Inbox: May 7, 2007

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Klein cited two incidents in arguing that Giuliani would not make a good President: he kicked Yasser Arafat out of a U.N.-related concert, and he refused to accept money from Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal because of the stipulations attached. Klein thinks that saying "I don't forget" to foreign leaders "is not a sufficiently flexible foreign policy doctrine." But remembering and learning from history are exactly what our future President needs to formulate an effective foreign policy.

Scott A. Meehan, ORLANDO, FLA.

As an Italian American I was offended by Klein's use of the term fuhgeddaboutit, which is clearly an ethnic slur against Giuliani's Italian-American heritage. If you believe I am reading too much into it, just think: When someone uses that expression, do you picture a Jewish, Irish, Hispanic or black person? I was amazed to see the righteous discussion of Imus on one page and a prejudicial article on another.

Cole Russo, NEW YORK CITY

The Misery of Zimbabwe

Thank you for reporting on conditions in Zimbabwe [April 23]. I know the country well, having lived there for three years (and in Africa for more than 15 years). I was thrown out in 1999, for what reason I do not know. I was teaching for nothing at the University of Zimbabwe, helping stone carvers sell their work in the U.S., working with HIV/AIDS educators and leading tour groups. I am sorry that the great people of Zimbabwe have had to endure their government's horrific behavior. After President Robert Mugabe goes and the turmoil settles, Zimbabweans will come back even better.

Richard L. Kimball, FRANKLIN, N.C.

One thought after reading Alex Perry's story about being jailed in Zimbabwe: by quoting his main interrogator and mentioning that several wardens asked for help in finding employment in London, has Perry not sentenced them to a similar or perhaps worse fate than being jailed?

Edward F. Kelly, SOMERSET, MASS.

Mugabe's decisions and actions have led to the demise of Zimbabwe. The world must be reminded of his political ineptitude and the blood on his hands. I am thinking particularly of his treatment of the Matabele supporters of his erstwhile opponent, the late Joshua Nkomo. It is estimated that Mugabe's troops killed as many as 20,000 people while he was in the process of securing his absolute power. I hope that the International Court of Justice will investigate. Mugabe has become incapable of rational conduct.

Mike Faure, JOHANNESBURG

Celebrating a Baseball Great

Re Gerald Early's piece about Jackie Robinson's legacy and the decreased percentage of blacks in baseball [April 23]: While Early made clear he was referring to African Americans, he made no mention of Hispanic blacks, who are well represented on every major league team. We must remember that players such as David Ortiz, Sammy Sosa, Bernie Williams, Rod Carew and Roberto Clemente, to name but a few, would never have played in pre--Jackie Robinson days. They are blacks first, Latins second. To arrive at a true percentage of blacks in big-league baseball, therefore, his concentration should have been on the pigmentation of the players' skin rather than on their country of origin.

Herbert Rogoff, SARASOTA, FLA.

A look at Division 1 universities will show a much larger reason fewer blacks are playing baseball. If you are a male athlete and want to maximize your chance for an athletic scholarship at a Division 1 school, your best shot is by playing football or basketball. To say "baseball has little hold on the black imagination" is wrong, in my view.

Timm Dawson, OCALA, FLA.

Smoke Screen

Your article about how Hollywood glamorizes smoking was illustrated with photos of Scarlett Johansson, Terrence Howard and Jack Nicholson lighting up in recent films [April 23]. You did not mention that all three were playing criminals. We don't see a lot of heroes smoking in films anymore. We do, however, still see lots of movie heroes solving their disputes with fists and guns, which is a bigger problem.

William Flanagan, NEW YORK CITY

I am so glad you brought this important issue before the public. I had noticed the increase in smoking onscreen recently and felt very puzzled about how this could be happening when so many efforts have been made to combat this deadly habit. I encourage other readers to take the time to e-mail their thanks to the American Medical Association, the Harvard School of Public Health and any other organization involved in getting cigarettes out of movies.

Elizabeth Brandes, MANITOU SPRINGS, COLO.

Smoking is the least of the problems. What about all the graphic sex, violence, consumption of booze and drugs and use of foul language? Kids see those behaviors and imitate them. I would rather see the smoking and get rid of the rest of the filth.

John Gleason, GRAND RAPIDS, MICH.

A Debate on Teens

John Cloud's reassuring article about the current state of American teens [April 9], in which he discussed my upcoming book, The Case Against Adolescence: Rediscovering the Adult in Every Teen, bordered on the irresponsible. Each year more than 2 million U.S. adolescents attempt suicide, legal and illegal use of prescription drugs has increased dramatically among teens, the teen pregnancy rate is five times that in France and Italy, only 25% of high school seniors are competent in math, 80% of teens gamble, and 5.5 million are in psychological counseling. In more than 100 cultures around the world, teen turmoil is entirely absent; the serious problems of American teens are the creation of a culture that infantilizes young people and isolates them from adults.

Robert Epstein, Ph.D., Department of Psychology, University of California

SAN DIEGO

John Cloud responds:

While the absolute numbers are still too high, Epstein ignores that the trends over time are all good: the teen suicide rate is lower today than in 1980. The use of prescription drugs is up, but teens' use of all illegal drugs has dropped. The teen pregnancy rate is the lowest since 1976. While some education data could be improved, SAT scores are up. Finally, I think it's naive to believe that there are cultures in which teens are entirely without turmoil. To some extent, being a teenager means being in turmoil.

Read more at time.com/robertepstein