LETTERS

A DEATH IN THE FAMILY

"Why has Bill Cosby been dealt such a terrible blow? How would his TV character Cliff Huxtable explain it all to us?" IRA M. CUTLER Port Chester, New York

Bill Cosby displayed incredible class in the shadow of the tragic death of his son Ennis [NATION, Jan. 27]. He requested that the media show "dignity." To my amazement, the media responded. There were no more gory shots of Ennis Cosby lying dead in the road. However, it's sad that such a request would probably have gone unheeded had it been someone else's son. Dignity is not accorded the common man by the media. But such insensitive publicity is a practice that must stop. MIMI JONES-ELLISON Coraopolis, Pennsylvania

It is tragically ironic that a person who has spent so much of his time bringing laughter into the lives of others has now had his own laughter taken away. If everyone had had a Bill Cosby/Cliff Huxtable for a father, maybe the person who shot Ennis would have been incapable of committing this horrible crime. CHARLIE O. STARNES Westlake Village, California

As a former classmate of Ennis' at Morehouse College, I can confirm that every positive, wonderful thing that has been printed about him is true. He was an exceptional person, and the world is a darker place for his passing. DAVID BRANTLEY III North Brunswick, New Jersey

Why did you resort to using photographs of a grieving family and a body bag? Can't you trust the written story to bring the images to life? CATHY JAMES Indianapolis, Indiana

America has produced grand drama in crime for decades. But only when the deceased are famous or near famous are the internal fires of fear and grief stoked. The death of Ennis Cosby is a tragedy, unquestionably, but others will die a similar death in Los Angeles, New York City and Washington. Will those deaths incite the nation to show outrage against violence? When will we realize that these victims had fathers, mothers, siblings? We have lost our ability to weep for faceless, nameless victims. They deserve our sympathy as much as celebrities do. MICHAEL TIMOTHY WATERMAN Washington

Thank you, TIME, for giving this important story the prominent place it deserves. Millions share the Cosby family's grief and wish them comfort. May justice be done. EILEEN MERICLE Ames, Iowa

The heaviest burden that a parent can carry is the untimely death of a child. The manner of death is of no consequence, but when one thinks that in this case it was the ruthless hand of a criminal that was responsible, one wonders why fate chose as its victim Cosby, the virtual father of many American families. LEESA DESAI New York City

Why do we need guns? What purpose do they have in society except to encourage murder and mayhem? Why shouldn't guns be banned? Anyone caught using a gun while committing a crime should be put behind bars for the rest of his or her life. If this punishment won't deter crime, I don't know what will. KANCHAN K. LALL Wallingford, Pennsylvania

SMALL-TOWN HEROES

Your story on the Green Bay Packers tried to explain the fans' pride in their team and their unique relationship with it [SPORT, Jan. 27], but words cannot express the euphoria of attending a Packers game in Green Bay, Wisconsin. It must be experienced live. The quality of leadership, the respect for one another and the fans, and the ability to focus on one thing throughout the season have brought the Packers to where they are. Wisconsin couldn't be prouder of its team than it is right now. KIM KRUEGER Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Maybe the country can learn something from the players on the Green Bay team about values that really matter. MARK SCANLAN Hartford, Wisconsin

Congratulations to writer Steve Wulf for his insight into Wisconsin humor. The element of "outrageous irony" is often missed by those who do not hail from my home state. The Cheesehead label, for instance, originated as a scornful putdown by tourists. The sponge-plastic cheese hats worn by Packer fans are an example of Wisconsinites' one-upping those who would mock the state. CARL F. HOFFMAN Cleveland Heights, Ohio

In your story you appeared to be glorifying Favre's "sense of adventure" off the field when he laid out an offender at a local bar. By writing approvingly about a blatant act of violence, you perpetuated a senseless image of macho aggression. For the kids who look up to this football hero, it is just one more signal that punching the daylights out of someone is a good thing. BILL SOKOL New York City

It's about time Wisconsin got some good press. It's difficult to describe the euphoria now that Lombardi's trophy is home again. However, you got our regular-season standings wrong. The Packers weren't 12-4; they were 13-3! Please don't take away even one morsel of the recognition that our hardworking green-and-gold men deserve. TOBY HENSEL Milwaukee, Wisconsin

IT'S NOT THE COWS WHO ARE MAD

Re your story on the fear that bovine spongiform encephalopathy (mad-cow disease) might occur in the U.S. [HEALTH, Jan. 27]: I would like to remind you to be cautious when publishing such reports. A careless story could seriously damage the U.S. beef industry. The U.S. has never had a case of BSE. It is not common for Americans to eat cattle brains, the organ most likely to be the problem, if in fact eating any part of the cow actually causes the disease in humans. SARAH BUXKEMPER Ballinger, Texas

American cattlemen support the intent of the FDA proposal to ban the use of certain animal tissue in feed as another precaution to prevent BSE in U.S. cattle. This measure, however, is only one of many that cattlemen and the government have taken since 1986 to keep BSE out of the U.S. Such safeguards strongly dispute virologist Robert Rohwer's assertion that the "only thing that stands between us and a BSE epidemic is unmitigated luck." Consumers need to know that what keeps U.S. beef safe and BSE-free is not luck but the combined efforts and commitment of America's cattlemen and the government. These efforts are well worth it in safeguarding the health of U.S. cattle. Consumers can eat U.S. beef with total confidence. GARY WEBER Executive Director of Regulatory Affairs National Cattlemen's Beef Association Washington

Why eat beef? We could just as easily eat soy protein. What would we risk? Slimmer bodies, clearer arteries, healthier farmland and maybe even a clear conscience. There could be a spiritual benefit to re-examining our greed for meat. Maybe we're the mad ones. LAURA J. WALLACE Baltimore, Maryland

THE CITADEL ERUPTS AGAIN

I found the departure of female cadets Kim Messer and Jeanie Mentavlos from the Citadel disturbing [SOCIETY, Jan. 27]. The two claimed sexual harassment and vicious hazing, and it is hard to comprehend that people would behave so horribly to other human beings. This is just a school, right? It's not as if lives were at stake or actual combat was going on. And even if that were so, I can't understand how washing someone's mouth out with cleanser helps prepare for combat. However, my time in the U.S. Army taught me a lot of things, and the most important lesson was "never quit"--even when faced with seemingly unbearable odds, never give up. Unfortunately, Messer and Mentavlos did just that. When you quit once, it becomes easier to do so the next time you are faced with adversity. It is truly a pity that the two started quitting now. DAVID R. VAILLANCOURT Auburn, Maine

Your story stated that half the Citadel's freshman female cadets have quit the school. Yes, it's true that 2 out of 4 dropped out, but what about the 81 men who also quit out of a class of 581? And while most "knobs" drop out during the first few weeks of the semester, these women hung in there until the bitter end. The two remaining women cadets continue to do well at the Citadel. After reading about the vicious hazing, which supposedly builds character but instead seems to keep these students at a juvenile level, I can only ask, What company would want to fill its jobs with men who set people on fire and force them to sing obscene songs? MARY SHELTON Riverside, California

SKATING ON THIN ICE

Champion skater Oksana Baiul is a role model to many children around the world who aspire to reach the Olympics [SOCIETY, Jan. 27]. However, Baiul is only 19 years old, and she illegally drove her car while under the influence of alcohol. It is unfortunate that you decided to focus on the tale of an athlete turned sour rather than on the scary truth that many of our nation's youngsters are dying from driving while intoxicated. AREL SOLIE Portland, Oregon

Baiul's technique on the ice is pure poetry, but I think her Americanization may have led her to skate on thin ice. Maybe a trip back to her native Ukraine would help her over the perilous hurdles of the skating world. PATRICIA PURDIE Houston

Though Baiul has slacked off considerably in her professional career, it is not true, as one critic said, that professional competition isn't the real thing and is only "Broadway." One does not have to be in Olympic condition to compete and perform as a professional, but it certainly gives one an edge and garners the respect of the fans. Unfortunately, Baiul thought she could enter the pros and coast. What she must do--after her back is completely healed, of course--is go back to the gym, get on the ice and work hard. She has to realize that life is not all fun and games. KARA PESTER Modesto, California

FINDING WORK OUTSIDE THE CITY

Your story about where the jobs are today was simplistic [BUSINESS, Jan. 20]. Great, if you know how to program a computer, can work in an amusement park or sell fast food in a major metropolitan area. But what about people who don't do those things?

For example, I'm a 47-year-old white male, college educated, well read, with more than 25 years experience as a cop in the San Francisco Bay Area. I got tired of living in a metropolitan area and moved to a small town just north of Sacramento. Here, excluding the fast-food jobs, etc., there is no work beyond low-level labor and self-employment. And even though there is no "job explosion" here, many of us prefer to live in a more decent, friendly and respectful environment and not in cities. JOHN LASTER Auburn, California

OVERCOMING OBSTACLES

The closing thoughts in the excerpts taken from Robert Coles' book The Moral Intelligence of Children [EDUCATION, Jan. 20] struck something deep within me, pricking my conscience. Coles writes that we must be kind and wade in over and over again with a commitment to help others. To go out of our own way to find opportunities to do good is the epitome of kindness, especially when one must overcome obstacles in order to do good. I would add to Coles' words that this "commitment to others" is not only the "heart of the journey" but also the journey of the heart, wherein we discover a fundamental truth: in helping others we help ourselves. KEVIN STRAUB Red Deer, Alberta

PAULA JONES' CASE

Why should Clinton be allowed to postpone for years the trial of a lawsuit [NATION, Jan. 20] filed against him? This would be really unfair to Paula Jones. She should have her day in court, just like anyone else. Does the fact that the accused is the President of the U.S. set him above justice? I think the Supreme Court should treat this case like any other and rule that the trial should take place as soon as possible. LYNETTE LOH, age 16 Singapore

EVITA! MADONNA!

Is Evita about Eva Peron, or is it about Madonna's efforts to get our attention again [CINEMA, Dec. 16]? Isn't Madonna's intensive campaign for the role--agreeing on only a $1 million fee for a major production that cost $60 million, lobbying and negotiating with every key person--enough evidence to prove the latter? Madonna identifies herself with Eva Peron, but in what ways? Only in being able to manipulate others to satisfy her hunger for power. Why doesn't Madonna run a charity and help the poor, as Eva did? One wonders why Evita was made for the screen in the first place. Even talented director Alan Parker could not save Madonna. She may be a good singer and music-video and stage performer, but she is clearly not a good actress! She looked pathetic, except in the last sequence, when Evita says her farewell. That was the only time I saw an emotional reaction from the movie audience. Madonna should stop copying others and play only herself. MOSTAFA SHOWRAKI North York, Ontario

I think Madonna in her role in the film Evita was fantastic. There is no need for anyone to ask, "Can this movie revive Madonna's career?" This woman is a living legend. No one else has had such an impact on American fashion, style and sensuality since...oh, maybe Marilyn? Who else could emerge from the bowels of the New York City club scene to become an international star? Madonna's energy and audacity make her an unforgettable original in the wasteland of bland, wimpy disco divas (the Mariah Careys and Celine Dions, yuck!). Being trashed by tabloids and appearing in cheesy movies should not diminish the fact that Madonna has had a phenomenal impact on pop culture. MARIKA KANG Calgary, Alberta

In the film, Madonna revives the legend of Eva Peron beautifully and demonstrates her own many talents of singing, acting and dancing. Madonna really does have star quality. DEREK HSIA Vancouver, British Columbia

Madonna's behavior of late is getting to be increasingly respectable. She must be desperate. FRANCIS A. MACDONALD Inverness, Nova Scotia

NEW PERCEPTIONS OF GATES

In his report on Bill Gates, Walter Isaacson provided insight that has given us a new perception of the man [BUSINESS, Jan. 13]. Gates, apart from his lack of emotional empathy with mankind and his ruthless business prowess, is the intellectual thinker for modern-day society. He knew what he wanted and was determined to achieve it. Instead of being a victim of circumstance, he turned events to his purpose. That's why he is today the ceo of Microsoft Corp., the world's richest man and perhaps the modern-day Napoleon of the technological world. But I wonder, Is Bill Gates as vulnerable as Napoleon was? MATHEW THURING Glen Waverley, Australia Your story on Gates resembled an episode from Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. Such details as an income of $30 million a day, a $380,000 Porsche that ended up impounded, a $40 million home overlooking Lake Washington and a billionaire boys' club do not give us insight into Bill Gates' mind. I believe in technology, but Gates' technology is doing nothing to help us learn. Microsoft is selling entertainment, not education: first computer games, now Internet Explorer. You can be sure children will not leave their computers now. Next time give us some real insights. JESSY TSE Toronto

So Gates gains his fourth TIME cover. But consider this: there are enough copies of Linux (a computer operating system developed by Finnish university student Linus Torvalds) to make its author a billionaire like Gates, and yet Torvalds chooses to continue giving it away free. Who is the greater man? GREGORY BAKER Marsfield, Australia

He may be the most famous businessman in the world or the smartest guy alive, but I've got no respect for him. If what you described is the real Gates, I feel sorry for him. Someone who is blessed with such intelligence and wealth yet doesn't acknowledge that these gifts come from God is someone who is living a worthless life. ROZA AHMAD Kuantan, Malaysia

The real made-in-America product is not Microsoft but Bill Gates. The brilliance and ingenuity of this man can be developed to such an extent only in a country like America. How many kids in the world are as smart as he? Gates should consider setting up a fund to be used in various countries around the globe to contribute to the discovery and grooming of youngsters with talent. HANY SHALABY Cairo

FABULOUS FILMS TO DISCOVER

Re your article "Fellini Go Home," about the declining U.S. audience for foreign-made films [CINEMA, Jan. 13]: I find it shameful that so many Americans remain intolerant of or indifferent to foreign cinema while they are mesmerized by their own virtually monopolistic and often below-average films. Granted, America has its share of talented moviemakers and actors, but the rest of the world has as much cinematic talent and artistic potential, if not more. American filmmakers as well as the American public could derive much enlightenment and thought-provoking pleasure from the brilliant artistic expression and profound stories that are available today in films made outside the U.S. Perhaps it is too much to ask of an audience, but I certainly hope not. DERRICK J. KORN Strasbourg, France

THE FRENCH TAKE BUT DON'T GIVE

Re your story on the troubles in relations between the U.S. and France [WORLD, Jan. 27]: So what else is new? The French are being contentious and uncooperative. They take, but they don't give. We should stop bending over backward to mollify them. WILLARD A. MONSELL Kent, Connecticut

LARRY FLYNT LOOK-ALIKE

The commentary on how the film The People vs. Larry Flynt glosses over Flynt's faults included a picture of him at his desk [SPECTATOR, Jan. 27]. He looks just like Jabba the Hutt, from Star Wars. VIRGINIA REMES Norris City, Illinois