Letters

All Things Must Pass

"After three months of terror and tragedy, the visage of George Harrison was uplifting and reassuring. Here comes the sun." CHARLES L. SCHLUMBERGER Little Rock, Ark.

Thank you so much for your wonderful, touching tribute to George Harrison [MUSIC, Dec. 10]. Even though George preferred to be out of the spotlight, I think he would have liked your article. Not only was his music beautiful, it was a great inspiration to other musicians and artists. He sang of peace and unity without drifting away from reality into a "flower power" world. He was very down-to-earth. I believe he would have been a wonderful friend--and not just because he was a Beatle. ANNA HELANDER Eau Claire, Wis.

What extraordinary things this unpretentious Beatle--with his unfailing heart and unstinting discipline--accomplished through guitar playing, songwriting and fund raising. But these are also the characteristics of the great saints, yogis and enlightened spirits throughout the ages. CHRIS TONG Middletown, Calif.

Just as Glenn Miller, Bing Crosby, the Andrews Sisters and Vera Lynn with their warm, fuzzy tunes saw one generation through World War II, the Beatles got the next generation through the aftermath of the Kennedy assassination and the Vietnam War. All these performers sang different variations on the theme of Here Comes the Sun. George, with his innovative guitar solos, was the backbone of the Beatles. GRACE E. HAMPTON Burbank, Calif.

Thank you for articulating what I wasn't able to about the death of George Harrison. I haven't been able to explain the tears in my eyes or why I am mourning the passing of this man I'd never met. I just know it matters deeply to me as a Beatles fan and an aging thirty-something in an uncertain world. What kind of world is it that has only two surviving Beatles? We miss you, George. JENNIFER HARRIS-FROWEN Fayetteville, Ark.

How many of John Lennon and Paul McCartney's songs would be as memorable without George's catchy guitar hooks? He composed impeccable guitar solos that were as hummable as the vocal melodies themselves. George was very lucky to have joined up with John and Paul--but no luckier than they were to have found him. JIM PIETSCH New York City

Harrison's work went greatly underappreciated in the post-Beatles era, but it combined all the best qualities of that of the other Beatles. Harrison brought his own spiritual and philosophical views to the mix. It's about time that he was recognized as the philanthropic precursor to Bob Geldof, founder of the Live Aid fund-raising rock concerts. Harrison's Concert for Bangladesh was the first true big-name benefit concert. Thanks for your recognition of Harrison: spiritual man, philanthropist, musician, Beatle. MICHAEL B. NAHMIAS East Windsor, N.J.

Talent always speaks louder than words. To me, George Harrison was never the quiet Beatle. ROBERT DEL VALLE Royal Oak, Mich.

Taking Liberties

Re Adam Cohen's article "Rough Justice," about the Bush Administration's decision to use military tribunals to fight terrorism [THE LAW, Dec. 10]: As an American citizen, I am protective of my country's security and my civil liberties. What bothers me about military tribunals and other tactics being employed by Attorney General John Ashcroft's office is the question of how long this war on terrorism will last. The U.S. has embarked on a war against a vague, nonspecific enemy. Our goals, while clearly defined, are undeniably broad. This raises the questions of how long the government plans to continue these tactics and on what criteria the decision to employ them will rest. What if the notorious House Un-American Activities Committee had been given these tools? JESSICA GARD Malden, Mass.

As an Arab American, I was deeply saddened by your article "Rough Justice," reporting the humiliation many Middle Easterners and Muslims have experienced following the Sept. 11 events. Are U.S. government interviews of 5,000 men and women in Arab-American and Muslim communities the best way to crack down on terrorism? As if the hatred, threats and discrimination Arabs and Muslims have experienced since Sept. 11 weren't enough, are we now to be humiliated by our own government? Sept. 11 should be no excuse for Ashcroft to use ethnic profiling in the campaign against terrorism. RANIA HAMMOUD Dearborn, Mich.

You quoted an unnamed White House official as saying, "As soon as people understand the military commissions are going to be for really bad people, they'll be more comfortable." I thought the point of a fair trial was to determine just who was a really bad person. Or is presumption of innocence another little nicety of our legal system that no longer applies because we're at war? JOHN SHERMAN Glendale, Calif.

Crushing the Taliban Revolt

Your report on how U.S. forces helped put down a Taliban prisoner-of-war revolt, "Inside the Battle at Qala-i-Jangi," was riveting [TIME EXCLUSIVE, Dec. 10]. Alex Perry's account of the sounds, the smells, the terror and the tragedy inside the Qala-i-Jangi fortress was brilliant, as was his description of the final moments of the ill-fated CIA interrogation of the prisoners. The photographs and graphics highlighted the incisive reporting. Perry has left the competition in the Afghan dust. PATRICK J. SLOYAN Paeonian Springs, Va.

Confronting Arrogance

Re Lance Morrow's commentary about Islam and the West, "Who's More Arrogant?" [ESSAY, Dec. 10]: If arrogance is pride in one's superiority, then, yes, we Americans are hated for our arrogance by those who shouted for joy on Sept. 11. We are also hated for our technological superiority, our cities and skyscrapers, our constitutionally protected rights and our unprecedented standard of living. But if it's right to take pride in these achievements, then Americans, especially opinion makers like Morrow, need more arrogance, not less. KEVIN OSBORNE New Hartford, Conn.

Morrow quoted the remarks of the Rev. Franklin Graham, who said, "The God of Islam is not the same God [as that of Christianity]. It's a different God, and I believe it is a very evil and wicked religion." But not all Christians embrace the views of Christianity's extreme fundamentalists. It is well established that there are varying sects of Islam, just as there is a multitude of denominations in Christianity. Yes, there have been failures in Islamic societies, but America has its share of shortcomings too. We have not eliminated poverty, racism and injustice in our country. We have not always used our wealth and power in support of Christian principles but have employed them for political purposes. ALFRED F. BRIDGMAN JR. Ocean Pines, Md.

A New Set of Wheels

Dean Kamen's latest invention, the Segway "human transporter," seems to be an example of misguided utopianism [TECHNOLOGY, Dec. 10]. It's a neat gizmo, but is it truly necessary or beneficial? You don't drive from place to place when in a city. You park your car, perhaps use mass transit, then walk around. This limits congestion. Also, given the volume of inconsiderate drivers on the road nowadays, their bad traits are likely to be transferred to the nation's walkways if they choose to use the Segway to get around town. I'd rather experience the interaction and occasional ballet of foot traffic among my fellow citizens. EUGENE KING San Diego

In the U.S., where 55% of the population is overweight, why is the most hotly anticipated invention something that enables a person to make it through the day without walking even a short distance? Those who cite the Segway's possible impact on productivity should look at the effects of obesity on the nation's health. The main obstacle to the Segway's success among consumers is the passenger weight limit of 250 lbs. Anyone lazy enough to want a Segway is probably too fat to use it. CHRISTINE MADSEN New York City

Re the new high-tech scooter: Sorry, folks, but unless you can use this device while carrying an armload of groceries and a squirming three-year-old, the Segway's just a guy toy. SANDIE SCARPA Fort Pierce, Fla.

The Segway vehicle is a great idea! If inventor Kamen's vision of cities free of automobile traffic comes true, won't this be a much better world? Less pollution from car emissions, fewer traffic jams. Imagine this in Bangkok! Maybe we should start thinking about providing parking lots for Segways right now. SUMMER KHOO Johor, Malaysia

I'd rather walk a mile in my city's downtown section than drive my car through it. No matter how well it is marketed, the Segway is little more than an expensive toy. RICARDO CAMPOS Viseu, Portugal

At a time when all our resources and energies seem to be diverted toward manufacturing bombs and missiles, it is heartening that there are people who still invest their intelligence, money and time in making the world a more convenient place to live. MAYANK SINGH Gurgaon, India

Opting for Organ Donation

I was very pleased to see the article supporting the idea of presumed consent to donate organs [PERSONAL TIME: YOUR HEALTH, Dec. 10]. This means that when a person dies, his organs may be harvested unless he has explicitly refused. It's an approach that can save the lives of thousands who would otherwise die each year waiting for a transplant. Today about 50% of registered organ donors have their wishes overruled by next of kin at the time of death. This has to stop. Organ donation is not a decision that should be made when everyone is upset over the death of a loved one. A nondonor registry would solve all these problems and preserve everyone's freedom of choice. TERENCE MCCARTHY, PRESIDENT PRESUMED CONSENT FOUNDATION Voorheesville, N.Y.

Caught in the Fallout

I was interested in your article on Enron's bankruptcy and the company's questionable practices [BUSINESS, Dec. 10]. After taking a moderate hit in the tech wreck of the securities market in the past 18 months, I have diligently pursued a more diversified mix of stocks in 2001. Of course, energy was one of the areas I invested in, including a piece of Enron. Next year I plan to take $10,000 and bury it in the backyard. DAN WEHRENBERG Stoneham, Mass.

The collapse of Enron's house-of-cards financial structure has left thousands of victims, particularly the company's employees and retirees. Many of them find themselves financially worse off than the families of terrorist victims. How does America plan to support these Enron victims? DICK SMITH Houston