiant person and a magnificent spokesman for spinal-cord-injury regeneration research. His accomplishments should certainly be applauded. But his bravery is far outshone by those thousands of "average" men and women with quadriplegia who, despite less-than-optimal health care, little or no family support and few opportunities for independence through employment or education and training, go on day after day, always trying their very best to live their life in a positive, loving and productive way. They are the real heroes. CATHERINE W. BRITELL, M.D. Mercer Island, Washington Via E-mail

As Christopher Reeve's mom, I congratulate you on your excellent profile of him. Although I knew that this cover story was coming, I confess I was unprepared for the onslaught of tears that overcame me when I read it. Your report brought back a lot of memories and painted a very vivid picture of Chris' life today. As a journalist, I admired the scope and detail of the piece and the skillful way Chris' accident, therapy and campaign for spinal-cord research were interwoven with the personal aspects of his life and thoughts. You captured the paradox in his driving perfectionism and his unsure self-criticism. The opening paragraph was especially masterly in its description of Chris in his chair, inert and immobile but all forward motion in his eyes and his thinking. Similarly, the last image of him, on the tilt table, standing tall, was so apt and telling of his strong desire to walk again. BARBARA L. JOHNSON Princeton, New Jersey

Look no further for TIME's next man of the Year. He is on your cover for all the reasons you cite as criteria for your selection. Reeve is truly inspirational. RENEE KIRK Thornton, Pennsylvania

I worked with Reeve on the first two films in the Superman series. And as the uncle of a 27-year-old quadriplegic who crushed his spinal cord in a teenage diving tragedy, I am all too aware of the unspeakable horrors attendant on this kind of catastrophic injury. I know that Chris will bring the same intensity, energy and intelligence he displayed as an actor to his efforts to reverse paralysis from spinal-cord trauma. I pray that I will live to see the day when Chris and my nephew Adam will walk again. DAVID M. PETROU Washington

Reeve is no hero. Heroes sacrifice not out of necessity but out of choice. Heroes build houses, feed the poor and go into harm's way out of a sense of duty and honor. Heroes are not rich Hollywood actors who get hurt riding their ponies and then lecture the rest of us on why more of our hard-earned tax money should go to help them out. DANIEL J. ADAMS San Diego, California

You mentioned Reeve's work on the establishment of the Reeve-Irvine Research Center at the University of California at Irvine, noting that it started with a $1 million gift from the philanthropist Joan Irvine Smith. You erroneously said, however, that the state will match Smith's donation. In fact, all of the matching-fund money will come from private donations. We have begun a major campaign to raise this money from concerned citizens and corporations so that we may achieve the goal of finding a cure for spinal-cord injury. JERRY E. MANDEL, Vice Chancellor University of California, Irvine Irvine, California

If Reeve, through his mishap, can draw greater attention to the cause of spinal-cord injuries, bless him. I recently visited a children's trauma hospital where I saw babies, toddlers and young children who know only the bed they sleep in, the rehabilitation room down the hall and their many nurses. Let's pray that Reeve's star power pays off and that he and these children walk again. DEBORAH LYNCH Ithaca, New York Via E-mail

A man who cannot stand or walk, who has not the strength of a babe, is waging a heroic battle against apathy, pain and despair. ELIZABETH ITTS Canfield, Ohio

HURTING AMERICA'S ALLIES

The Clinton administration should take a closer look at the effects of laws aimed at curbing terrorism by applying sanctions [WORLD, Aug. 26]. Although the Helms-Burton Law and the Iran and Libya Sanctions Act of 1996 are well intentioned, the result has been to hurt our allies. They have made it clear that they will not allow themselves to be bullied by the U.S. Unless the Administration modifies or repeals these laws, there will be serious repercussions. J. RICARDO SOLIZ Houston

Any nation that deals with Iran can not be called a friend or an ally of the U.S.'s, when business with Iran can help fuel the terrorist machine that attacks Americans and Israelis. It is the radical Islamic world that seeks to impose its standard of death and slavery upon the U.S. WALLINGTON SIMPSON JR. Montebello, New York

BRUTALITY IN CHECHNYA

The photograph showing the smoldering body of a Russian soldier [WORLD, Aug. 26] is yet another powerful image of the brutality that is taking place in Chechnya. This gruesome depiction of the war's ceaseless fighting should serve only one purpose: to force Moscow pull its troops out of Chechnya. ANTHONY SAAR Toronto

NO-NEWS CONVENTION?

So the media thought that the convention was dull and sanitized and that it produced no news [THE REPUBLICANS, Aug. 26]. Those comments probably best describe what's wrong with the media. Would they have been happier with a bomb blast or two, perhaps some good old riots and violent abortion-rights battles? Apparently speeches that enable you to learn about candidates do not qualify as news. And here I thought one of the responsibilities of the media was to inform, not just report sensationalism. WILLIAM R. BROWN Pauma Valley, California

If there are no confrontations, no controversy and no bloodshed, the networks don't get excited. Maybe the G.O.P. should get credit for a well-orchestrated, organized convention. ALEX A. BAELLO JR. Cerritos, California

Thank god for C-SPAN! how refreshing it was to watch the conventions without the inane banter of commentators. RICHARD A. THOMAS AuTrain, Michigan Via E-mail

ODE TO CALVIN

Re Calvin Trillin's poem on the Republican Convention, "Nicely, Nicely" [NOTEBOOK, Aug. 26]:

O dear Calvin Trillin, we think that your wit, Gift-wrapped as fine poetry, is quite a hit. It's a pity that those souls lampooned in your verse Can't quite understand it, but what's even worse, I'm sure that they've clipped it and have it displayed, While those asked to read it are somewhat dismayed, Because what's been mistaken for bold admiration Is simply just wonderful satirization. HELEN RANDALL Honolulu

A response to Trillin:

While wrapping up the G.O.P. In rhyming couplets, Mr. T. Has proved to all, both friends and foes, We're all much better off in prose. PHILIP COLLINS Hopewell, New Jersey

HUMANS, WE AREN'T THAT SPECIAL

Nathan Myrhvold wrote tongue in cheek [ESSAY, Aug. 26] that there is reason to be depressed about the possibility of life on Mars: if it is proved, it is then absurd to claim that we humans are in any sense the center of the universe. Chalk up one more home run for the Scienceville Sluggers; the home team, Religion, is doomed. Myrhvold wrote, "Our true distinction is the intellectual journey that brought us to this understanding"--that we're insignificant products of that impersonal anti-God, chance; nothings who think we're, well, special. THOMAS DORSETT Baltimore, Maryland

CORRECTION

Our Winners & Losers feature [NOTEBOOK, Aug. 26] erroneously said the Corporation for Public Broadcasting was responsible for an animated version of William Bennett's Book of Virtues. In fact, the CPB is not involved in this program; it was funded by CIGNA Corp., private foundations, public-television viewers and PBS.