Fevered Debate

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Your interesting article on swine flu notes the bizarre fact that the virus is spreading more in Britain than other European countries [Aug. 24]. No one knows why. But in Britain, anyone can phone the government's special flu line and say that they have a cough and fever. A member of the nonclinical staff will issue a week off work and a free packet of Tamiflu. Rumors of abuse are rife. Still baffled?
Dr. Marcus Lester, BENFLEET, ENGLAND

Your article on swine flu recommends that you cough into the crook of your elbow: how disgusting is that? Why not carry a handkerchief and cough or sneeze into the ready-made article?
Leonard Pelan, SALLINS, IRELAND

A Brighter Future
Your article "Joburg Gets It Together" tells South Africans more about the positive developments taking place in Soweto than our own media does [Aug. 24]. For some reason our society constantly and greedily demands to know about what is wrong, while disregarding or belittling everything that is positive. Our homemade prophets of doom shake their heads and try to convince us that we are heading for a failed and shameful 2010 World Cup. It is also true, though, that the new black élite, beneficiaries of the Black Economic Empowerment, have joined the white élite and have turned their backs on the masses of poor people whom they are supposed to help. There is a ray of hope. Our new President, Jacob Zuma, seems sincere in his promises to change the situation of the millions of poor people who elected him.
Mariano Castrillon, JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA

Literary Heroes
Talk about twisted priorities! you feature the obituary and picture of John Hughes, director of forgettable, cotton-candy movies, and yet give Budd Schulberg, an important literary figure, a scant few lines [Aug. 24]. It makes me wonder if your arts editors are about 14 years old. Apart from his novel What Makes Sammy Run?, Schulberg was around in an important era of major literary figures and was a colleague of F. Scott Fitzgerald on movie scripts about which he wrote a novel, The Disenchanted.
Trevor Hoyle, NEWHEY, ENGLAND

Bitter Memories
Germany's anti-Nazi laws are both unjust and paranoid [Aug. 24]. America's First Amendment should apply throughout the world. There should be free speech for everyone, including communists, fascists, Marxists, Nazis, racists, religious maniacs and Trotskyists. Evelyn Beatrice Hall summarized Voltaire's argument thus: I disapprove of what you say, but will defend to the death your right to say it.
Mark Taha, LONDON

To your question "Can the nation ever escape its history?" there is a definitive answer: no. The gnome's gesture has touched a raw nerve, but so does almost everything Germany does: the country is under steady suspicion. Let's be honest. Imagine if Germany did "move on" and abolished the anti-Nazi criminal laws. I'm fairly sure that Time would be the first with the big headline: GERMANY PAVES THE WAY FOR THE RETURN OF NAZISM! So let's be realistic and accept the consequences of history.
Istvan Nagy, WASSELONNE, FRANCE