Letters

THE POPE IN THE HOLY LAND

"Walking on water or resurrecting the dead would be an easier task than making peace here. But isn't the Pope a match for this job?" AMNON KARIV Raanana, Israel

"Your story on the Pope's trip to the Holy Land [THE PAPAL PILGRIMAGE, April 3] sent a message of hope to the world. How can a frail figure, a "bent old man," evoke such respect in Christians as well as non-Christians? His presence in the world and his timing have, as you said, helped change history--in Russia, Cuba and perhaps now in the Middle East. The Pope has shown the world what true leadership is all about. RICARDO RAMIREZ-GASTON Burke, Va.

Some 2,000 years ago, Christianity was born during a time when the Jewish faith was well established in Israel. A few hundred years later, Islam entered the picture. Ever since, these three religions have been bickering over land and people, creating wars and other havoc. Who is to blame depends on whom you ask. Pope John Paul II has taken a major leap forward to help bring Christians, Jews and Muslims together in a bond of peace. Unfortunately, it may take a few hundred years to improve these dysfunctional relationships. Because of all his efforts (including his support for the people who helped dismantle East European communism), Pope John Paul II should be named Diplomat of the Millennium! ROB BISHOP San Antonio, Texas

After exhausting exposure to photos of smiling, insincere pretenders to the American presidential throne, I was relieved to see your extraordinary picture of an anguished Pope John Paul II, head in hands, seated between intransigent Jewish and Muslim adversaries in Jerusalem. Might he be apologizing for the frailty of mankind? KIT HAYDEN Newcastle, Maine

Pope John Paul's courage, moral integrity and indomitable spirit set him apart from all other world leaders. His words and actions during this trip may not have appeased or pleased everyone. Yet when I listened to his words at the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial and saw his shaking hand touch the Western Wall, I knew this was a man of peace for people of all nationalities and faiths. PAULA DELFIORE Cranston, R.I.

PUTIN'S ASCENT

As the only American to work inside the St. Petersburg administration with Vladimir V. Putin (from 1992 to 1996), I commend TIME for the accuracy and completeness of its report on Putin and his election as President of Russia [WORLD, April 3]. He is an extraordinary man. I was assigned to his international-relations committee and found him to be charming (yes), drolly humorous, enormously capable and totally appreciative of Western democratic values. I predict that he will sometimes exasperate and disappoint us, often disagree with us, but more often please us with his bold and clever actions to strengthen Russia and finally bring a just and compassionate balance between law and order there. Watch him carefully, and continue not to overreact. He never does. RICHARD TORRENCE New York City

I often listen to what Putin says with frankness on the radio and watch him on TV. I'm greatly impressed by his personality. Our people need a wise and powerful leader such as he. Putin is just the man to rule Russia. IGOR MIKHAILUSENKO Moscow

Putin may be Russia's new man, but his ideals lie in the past. While his philosophy of judo--"Hit first and hit so hard your opponent will not rise"--seems insightful, it merely restates the general trend of thinking that has been around for ages. The quote seems quite similar to a 16th century statement by Machiavelli: "The injury, therefore, that we do to a man must be such that we need not fear his vengeance." BRAD VOGEL, AGE 16 Kiel, Wis.

CLINTON ON THE SUBCONTINENT

You deprived the world of appreciating the real significance of President Clinton's historic visit to South Asia [NATION, April 3]. The U.S.-India "vision statement," which calls for regular engagement between these two democracies, heralds a qualitatively new chapter in post-cold war politics. India, "a geopolitical orphan," deserved better treatment from you. It was insulting to read about "cows, beggars...and pedestrians" at the expense of substantive issues. South Asia is a perpetual victim of feudal-colonial-cold war malaise. BRIJ MOHAN Baton Rouge, La.

Behind the fog of euphoria, hype and hoopla, what has actually emerged from the first visit of a U.S. President to India in more than two decades is hope and symbolism. The tangible results of President Clinton's trip will only accrue, not in the months to come, but in the years ahead. SIDHARTH GHOSE Calcutta

President Clinton's visit to Pakistan confirms the U.S.'s continuing practice of making no distinction between foreign relations with democracies and with military dictatorships, making a priority of its own national interests instead. Consider the U.S.'s dealings with the following Pakistani strongmen: in the 1960s Ayub Khan; in the 1970s Yahya Khan; in the 1980s Zia ul-Haq. The list goes on. Ironically, President Clinton feels he can preach to General Pervez Musharraf on the virtues of democracy! SARWAT ALI Karachi

Clinton's trip to India marks a new coming of age in the relationship of India and the U.S. Both countries have a lot to share and to learn from each other. There is a remarkable change taking place in India in socioeconomic growth. Members of all communities and castes are involved and reaping benefits. Surely the U.S. has helped India in bringing about this transformation. AKHILESH MEHTA Bombay

WHY INDIANS WANT TO LEAVE

Your feature on Indian-born American citizens who work in the U.S. [WORLD, March 27] was thought provoking. But you should have investigated what prompted these people to leave home. Perhaps the greatest threat to India is the policy that reserves places in educational institutions and jobs in government for the so-called backward classes or untouchable castes. This concept of reservation has gradually become a kind of fundamental right for these people. Nearly half of federal jobs are reserved for them. The cream of the crop of students are assured of nothing, whereas students from lower castes are offered high-caliber jobs. So for budding scientists, lawyers, doctors and other professionals, the message is clear: the country doesn't want your expertise. Perhaps the words "Quit India," once directed at the British, have taken on another meaning. V.S. HARIKRISHNAN Kerala, India

A DNA OPEN-BOOK POLICY

I was shocked to read a letter opposing the Human Genome Project that included the sincere hope that nobody would ever be able to read the DNA book [LETTERS, March 27]. Rejecting a project of such huge importance to the field of medicine is preposterous. I'm sure the millions around the world who suffer from a genetic defect would argue that this is probably the most important field of research for humanity right now. Everything has its price. When the genome project is completed, we will have to be careful that the results are not used for discriminatory practices. But to reject knowledge is the ultimate hallmark of the fool. KRISHAN KAPOOR Epsom Downs, England

VERDICT IN MEMPHIS

Re Jack E. White's commentary on investigations into the murder of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. [DIVIDING LINE, March 27]: as attorney for the King family (though not "hired," as White said, since I have received no fees for my 22-year effort to have the truth revealed about the assassination of King, my friend and colleague), I want to comment on the reference to the trial of Memphis cafe owner Loyd Jowers. White, who was never present at the trial, was dismissive of the verdict. However, a Memphis jury heard some 70 witnesses during the month-long trial and took one hour to decide that a conspiracy existed to assassinate Dr. King, which included Jowers, agents of the U.S. government and agents of the city of Memphis. It is ludicrous for TIME to second-guess this jury. And it is beyond contempt to criticize the victim's family, which at last has caused the truth to be brought out under oath in a court of law. WILLIAM F. PEPPER London

STRANGELY NECESSARY SKILLS

How sad that young African-American students need classes on how to avoid being misunderstood by the police [EDUCATION, April 3]. Here's an idea: have the cops take courses on youth culture so that they stop feeling threatened by a kid with loose pants or tattoos (or one driving a nice car, for that matter). I am white and have a 20-year-old son, and I can't imagine the stress of fearing that he might die because he reached for his wallet at the wrong time. KATE CAMPBELL Exton, Pa.

The minority community's distrust of police is ingrained in children by community culture as much as by actual experience. When I was a young Indianapolis police officer on a domestic-disturbance call in a housing project, I was approached by a toddler who looked up at me and reached to hold my hand. Before I could return the gesture, his aunt yelled, "Come here! You don't talk to cops!" All the community-relations programs in the world will not help those who do not want to change. LLOYD WALKER Indianapolis, Ind.

WHOOSH!

Your story on the smuggling of high-flow toilets into the U.S. from Canada [AMERICAN SCENE, April 3] made me wonder if we have reached the point where one man's old toilet is another man's treasure. I have a low-flow/high-irritation model, and I have gone to homes that are being torn down to try to purchase one of the trusty old high-flow jobs. Each time I have been beaten to the flush by someone on the same treasure hunt. I want the Federal Government out of my bathroom. HARRIS BLACKWOOD Gainesville, Ga.

Here's one cure for the low-flush problem: keep a bucket in the shower; the collected water is usually enough for one good flush. EDWARD J. CARLIN Philadelphia

It may be comical to think of smuggling a high-flow toilet, but your article failed to address the critically important issue of water conservation. Did TIME make light of fuel-efficiency standards when customers were unhappy with their Yugos? Why repeal water-efficiency standards? My low-flush toilet works just fine. I suggest that these unhappy customers simply need to buy a toilet that works. There are plenty of them right here in the U.S. MARY ANN DICKINSON Sacramento, Calif.

THE RIGHT TIME

Even after fulfilling his personal mission of achieving near zero inflation, Federal Reserve Board Chairman Alan Greenspan seems to want to be the world's best micromanager [BUSINESS, April 3]. As your article noted, despite rising stock-market wealth, U.S. consumers are saving more and the Consumer Price Index would almost flat-line if not for high oil prices (which have risen as a result of supply shortages, not an irrational demand). We are living out Paul Simon's prophetic song that celebrates the joy of being Born at the Right Time. We can continue to do so, absent a rogue Fed chairman bent on creating a "visible" hand in free markets--his own. It is time for the Fed to allow an economic expansion that could do wonders to eliminate poverty and level the playing field for all participants. JOHN STUBBS Washington

Greenspan is doing a great job for the American public. I would like to tell him to please believe that the majority of us wish our Congress and other public officials had the same moral character he has. How greedy can people be? Everyone knows the stock market is overinflated, but these whatchamacallits hate for anyone to rain on their parade. A. ANTHONY RETT Green Valley, Ariz.