Letters

HOW MAN EVOLVED

Thank you for your fascinating cover story on the evolution of the human species [PALEONTOLOGY, Aug. 23]. As a former anthropology student, I was thrilled to read about the important discoveries that have been made in the past several years. Scientists are valiantly attempting to shine a flashlight down the long, dark tunnel of man's ancient past, and they have succeeded in illuminating certain truths. Shame on those who are allowing ignorance and fear to prevent students from having the chance to understand their place in the great chain of human evolution--for it is nothing short of miraculous. KRISTINA OLBERDING Cincinnati, Ohio

Your article "Up From The Apes" was concise, well written and very scientific. It convinced me that it takes more faith to believe in evolution than it does to believe in God. SCOTT STEVENS Two Rivers, Wis.

The scientific "facts" of today have an unnerving way of being superseded by tomorrow's knowledge and improved technology. Your article said the human race, of all the animal kingdom, is the only currently unique species. Is this not more than pure coincidence? A more objective look at this extraordinary fact might lead us to the words of Genesis: "So God created man in his own image." CHARLES HARDING West Sussex, England

Right-thinking creationists do not impugn evolution. What we reject is a universe that made itself out of nothing or is in eternal flux and presumes that we humans are little more than a strange fluke on the route to quantum mechanics. Pure evolution raises serious questions about such matters as justice, freedom and rights, for if there is no God, then, according to the principles of evolution, the more powerful must always win while the weak and inferior deserve to be trampled or eliminated. With the unqualified acceptance of evolution, the creationist concepts of perennial values of equality and justice fly right out the existential window. (THE REV.) GEORGE MORGAN Our Lady of Guadalupe Church Chicago

Anyone who believes there is "only one species of human on the planet" has never shopped at Wal-Mart. BETH WITHERELL Peoria, Ill.

The idea that perfect order "evolved" from chaos, inanimate mud or goo, without a Creator or a blueprint, is so stupid that a six-year-old child would reject it. How can something come from nothing? How can incredible diversity and complexity "evolve" mindlessly and randomly from one-celled slugs? And where did they come from? PAT BOONE Los Angeles

Here we go again. Once more we are being told humans are nothing more than apes without fur. AMY D. RAMSAY Sellersville, Pa.

The recent fossil discoveries that supposedly document human evolution are mere opinions. Evolution has never been proved. It is a theory that is on shaky ground. ANDREW DIPROSE Rome

THAT CONTROVERSIAL RULING

Re Stephen Jay Gould's article on the Kansas board of education's banning evolution in school curriculums [VIEWPOINT, Aug. 23]: When the state school boards of America refuse to educate our children properly, one can only thank God--yes, God--that TIME is willing to do it for them. JOHN DUVALL Elon College, N.C.

Why doesn't the Kansas board of education hire some archaeologists to locate the graves of Adam and Eve? GRAY A. NESBIT Santa Ana, Calif.

It would only be natural to assume that TIME has been banned in Kansas. MARTHA DOWD Peoria, Ariz.

LOOK WHO'S LISTENING

I take issue with some of Andrew Ferguson's points in "Now They're All Ears" [POLITICAL SCENE, Aug. 23]. I agree that political candidates' "listening tours" seem to have elements of a sham, but I think Ferguson exaggerates a bit. In times past, politicians were criticized for their detachment from their constituencies. In an age when it has become easier to travel and communicate, it's necessary for candidates to deal directly with the voters--not just to get ideas but also to find out what some of America's problems and needs are. LARRY SCHOOLER New Haven, Conn.

Kudos to Ferguson for an entertaining look at the latest political gimmick, listening. Politicians have no shame when it comes to manipulating the American voter. One wonders if any of the trusting people who raise concerns for the consideration of politicians expect anything more than lip service. The time for politicians to listen is after they have been elected, not before. PERRY NICHOLS Brewster, Mass.

PRESIDENT BULWORTH

Did everyone forget that possible presidential candidate Warren Beatty [NOTEBOOK, Aug. 23] is married to the beautiful Annette Bening, who was cast as the romantic interest of widower President Michael Douglas in the movie The American President? Go for it, Warren! Perfect casting! LINDA SONES FEINBERG Lynnfield, Mass.

LOOKING FOR A SAFE HAVEN

Your story "Is Any Place Safe?" reported on the rush by schools to install security measures [NATION, Aug. 23]. Now we have constant high-tech surveillance, security fences, uniforms... So what are we teaching our children? How to live in a police state. Undoubtedly these school-security measures are instituted out of fear. Concerns for our children's safety are well founded. In being driven by fears while forgetting to safeguard civil liberties, however, we may reach a time when the term "the land of the free and the home of the brave" no longer applies. TONY KALENAK Odessa, Texas

I am tired of hearing how the U.S. is getting more dangerous every day for everyone from minorities to schoolchildren. There have always been violence and violent people here. With a population of more than 260 million, the U.S. is a place where anything can happen anytime. The real problem is that the press, making such a big thing out of every occurrence, is convincing people that we are all in danger. There's no question that schoolchildren get hurt and killed, but more than 15 million students go to high school every day and are not injured. Not everyone is in danger of being shot or killed. We do not all have to walk in fear and carry guns. CRAIG LITTLEFIELD Tucson, Ariz.

LIFE IN CELL-PHONE HELL

Joshua Quittner's article about how cell-phone users can be extremely annoying was a masterpiece in "irritating humor" [BUSINESS, Aug. 23]. I laughed till I cried. Quittner really sized up the situation and even gave a reasonable solution--a hypothetical electronic jamming device that would knock a phone abuser off-line. It was great having a comic break during my workday. And, yes, I do have a cell phone. SANDY MASON North Fort Myers, Fla.

Where can I buy my cell jammer? Please, please, I hope some enterprising company creates such a device. If it had a range that would allow me to jam the cell phone of a driver in another car, I would buy one in a heartbeat. What a joy it would be to see drivers actually using turn signals and paying attention to the traffic instead of blindly babbling away on the phone. AMY ALEXANDER San Jose, Calif.

Last week I found myself in cell hell. After six hours on a plane, we passengers were crammed onto a bus without seats for the ride to the terminal. I immediately found myself surrounded by three cell-phone yakkers, one of whom was no more than six inches from my face. If I had had a free hand, I would have taken my blow dryer out of my carry-on and given those cell-phone users a taste of their own electronic medicine. Sign me up for ihatecellphones.com JUDITH A. WEBB Pacific Grove, Calif.

MODERN-DAY MICHELANGELO

I've just finished reading Charles Krauthammer's article on Les Schofield, the innovative designer of vehicles for the disabled [TECHNOLOGY, Aug. 16]. I'm proud as hell to say this modern-day Michelangelo is my Uncle Les. I can remember as a young boy my father telling me that my uncle was probably the smartest guy he knew. There was always something extraordinary about this man who could look at a plain old van and see a way to help a disabled person drive. I once sat behind the wheel of one of his creations. The marvel of levers that allow for movement of a disabled person is still fresh in my head. Perhaps the best thing about this self-educated man is his ability to see into the future while keeping his feet on the ground. I'm proud of him. WAYNE F. THERRIEN Pomfret Center, Conn.