Letters

CLINTON'S MOMENT OF TRUTH

"My problem with President Clinton is not that he's shown he is human; it is the fact that he is a fraud and a hypocrite." ED CUNION Johannesburg

Clinton's Aug. 17 speech was the biggest mistake of his political career [SPECIAL REPORT, Aug. 31]. He had an opportunity to be truthful, but rather than admit that he lied to the American people, the President said he "misled" them. Rather than admit that he had had a sexual relationship with Monica Lewinsky, he said he had had a relationship that was "not appropriate." Rather than face the truth, he attacked independent counsel Kenneth Starr. We should expect to have a higher moral standard than Clinton has provided. JOHN S. JONES Ventura, Calif.

I don't give a rat's behind who Clinton is sleeping with. I voted for him to be President, not a national saint. DEAN BALAGTAS La Jolla, Calif.

Who makes the decisions about political leadership in America, the people or the political elite? Those who wish to remove Clinton ought to understand the precedent being set in giving certain power to the political elite. Once that group grows accustomed to choosing the President in place of the voting majority, the average citizen will have a hard time regaining power. Rather than focusing on impeaching Clinton, voters should spend their time finding and promoting the right candidates for President. LEE A. PRESSER Glen Carbon, Ill.

I certainly expect my president to know the meaning of "sexual relations," "ethics" and "integrity." He deserves to be impeached, and a good old-fashioned tar and feathering is also in order. PAMELA MCCALL Albuquerque, N.M.

I didn't hear an apology from Clinton on Aug. 17. He said, I did it, I lied, now let's forget it. He can obfuscate by blaming Starr all he wants, but it only delays the judgment day of Starr's report to the House, when all payments become due. PAUL R. CHAGNON Springfield, Va.

I've long appreciated Dee Dee Myers' astute political analysis, but having worked for President Clinton distorted her judgment in the piece she wrote for you, "That's Where He Lost Me." However badly the President messed up in his personal life, his responsibility as the Commander in Chief precluded the soul-baring mea culpa Myers unrealistically hoped he would deliver. No President should ever again be humiliated by an official sexual interrogation by a political opponent. Clinton was right to show his anger that Starr's dangerous "probe" is interfering with his marriage and his Executive duties. Myers accepts the premise that the President's private life is our business. That's where she lost me. ROSES PRICHARD Los Angeles

Myers summed up my feelings best of all. I was a strong Democrat before the Monica mess, and still am. President Clinton has been one of the best Presidents the U.S. has had, but he let all of us down this time. LENA JONES Smithville, Tenn.

Garry Wills said in his piece "Leading by Leaving" that Clinton should resign. I strongly disagree. Resigning would only further lower the morale of a country that already feels foolish about this whole affair. What Clinton needs to do (if he's smart) is admit in a nationwide address that he has a problem with sex, then get into therapy and earn our sympathy back. I bet it would work. SUE RA Lansing, Mich.

Thanks to Garry Wills for a logical lesson in leadership. Let's hope the intelligent Clinton recognizes this wisdom and leads by leaving. STEPHEN H. SMITH Ridgefield, Conn.

Peggy Noonan in her critique of the speech blames Clinton for not fully explaining what was "not appropriate" in his relationship with Lewinsky. Well, Noonan is a professional speechwriter. Could she illustrate how she would have explained this on prime-time TV? Perhaps with pictures? ARISTIDES VERTES New York City

Americans support Clinton not because he is a "good ole boy," as pundit Noonan suggests, but because we appreciate someone who is basically good-willed. Of course, he's immature and downright stupid in what he did, but he's not a bitter, cynical, meanspirited person. Being good-willed is important to us, and we'll support anyone in high places who proves to have that virtue, especially if he works as hard as Clinton. The skeptics could learn a lot from this President, if only he would grow up. JOSEPH PETULLA Berkeley, Calif.

Here's a way out of the Clinton mess: Al Gore resigns as Vice President. Clinton appoints retired General Colin Powell to replace Gore. Then Clinton pardons whomever he wants and resigns. Powell becomes President. Respect for the office is restored. Terrorists think twice before attacking the U.S. WARREN E. PETERSON Seattle

I'm intrigued by Lewinsky's keeping the stained dress. Why? Was she planning to frame it? Or send it to be auctioned at Sotheby's? This girl is weird. But even weirder is Clinton's ever getting involved with such a birdbrain. GENE C. GERZSO Mexico City

WHAT WOULD WE HAVE STARR DO?

Enough with the Ken Starr bashing! Starr was given a difficult and thankless job: he had to uncover the misdeeds of an elusive foe. Considering the power of the President, it is doubtful that a less determined person would have been able to force Slick Willie to confess. Obviously the process has been disruptive and costly, but what would Americans have had Starr do? If we don't want to know when politicians break the law or commit immoral acts, then we'd better get rid of the special-prosecutor law. Otherwise, let's not shoot the messenger just because we don't like the message. JERRY MOORE Richardson, Texas

Give me four years, $40 million, the subpoena power of the U.S. and the authority to grant immunity to anyone, and I will find out what happened to Roanoke's "Lost Colony," Amelia Earhart and Jimmy Hoffa. DON BARKER Nashville, Tenn.

KEEP AN EYE ON HILLARY

I wonder if the Secret Service is keeping a close eye on Hillary. After what her husband has put her through, there isn't a jury in the country that would convict her of anything she might do if she decides to take revenge. ROBERT J. HAVRILLA Pittsburgh, Pa.

If I were Hillary, I would forget about any sort of "trade love for power" deal and jump ship in a heartbeat. ELLA HO North York, Ont.

COVERAGE OF THE CRISIS

That was a great special report [TO OUR READERS, Aug. 31]. Your issue provided insight into the internal struggles facing the First Family. The amount of detail was overwhelming. Thanks for getting close to the action. MERRILYNNE HENDERSON Moreno Valley, Calif.

Your coverage of this sordid affair was filled with more blather from the usual crew of chatmeisters. The real decline in morality and ethics in America is in the media's relentless pursuit of sales or ratings to the detriment of objective reporting on serious news subjects. Adultery has been with the human species forever. What is new is that TIME, CNN and others have realized what the tabloids have known all along: the highest profits lie in pandering to the basest forms of human experience. TOM SCOTT Encinitas, Calif.

ORGANIC FOODS WARNING

Letters you published reacting to your report on the deadly E. coli bacterium [LETTERS, Aug. 24] may have left a dangerously false impression that the E. coli threat comes mainly from animal products or from "factory" farms.

In fact, the largest consumer threat comes from organically grown vegetables. This is because organic farmers use animal manure as a principal source of fertilizer. Studies have shown that the E. coli O157:H7 strain can survive manure composting. Please let people know it is wrong to assume that organic and natural foods are a safe alternative to conventionally grown products. ALEX AVERY Director of Research and Education Center for Global Food Issues Hudson Institute Churchville, Va.

CHRIS ROCK IN WHITEFACE

In an item about comedian Chris Rock's photo in whiteface on Vanity Fair's cover [PEOPLE, Aug. 31], you attributed views to me that were not accurate. You said an editor had found that the photo was jarring to many of her black friends, and noted that I joined in saying the pictures pained the average black person. I simply don't believe that. If you ask the "average black person" what is a pain in everyday life, the list wouldn't include sensational magazine covers or opinionated celebrity comics.

What I did tell Chris Rock was that many brothers in the barbershops in our neighborhood were talking about the cover. Our exchange was not a face-off between African Americans. And to my favorite comic of late, Mr. Rock, never let 'em see you sweat! YVETTE M. RUSSELL Entertainment Editor, Essence New York City

THE FAILURES OF FAITH HEALING

Your article on the followers of Christ congregation in Oregon that believes in spiritual healing over medical treatment left a bitter taste in my mouth [RELIGION, Aug. 31]. How reprehensible it is to "prove" your faith by allowing your child to die or suffer without medical intervention. Children are the innocents of this world. God has given us the ability to combat suffering, and it is our moral duty to do so. God did not leave us to fight disease with only our faith. JAMES GARCELON, M.D. Lafayette, La.

I can remember as a child hearing my father urge my mother to see a doctor for something and her reply, "If God had wanted me any different, he would have made me different." She did not believe in faith healing; she just hated to go to the doctor, as many of us do. But that remark helps us understand the attitude of those who prefer to let loved ones die rather than violate God's holy temple with surgery or medicine.

However, I cannot understand why someone would willingly ignore God's great gift of medical knowledge in favor of enduring a health condition that could easily be corrected. Russ Briggs' watching his two babies die in childbirth and then seeking medical help for his own back injury make me wonder about that kind of "faith." ROBERT H. RIES Florence, Ore.

TIME's report on the Followers of Christ case left readers with the mistaken impression that the Oregonian newspaper broke this story. In fact, the first series of reports on the case aired on KATU-TV in Portland two full days in advance of the first Oregonian story. State medical examiner Larry Lewman told KATU first of his allegations in the case, and our initial reports detailed the estimates of the number of children who could have been saved with simple medical intervention. GARY WALKER, News Director KATU-TV Portland, Ore.

NO EXPOSURE IN ASIA

Your item "Should Investors Tee Off?" [PERSONAL TIME: YOUR MONEY, Aug. 31], about a new golf investment fund, incorrectly said, "Asia's woes have been a drag on...Family Golf Centers." Family Golf has no Asian exposure. We operate more than 100 stand-alone golf driving ranges, exclusively in the U.S. and Canada. Perhaps the fact that the firm was founded by two highly successful Asian Americans--Dominic Chang and Krishnan Thampi--somehow confused you. Family Golf's recent share-price slide has more to do with the overall weakness in the small-capitalization market than the economic Asian flu. JEFFREY C. KEY, Chief Financial Officer Family Golf Centers Inc. Melville, N.Y.