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The Problems of Pakistan
Asif Zardari, the new prime minister of Pakistan, faces tremendous challenges [Sept. 22]. It would take a good and strong leader indeed to cope with them all. Zardari leads a nation of over 170 million people, many of whom put their allegiance to their tribe first and hardly recognize that there is a Pakistani nation. It is under constant threat of an Islamist revolt, has serious economic problems, cannot count on the loyalty of many public officials, and possesses the nuclear bomb. I truly hope Zardari is up to managing all of that.
Raheem Malik, Brisbane, Queensland

The Palin Effect
I must confess I'd been struggling to understand the recent surge in the popularity of Sarah Palin until Joe Klein put it all into sepia-toned perspective [Sept. 22]. I realized that her appeal reflects a wistful desire for an American abstraction, a wholesome place in our memory that is no more—and perhaps never was. We want to be reminded of who and what we think we were, not who we are. But yearning for our past, real or imagined, will not bring it back. And I fear that after the tribulations of the past eight years, we may not survive waking up on the wrong side of the bed for four more. I can only pray that by November we will stir from our sentimental slumber long enough to elect a President who has the vision and intelligence to lead us in the world in which we actually live.
Kevin Thompson, Maplewood, New Jersey

Is it so hard for you to understand the nostalgia many Americans feel for a reasonable return to the culture of small-town America—to its appreciation of education, traditional arts, the work ethic, hunting, community spirit and moderate churchgoing? Moderation and mutual cooperation within the international ­community are what we so desperately need in the U.S. That is the change that John McCain and Palin would bring.
Jim Clemons, Fredericksburg, Virginia

Why do voters need to relate to the presidential candidates as if they were one of us? I don't want the President to be my friend, share a carpool or be a drinking buddy. I want my President to be qualified to lead the greatest nation on the planet. I want my President to bring all Americans back to playing on the same team, because I'm tired of the divisive anger and blame. We have a President now who seemed like one of us—and where has it gotten us?
L. Bonomi, Palo Alto, California

the hundreds of thousands of people who live in and around the many small towns throughout northern Ohio might be shocked to learn that “suburbanites and city dwellers do the fighting and hourly-wage work now.” Klein insults our intelligence, our work ethic and our values when he suggests that we live in a place where “myths are more potent than the hope of getting past the dour realities.” Oh, I ­forgot—like our brethren in Pennsylvania, we embrace guns and religion to escape the harsh realties of our existence.
Steve Mohr, Bucyrus, Ohio

Re your profile of sarah palin [Sept. 15]: I read in disbelief the petty, malicious comments about her repetitious jokes, her husband (Obama's campaign has no such problems?), her 3-in. heels and her speeches given while "leaking amniotic fluid." What will you write about next? Perhaps more about her fashion sense or—please—her bodily functions? Would it be more acceptable if she wore 2-in. heels? Will all women running for public office now be subject, along with their families, to this level of physical scrutiny and irrelevant analysis? Is there any chance that Time can become once again a serious, respectable and, if possible, less biased publication?
Christopher DeVeau, Geneva

The headline of Michael Kinsley's essay "Alaskanomics" enticed me to read on, expecting a cogent article that would give me an insight into the current brouhaha surrounding Sarah Palin's entry into the White House race [Sept. 15]. However, by the end I was wondering where you had dug up this misogynistic ranter who evidently believes Alaskans are leeches and not real Americans. I am going to guess that he is a journalist who lives, or has lived, in Washington, D.C. Sarah has really got to those ole boys. You go, girl!
B. J. O'Byrne, Meath, Ireland

Con Artist?
As someone who collects original art, albeit on a modest level, I am offended by the way in which British "Bad Boy" artist Damien Hirst dominates the art world [Sept. 15]. He is just a charlatan who found a gimmick and capitalized on it, suckering in those wannabes who are more interested in bragging rights than promoting a fresh, honest talent in the art world or insightful, subversive ideas in the public arena. Dead animals preserved in formaldehyde and a diamond encrusted skull—is this even legal? Spin paintings done by studio assistants—give me a break; kids have amused themselves for decades creating identical masterpieces at fairs and school fundraisers. My fantasy: that no one bids.
Susan H. Warren, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania

Tory Rising
In her profile of british conservative leader David Cameron, Catherine Meyer failed to note that the United Kingdom is effectively governed by the European Union in that about 70% of the laws enacted by our Parliament are required to comply with E.U. regulations. Within a few years, after the provisions of the Lisbon Treaty are progressively brought into effect, our subordination to the E.U. will be complete. Regrettably, that final outcome accords with the Conservative Party's consistent policy since the Prime Ministership of Edward Heath, who took Britain into the European Economic Community in 1973. The Conservatives have consistently furthered the interests of the E.U. over those of the U.K., and Cameron is continuing that policy. Even as P.M., he will have no real power and will only be able to tinker with peripheral matters. Like his immediate predecessors, he will probably spend much of his time posing on the international stage.
Stanley Booton, Somerset, United Kingdom

What a shame that in the caption to your photograph of "green Londoner" Cameron commuting on his bike, you forgot to tell us that a limousine follows him to carry papers he cannot put in his pannier. Some "green Londoner."
Dennis O’Grady, Sheffield, United Kingdom

Up to Speed on Slow Food
I must take issue with some of Bryan Walsh's claims about the organic-food movement in "Can Slow Food Feed the World" [Sept. 15]. First, “organic farming yields less per acre than industrial farming" only if it is done by industrial-style methods. John Jeavons' Bountiful Gardens project proves that all the food a person needs—and all the natural fertilizer needed to grow that food—can be produced on one-sixteenth of an acre if biointensive organic methods are used. Second, if all Americans ate organic food we would not need 40 million full-time farmers, as Walsh claims, but probably 30 million gardeners.
Rex Morris, Vashon, Washington

An Unacceptable Price
The picture of two Afghan children wounded by a U.S. air strike that accompanied the article "Collateral Tragedies" Sept. 15 literally took my breath away—like a kick to the chest. I wonder if those in favor of our military actions could look into these children's eyes and explain to them why America is right to do this to them and their families. All the arguments in the world will never justify the fear and pain reflected in those children's faces.
Kelly Czermerys, Hunter, New York

The Kids Aren't All Right As a high school english teacher of at-risk students in an urban school, I have seen firsthand how sexuality is exploding [Sept. 22]. First of all, we need to have an honest conversation about protection. Also, girls don't have sex or get pregnant on their own. We need to start promoting male role models who don’t just use women and leave. We need to start teaching our boys to treat females and their own children with more respect. For both girls and boys: Use condoms every time. Don't have sex just to fit in. And babies won't make you happy. We adults must be willing to talk about these big issues. We can't simply squeeze our eyes shut to the situation and hope it will go away. If we continue to do that, by the time we open our eyes, our babies will have had their own babies.
Stacy Lica, Lakewood, California

If we truly want to make a dent in teenage pregnancy rates, along with other social ills such as teenage suicide, teenage violence, and teenage alcohol and drug abuse, we must start to bring fathers back into more children's lives. In the 1960s just 6% of American children were raised without fathers. That figure is now 28%—some 20 million children. The rise in the number of households without fathers is a result of well-intentioned federal programs that offer women incentives to throw fathers out of their children's lives, to the detriment of the children. Children benefit from being raised by a mother and a father.
Peter G. Hill, Weston, Massachusetts

Avoiding Jordan
Re Andrew Butters' postcard from the Jordan River: The river has never been "deep and wide" [Sept. 15]. And the so-called "Island of Peace" was the site of a massacre in 1997 when a Jordanian soldier opened fire and killed seven Israeli schoolgirls on an outing.
David Holtzer, Jerusalem

The Coen Brothers Burn It Up!
Richard Corliss apparently does not have the same sense of humor my friends and I have [Sept. 22]. In the theater where I saw Burn After Reading, everyone laughed throughout. The Coen brothers are very smart about people who do stupid things. The scene in which the detective tries to speed away but has parked between two cars and cannot get out is right out of a Road Runner cartoon. Wile E. Coyote is alive and well!
Judith Canaan, Kalamazoo, Michigan