COURAGE AND COWARDICE

"America will never become Beirut because its people will not let that happen. The spectators in Atlanta gave this country its greatest hope." JOAQUIN RUGGLES Lafayette, California

Beyond the commercialism and hype of the Centennial Olympics [SPECIAL, Aug. 5] could be found a level of courage in individual athletes by which we can all be inspired. We must increase our awareness of terrorism yet not be paralyzed by its threat. Let Centennial Park become a monument to this endeavor. MARY E. NOCE Liverpool, New York

I wonder if this is only the beginning of a nightmare of terrorism in the U.S. Europe is accustomed to terrorism, and has learned how to handle it. This doesn't seem to be the case in the U.S. As one of the most influential countries in the world and a global player in international politics, America is not only vulnerable, but a first-class target for extremist forces. Before the bomb attacks on the World Trade Center and Oklahoma City, the U.S. had been spared. I deeply hope the latest tragic episodes will not be a turning point to bringing more terror. THOMAS LEIB Bayreuth, Germany

Terrorism still ranks pretty near the bottom of genuine threats to Americans. So why are politicians lining up under the banner of fighting terrorism to give police more authority to invade every citizen's already much abused privacy? America has experienced this kind of legislative reaction before, and never with good results. In John Adams' day, hysteria over possible war with France produced the oppressive Alien and Sedition Acts. And in Harry Truman's day, hysteria over communism led to an ugly series of loyalty measures that launched the nation on a tortured search for demons. JOHN W. CHUCKMAN Manotick, Canada

As long as the U.S. government maintains its policy of interfering with the domestic political affairs of other nations, tragedies such as TWA Flight 800 will inevitably occur. Sadly, it is often innocent people who are the victims of violence, not the politicians and policymakers whose international meddling sows the seeds of conflict. DAVID N. THOMSON Sydney, Australia

All Americans are distressed by the domestic terrorism that occurred in Atlanta, but not all Americans are surprised by it, especially not older "people of color." I remember hearing my mother speak of barns and stores and homes "down South" that were burned and dynamited out. Domestic terrorism plagued our communities even during World War II. With the arrival of the civil rights era, things escalated. I am saddened for our country in this Olympic year. I am sorry to welcome you to the Domestic Terrorism Club, but some of us Americans have been unwilling members of it for a long, long, long time. MARY ELLEN FELDER Philadelphia

You note in "Lost Magic" that "Terror now lurks in the shadows like a stranger." I suggest that brotherhood is there also. The picture accompanying the story shows a wounded white man cradling a more seriously wounded black man in his arms. The world's salvation lies in such love being more powerful than fear, not in better security and bomb-detection devices. CHRISTINE KERBSTAT Julian, California

THE REAL TOP 10 COUNTRIES

The U.S. topped the Olympics medal list with an impressive total of 101. The term dominance has been casually applied. A more telling comparison of sporting achievement would be a "power rating" of countries--medals in relation to population. On this fairer basis (medals per 10 million people), the Top 10 Olympic countries were Jamaica (with 23.4), Cuba, Australia, Hungary, New Zealand, Bulgaria, Norway, Trinidad and Tobago, Belarus and the Netherlands. In this ranking, the U.S. stands 36th among the 57 countries that won more than one medal. A power rating would show the true athletic achievement of many smaller countries. ROBERT CARMICHAEL Coralville, Iowa

BACK TO THOSE ANCIENT GAMES

Today's Olympics are reminiscent of a labor-union picnic: sack races, rolling-pin-throwing contests, you name it. We should return to the classic Olympics, to the original Greek concepts--wrestling, swimming, track and field--and forget the embellishments. ROBERT E. DAEHN Sanford, Florida

OLYMPIC TORCH BURNING BRIGHT

In your coverage of the Atlanta Olympics, you failed to mention the in-your-face commercialism that abounded there (heck, the Olympic torch was burning out of a stylized McDonald's French fries carton). The opening ceremonies with pickup trucks and a good-ole-boy theme and the U.S.'s win-at-any-cost attitude all combined to make what was supposed to be the Centennial Olympics a joke. LUIGI PALAZZINI St. Leonard, Canada

SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY

The Atlanta games deprived the TV audience of glorious uncertainty [PUBLIC EYE, Aug. 5]. Indeed, to tune in to the Summer Olympics was to confront images of prerecorded events decorated with music, slow-motion sequences and never-ending commercials. The spirit of the Games turned into a sentimental display of American athletic superiority. RAYMOND ROUBENI New York City

My reaction to Margaret Carlson's "The Soap Opera Games": Lighten up! I was under the impression that part of the Olympic spirit was overcoming adversity. People can't understand that there is more to the Olympics than competition. KIM JUSTICE McKinney, Texas

NBC played the role of pied piper to an unrestrained cheering mob whose behavior must have made the hapless nonwinners feel like the vanquished gladiators in ancient Rome--thumbs down, and bring in the lions! ROSE WONG MACMICHAEL Bradenton, Florida

A CONSTRUCTIVE POSITION

I am disappointed that Jack White's column [DIVIDING LINE, July 22] misrepresented my remarks and position on the Connecticut Supreme Court's decision on school desegregation, wrongly claiming I "moved from the combative to constructive." In fact, my position--constructive--has never changed. I said, and I continue to believe, that the decision presents a historic opportunity for our state to vigorously pursue the necessary and laudable goals of diversity and academic excellence. Indeed, these goals are inextricably linked. There are many constructive means to achieve them under the court's decision without sacrificing local control over public education through local school boards and without imposing involuntary busing. RICHARD BLUMENTHAL Attorney General, Connecticut Hartford

AFRICA DIES, THE WORLD WATCHES

How can it be that Africa is still dying while the world watches [WORLD, Aug. 5]? I'm sure the U.N. is doing its best, but clearly its best isn't good enough. There are always committees to fight for Irish rights, build up Sarajevo, talk peace with Jewish and Arab leaders. It's a shame that Rwanda and Burundi are torn apart, yet seem to be ignored. FRIEDA M. GYGENAAR Stellenbosch, South Africa Via E-mail

Your article correctly states that under a monarchy both Rwanda and Burundi "had achieved a measure of cohesion rare in Africa at the time." It fails, however, to draw the obvious conclusion that disintegration occurred in 1969 when Belgium, not the Rwandan people, expelled His Majesty King Kigeli V, and that reintegration is contingent on his restoration. Interestingly, last month the King addressed supporters in Montreal who consisted of Hutu and Tutsi joined in a common cause. KENNETH GUNN-WALBERG Philipsburg, Pennsylvania

BLEEDING HOLLYWOOD

"Hollywood fades to red"--but it doesn't have to [BUSINESS, Aug. 5]. While studying cinema in California in 1937, we were told, "Stars' salaries are going to put Hollywood out of business." They didn't, and they won't. Real stars bring in enough extra in theaters, on video, from television and cable, from abroad and even from commercial tie-ups in theaters, to make them worthwhile. In earlier years, Hollywood didn't spend $5 million to $25 million to launch each major studio film. When I was a studio publicist, we used publicity and promotion, at one-twentieth the cost of ads. Each of the eight major Hollywood studios could save $30 million annually by alerting audiences through publicity, wholesale purchases of radio time and on the Internet. The trick is to get into enough minds the idea that a movie to see is coming. If this is done inexpensively, Hollywood will segue from red to green. JULIAN MYERS Los Angeles

It was inevitable: turn out enough garbage in the guise of movies, laced with foul-mouthed dialogue, and you have the best ingredients to ensure a successful failure. Il Postino (The Postman), a simple film with a simple plot, superbly acted, is sound proof that great films can be made and be profitable. Yet the industry continues to churn out products that seem to be based solely on special effects. At least someone in the industry has heard the wake-up call, through their bank account. LIDO DELUCK Seattle

YELTSIN, THE NOWHERE MAN

The erstwhile reformer and now "nowhere man" Boris Yeltsin [WORLD, Aug. 5] has surrounded himself with other "nowhere men." They fiddle while the country burns. In the meantime, Western idealists and cynical Russians despair of ever finding a savior for the Motherland. Poor Russia, so far from God, so close to Siberia. LYNN R. ELIASON Logan, Utah