Letters: Jan. 15, 2001

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Thomas Jefferson and his fellow framers of the Constitution are smiling down on TIME. That was a powerful cover with an affirming message--exactly the reassuring "grounding" all Americans needed. Thanks for capturing the essence of our nation's proud democratic foundation and recognizing how truly remarkable it is that this document, written 225 years ago, still has the ability to guide us through these challenging times. JANE LUMM Ann Arbor, Mich.

For those of us who have always admired America's democratic, electoral and legal systems, the events of the five weeks following the election shook our confidence. With the courts rather than the polls deciding elections, America may have forever lost its place as the world's bastion of democracy and equity. The damage from the fallout of this election may be irreparable. Countries where Jimmy Carter supervised elections must be having a good laugh. OBI ENE New City, N.Y.

DOWN BY LAW

The ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court to stop the recount of votes in Florida [PERSON OF THE YEAR, Dec. 25-Jan. 1], thereby awarding the presidency to George W. Bush, made one thing crystal clear: the Land of Liberty now has a government of the lawyers, by the lawyers and for the lawyers. What's next? In lawyers we trust? DORAISWAMY NARAYANAN Mitcham, England

If there is no equal protection for voters, as the Supreme Court ruling showed, why vote? A biased court will decide for you. Is this the democracy the U.S. wants to export to other countries? ADELHEID MEYS The Hague, the Netherlands

WHAT ATHLETES EARN

It would be nice not to have my views misrepresented, as they were in the article by Robert Sullivan, "Big Bucks and Baseball" [SPORT, Dec. 25-Jan. 1]. I have never been among those critical of the size of any player's salary, present or past. Nor have I ever had a "sky is falling" reaction to any new contract plateau that has been achieved. What I have said is that a successful league depends upon each team's having a reasonable opportunity to compete. Until fairly recently, that opportunity existed in baseball. It no longer does, and will not again, until owners and players undertake significant reforms, allowing each of them--plus the game itself--to thrive. BOB COSTAS, NBC Sports St. Louis, Mo.

MUSICIANS GOOD AND BAD

Hold on! Do you really think Wyclef Jean [THE BEST & WORST 2000, Dec. 18] is "the most inventive male performer in rap"? I agree that his work is eclectic and he has an amazing range of styles, but I wouldn't call him the most inventive. There are plenty of hip-hop artists who write their own lyrics and beats (something Wyclef often seems to neglect); what about real wordsmiths like the lesser-known the Roots and Common? Wyclef Jean is a good listen and a crowd pleaser, but I wouldn't go so far as to put him in the Top 10. ERIKA KRANZ Tallahassee, Fla.

In naming pop musician Eminem as the worst in music last year, you noted, "Attacking women and gays isn't rebellious, it's archaic." That is the smartest thing anyone has ever written about Eminem. Too bad other magazines gave kudos to the year's most visible bigot. Thank you, thank you, for not including Eminem's The Marshall Mathers LP on your list of the 10 best albums. THOM RENTON BRITTANY Seattle

CORRECTION