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Rating a Renegade

It's discouraging that so many Republicans oppose Senator John McCain, because he's just what President George W. Bush promised to be but finally never was--a uniter, not a divider [Feb. 4]. At a time when the nation needs to come together under the unifying leadership of a moderate consensus builder, the neoconservative elites that have come to dominate the GOP want confrontation. The only way to save the Republican Party is to drop the ideologues, who are more interested in waging a culture war than in uniting the nation to face its uncertain and dangerous future.

GREG FISH, COLUMBUS, OHIO

As a Ronald Reagan Democrat, I was all for McCain in the 2000 campaign even as the Republican Party's upper echelon sank his efforts. But the traits that made me admire McCain's Straight Talk Express in 2000 are no longer apparent today. McCain lost my respect when he made a Faustian bargain to get the vote of his party's base. Having abandoned his critiques of the Iraq war and Jerry Falwell, the straight-talk candidate is just a shell of who he was eight years ago.

MARY ELM, CHICAGO

The right wing spews venom at McCain for his occasional departures from conservative orthodoxy, but it is precisely his maverick nature that the general public most admires. The GOP's troglodytes must either support McCain or watch the Democrats take both the White House and the Capitol in November.

WILLIAM R. DEEBLE WEST TISBURY, MASS.

Designer Genome

Despite his intelligence and biotechnological success, J. Craig Venter might just be venturing into something beyond his control [Feb. 4]. His creation of a genome might not result simply in whimsical and interesting "zoos of man-made creatures" or "custom-designed pets." His grand biology experiment might alter the biosphere. It is extreme hubris to think that we can invent a new life-form and unleash it into the environment. Perhaps the question for scientists is not simply can we, but should we?

MARK ALTON, PETALUMA, CALIF.

To heck with creating new life-forms. Venter should channel his energies into constructing a chromosome for extant humans that would help us store critical life-enhancing information--like anniversaries, passwords, account balances and payment-due dates. That would truly benefit mankind.

JOHN HERMAN, DIX HILLS, N.Y.

A Shooting Star

The untimely death of Health Ledger brings much sadness to those who knew and loved him, not to mention those of us who simply knew him from his movies [Feb. 4]. He had so much more to offer. I will remember him best for his poignant portrayal of Ennis Del Mar, one of the gay cowboys in Brokeback Mountain. Ledger showed great sensitivity and understanding in conveying all the joy and pain his character experienced. That is the measure of a great actor. For that, Ledger will be truly missed.

FREDERICK R. BEDELL JR., BELLEROSE, N.Y.

Educating Afghan Girls

Having helped build or repair 27 schools in north-central Afghanistan over the past six years, I can verify that education is a building block to eliminating poverty, oppression and extremism [Jan. 28]. I have seen remarkable social, political and economic changes in the more than 20,000 children my project represents, particularly the girls. They are marrying later and having fewer offspring. Children are learning much needed life skills. More important, there is now hope. Despite staggering odds, kids are thinking about the future. There is new respect for the rule of law and support for democracy. Children are learning common languages and even playing soccer together. Schools are not simply teaching the three Rs--they are nation-building.

JULIA M. BOLZ, FounderJourney with an Afghan School, SEATTLE