Letters: Aug. 23, 2004

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Simon Robinson's report "Nowhere to Hide" [July 5], on the humanitarian crisis and the genocidal atrocities affecting the Darfurians, non-Arab blacks of Sudan's Darfur region, left me disgusted. I'm convinced that our world is doomed to a brutal and sad end. The article noted, "The U.N. and the U.S. do not call the pogroms genocide--in part because doing so could oblige the international community to intervene to save the Darfurians." Excuse me, but what is so wrong with intervention? Already 10,000 people have been killed and a million forced to leave their homes. We cannot afford to wait for 500,000 people to die and for more women and children to be raped before the international community intervenes. Where are the leaders of the larger, more powerful countries of Africa while the atrocities are going on? African nations and organizations should be called to account for letting them happen in their backyard. Their silence will be seen as consent to the killing of Darfurians. Africa should hold the leaders of Sudan accountable. The U.S. cannot be expected to come running to solve every problem in the world. It has its hands full dealing with the mess it has created in Iraq. BUKOLA A. JEJELOYE Lagos, Nigeria

Which Day of Rest?

It was presumptuous of Nancy Gibbs, in her Essay "And on the Seventh Day We Rested?" to suggest that the U.S. needs to have Sundays off as a day of rest [Aug. 2]. A large part of the U.S. population is Muslim, and the Islamic faith designates Friday as the day of prayer. Jews observe the Sabbath from sunset on Friday until sunset on Saturday. So how can we expect a pluralistic society like America's to settle on just one day of rest? When blue laws restricting what could be sold on Sundays were enforced, Jewish and Muslim Americans could not conduct business on two days of the week: the Sabbath that their religion observed and Sunday. With the demise of blue laws almost everywhere, at least the playing field is more level. The enforcement of blue laws was tantamount to establishing a state religion. I am thankful that today they have become just a memory for most people. LAYNI S. ROTHBORT Millburn, N.J.

I was delighted to read Gibbs' essay in support of blue laws that keep certain businesses from operating on Sunday. I remember that when I was a boy, many stores were closed; there was a quietness then that surrounded us. May we return to the days when we had time for God and family on Sunday. ROBERT RYKOWSKI Scotch Plains, N.J.

How is it that Jews are able to maintain a Sabbath without a government mandate restricting the activities of others on Friday night and Saturday, but somehow those who observe the Sabbath on Sunday would need a law requiring businesses to close? Observance of the Sabbath is undoubtedly a great spiritual benefit for individuals and families. It is, however, a personal decision requiring choices and sacrifices. Blue laws have no place in our multicultural society. DANIEL A. GUTSTEIN Chicago

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