Letters: May 3, 2004

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>> Some readers felt our reporting on various theories about Jesus' death was inappropriate for a newsmagazine. "We don't know why Jesus died. We don't even know if he existed," wrote a Virginian. "You might as well write an article titled 'What Is the Meaning of Life?' Such questions have no answers." A reader from Washington State asked, "Why not a discussion of how many angels can dance on the head of a pin or how Santa gets to every kid's house in one night?" And a snarky Californian let us know he is "looking forward to TIME's story on the Flat Earth Society."

FALLUJAH ERUPTS

Your report on the sadistic and brutal killing of four American civilian security guards in Fallujah, Iraq, was a reminder of how horrific war can be [April 12]. Perhaps in the future we should think more carefully before waging it. The Vietnam conflict taught Americans not to go to war without sufficient reasons. It is a lesson that we remembered for many years. And when we forget it, Americans die needlessly. WAYNE MICHAUD Bristol, Vt.

The killings of the American security contractors were not "murders" as you said, nor were the men "civilians." They were a type of mercenary soldier. Private armies are legitimate targets for the Iraqi resistance fighters. ROBIN MILLER Metairie, La.

The only answer to the violence in Iraq is to speed up the timetable for elections. That would be a way to take the insurgent Iraqis' minds off violent protest and channel their energy into a scramble for votes. Then Iraqis can blame their elected officials if things don't turn out the way they like instead of the U.S. CLAUDIA SCHAEFER Athens, Ga.

NOT FOR ATHLETES

Your report on steroid use in professional sports, "Baseball Takes a Hit" [March 15], included a photograph of Organon USA Inc.'s product Durabolin. The drug, which was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the control of metastatic breast cancer in women, is no longer marketed in the U.S. and has not been for some time. We voluntarily discontinued marketing and selling it about three years ago. Organon never produced or promoted Durabolin for the purpose of athletic-performance enhancement. By including a photo of Durabolin, TIME erroneously and unfairly suggested that the company has contributed to the problem of unlawful steroid use. PATRICK J. OSINSKI, VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL COUNSEL ORGANON USA INC. Roseland, N.J.

WOOING THE DIEHARDS

Joe Klein's Column "How To Win Over A Nation of Partisans" [April 12] was exactly on the mark. Partisan hysteria from both right and left in this campaign has reached a stage at which the linchpins of American political progress--reasonable dialogue and compromise--are nearly nonexistent. BOB JONES Woodstock, N.Y.

Perhaps the current partisan acrimony arose partly from the Federal Communications Commission's elimination in the 1980s of the fairness doctrine in radio and television broadcasting. If broadcasters and talk-show hosts had to make an earnest effort to present both sides of an issue, maybe voters could find a middle ground. DOUGLAS A. CLARK South San Francisco