Letters

A CAMPAIGN OF HER OWN?

"Anybody who has gone through what Hillary Clinton has in the past few years can handle anything. Senator Clinton sounds exciting!" FRANCES L. BODE Rocky River, Ohio

Hillary Clinton has all the qualifications to be a politician in New York [NATION, March 1]. Wall Street loves anyone who has the expertise to earn nearly $100,000 on a $1,000 investment. As a lawyer from a firm with a somewhat checkered past, she meets that prerequisite for political service. But most important, by demonstrating the ability to turn her husband's escapades into a right-wing conspiracy, she has mastered that most cherished of political qualities, "the spin." She has learned from the best. TED GROB West Des Moines, Iowa

Hillary Rodham Clinton has all that it takes to win a Senate seat and be an outstanding member of the U.S. Senate. MARIANO PATALINJUG Yonkers, N.Y.

I doubt we will ever see Senator Clinton represent New York State, but I would not be surprised to see Senator Rodham serving in that office. WILLIAM R. PRITCHETT Midland, Mich.

Don't the Clintons understand how sick we are of fame-obsessed power junkies who keep crawling back into the ring for one more dose of adoration? Hillary, go home! Handle your marriage. Heal your daughter. Get a real job. RICHARD S. ABRAHAM Oak Brook, Ill.

With her experience meeting the leaders of great and small powers worldwide, Hillary Clinton might be the candidate par excellence for a future Secretary of State. MARTIN FREUND New York City

The advice to Hillary from former Congresswoman Geraldine Ferraro, "Do what's best for you," is very telling. It is descriptive of much of the attitude of both Clintons. No one is raising the issue of what's best for the citizenry. Therein lies the problem: it's all about selfishness--not selfless service. PETER V. HUISKING Sierra Vista, Ariz.

There are 49 states in addition to New York. I can assure you that the rest of the country has no interest in who might run for the Senate seat in New York in 2000. ROBERT HIGGINSON Orem, Utah

What kind of role model can the First Lady possibly be? She obviously loves presidential perks far more than she hates the President's perversions. ROGER CHAPIN San Diego

What hubris! Should we call the idea of Hillary's running for the Senate the "Bonfire of the Inanities"? RONALD R. STELZLENI Mondovi, Wis.

Senator Hillary Clinton. The very thought petrifies me! EUGENE POOLE Marina del Rey, Calif.

THE HUNT FOR OCALAN

Far from being a freedom fighter, Kurdish radical leader Abdullah Ocalan is a vicious hoodlum [WORLD, March 1]. Greece, which arranged to sneak this international terrorist into Kenya, should be put on the U.S. State Department list of terrorist countries. Greece has nurtured the ideology of Ocalan's Kurdistan Workers' Party cutthroats. ILYAS BOTAS Paterson, N.J.

Only the largely Muslim nations that hold the Kurds captive can solve the so-called Kurdish question. A solution will have to be imposed upon these nations. Respect for the welfare of humankind dictates that finding a place for the Kurdish people--the most outrageous example of denied sovereignty--not be left to those countries that are least capable of doing so. NORMAN L. ROTH Toronto

The capture of Ocalan will not end the Kurdish problem. The Kurdish people of Turkey are not the first nor will they be the last ethnic victims of the Turkish state. If Turkey wants to be a respected member of the world community, it has to adhere to the principles of freedom, equality and the brotherhood of citizens. GEORGE D. NIKOLAIDIS Athens

After the arrest of Ocalan, Kurdish protesters demonstrated and occupied Greek and Kenyan missions around the world. More protests followed, demanding Ocalan's freedom from Turkish hands. These protesters showed us that people, not institutions, still have power today. Since the end of the Ottoman Empire, history has been unjust to the Kurds. Now they must fight for their freedom, not just the liberation of their leader. Turkey must change its policy toward the Kurds by providing a kind of autonomy for these people. The Kurds have the right to determine their own future within Turkey. There is growing sympathy worldwide for the Kurds. DIMITRIS ELEAS London

I honestly feel very embarrassed to be a Greek. It was awful that the Greek government betrayed Ocalan to the Turks. From now on, we Greeks cannot look the Kurdish people in the face. FOURLA PANAGIOTA Piraeus, Greece

The last person the Kurds need as a leader is Ocalan. They need a Martin Luther King Jr. TED SIMAN Berlin

People should realize that the 20 million Kurds deserve worldwide recognition, active support and some positive moves from the U.N. to help them establish their own territory. The U.S. could start by diverting the money it provides in its annual subsidy to Israel. America could then make a contribution to each Kurd. What the Israelis achieved in establishing their own nation must not be denied the Kurds. The European Union can do as much as the U.S. It can lobby for action to ensure a fair and open trial for Ocalan, as well as take steps to provide its own share of financial aid to the Kurds. Anything less is unthinkable. JOHN SUTER Nicosia, Cyprus

MYSTERY POLICY

"A policy based on pure pragmatism" was your description of Madeleine Albright's diplomatic efforts to resolve the problems in Kosovo [WORLD, March 1]. But I find the U.S. approach more confusing than pragmatic.

I fail to see why America should involve itself in the Balkan quagmire and why the Clinton Administration has decided that American men and women should risk their life in Kosovo. Some vital U.S. interests must lie in the region for Albright to have invested so much time and effort in it, but I still can't see what those interests are. Maybe that's what makes the subject so fascinating to read about! KAMAL SIDHU Singapore

AFTER IMPEACHMENT

Is it truly over for Clinton and America? The impeachment process may have ended [SPECIAL REPORT, Feb. 22], but what of the future? Can the most powerful country in the world be led by a weakened President? PRAVINCHAND G. KOCHAR Coonoor, India

The key thought in this process seems to have been, If the economy is fit, then Congress must acquit. PAM HOWE Idar-Oberstein, Germany

What will happen when fear and anger next strike the American heart? Perhaps the new millennium won't be a time of scientific wonder and marvel but a return to a strict Puritanism in which scarlet letters are stitched onto the clothes of people in high places. A. JOSEPHUS SECREVE Johannesburg

I was not at all surprised that Bill Clinton told a lie under oath, but I was surprised that the American people forgave him. For such generosity, I congratulate them and hope they will elect a better President in 2000. TAKATA KAN Chiba, Japan

THE LONG VIEW

After seeing readers' comments on Bill Clinton and Ken Starr's sharing your cover as Men of the Year [LETTERS, Jan. 25], I hope people realize that this will be one of the most studied and analyzed periods in political history. Regardless of whether you are a Republican or a Democrat, or thought it was good or bad, this episode has become a watershed event and one from which to learn. History will view these events as the textbook example of how an impeachment hearing should be run. And Clinton has provided a clear model of how to survive in politics. In a few more years Clinton and Starr may grace yet another cover--the textbook for Poli Sci 101. DAVID ROBINSON Chalon-sur-Saone, France

GET OVER IT!

I can't say I was surprised to see Lance Morrow shinny up his high horse and proclaim himself still angry with Clinton [VIEWPOINT, Feb. 22]. Morrow's arrogance is breathtaking. He says Clinton views the American people with contempt. Morrow has the intuition that Clinton is "incapable of thinking about anyone but himself. And that he has no honor--none."

However, Clinton didn't betray the American people. He betrayed his wife, his aides and his party, but they are not to be confused with all Americans. The one who really holds the people in contempt is Morrow, as he makes clear by saying he feels as if he inhabits "someone else's country." MARK EVAN DAVIS Merida, Venezuela

Clinton is first and foremost a consummate politician. He is therefore glib (gasp!), insincere (surely not!) and occasionally a liar (pass the smelling salts!). Although it is true that we in South Africa have a President who is widely admired, truly respected and sincerely loved by his people (well, by most anyway), I have no doubt that in the future the vultures and hyenas will pick over the carcass and point out all Nelson Mandela's shortcomings. And there will be many such critics and many flaws. He is, after all, only human. Strangely enough, so is Bill Clinton. The public is ready to move on, Mr. Morrow. Get over it. CLYDE SMITH Johannesburg

A SYSTEM THAT FAILED

Your article on the injustices of mandatory minimum sentencing [LAW, Feb. 1] included a section about my son Derrick Smith, who committed suicide by jumping out a 16th-floor courtroom window following a court appearance on a drug charge. I would like to set the record straight. You said that Derrick, 19, "faced a sentence of 15 years to life for selling crack" and referred to his last court appearance as a "sentence hearing"--something that occurs only after a defendant is found guilty in a trial or pleads guilty. Readers might think Derrick was guilty of selling crack, when in fact he had insisted on his innocence throughout and had refused a plea offer.

My son was distraught. His attorney had twice requested that he be put on a suicide watch, but to no avail. On that last day, after Derrick refused the plea offer, his bail was revoked for no apparent reason. He was so agitated and afraid that he jumped to his death. There is a larger truth to be drawn from his case and countless others about the degree of dehumanization we have allowed to develop in our drug war-driven criminal-justice system and our courts. MARLENE MCCOULLUM New York City

BARR'S SHINING EXAMPLE

Georgia representative Bob Barr's rationalization of his appearance before the Council of Conservative Citizens [LETTERS, March 1] was a joke. You would be hard-pressed to find anyone, Democrat or Republican, who believes that neither Barr nor his staff inquired about the aims of the council, which is described as a "white-supremacist group," prior to his arranging to speak before it. Barr's denial of knowing what the organization was all about is another shining example of the hypocrisy that Barr and many of his sanctimonious Republican colleagues have come to practice. MARVIN ROBERTSON Roseville, Miss.

IN DEFENSE OF PLASTICS

After reading the piece "Poisonous Plastics?" [HEALTH, March 1], I was left with the question Where's the science? Conspicuously absent are comments from independent scientists, manufacturers of the demonized products--other than a passing reference to an Abbott Laboratories' package insert--or from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the agency that regulates the blood and IV bags whose safety the article questions. The fact is that numerous independent studies and reviews conducted by government bodies have found no scientific evidence of risk associated with the use of vinyl medical products. C.T. ("KIP") HOWLETT JR. Executive Director Chlorine Chemistry Council Arlington, Va.

Abbott Laboratories was not interviewed for this article, however you stated [based on a product flyer] that it "admits there is too little data to draw hard conclusions" about the safety of polyvinyl chloride. This is completely untrue and contrary to our position. PVC is the material of choice for many lifesaving medical products because of its compatibility with medications, sterilization capabilities and other positive qualities. These products have a superlative 40-year record of safe and effective use in the health-care industry. Nor is Abbott a "PVC maker." Abbott Laboratories fabricates safe, government-approved health-care products using pvc materials manufactured elsewhere. CATHERINE V. BABINGTON Vice President, Investor Relations and Public Affairs Abbott Laboratories Abbott Park, Ill.

Plastics are used in food packaging and in the medical environment today because they have a documented history of health and safety benefits not offered by most alternatives. Your readers deserve the facts, not scare tactics. RONALD H. YOCUM, PRESIDENT & CEO American Plastics Council Washington

MODESTLY PROVOCATIVE

In your article on Wendy Shalit's new book, which promotes a return to sexual modesty for young women [THE SEXES, March 1], you said some of the statements in the book seem naive. As a 45-year-old man, I beg to differ with you. Shalit doesn't seem naive to me. She exposes the emperor as having no clothes. Codes of conduct to prevent sexual harassment are obviously better than lawsuits after the fact. And although conservative writer Katie Roiphe complains about being "condescended to by a 23-year-old virgin," she deserves such treatment. The younger generation has paid its dues simply by surviving the mess we've left them in. Any woman who can see through the sexual ideologies and remain a virgin has a right to lecture our generation. JOHN R. WILLIAMS Clifton, N.J.

Surely your photograph of Shalit was intended to evoke titters, as it shows her reclining on a sofa, the defender of feminine modesty happily fondling her pussycat Milton (for Friedman), thereby doubly prim about love and money. I espy antifeminist symbolism. PHILIP M. RIDEOUT New York City

A FAMILY MOURNS

As a member of the Bellofatto family, I am responding to the eulogy for Sean Sellers written by Bianca Jagger [NOTEBOOK, Feb. 15]. [Jagger described Sellers' execution for murder, stating that he suffered from a mental disorder.] Before murdering his parents, Sellers at the age of 16 killed Robert Bowers, a convenience-store clerk who wouldn't sell him beer. Sellers later murdered his own mother Vonda Bellofatto and his stepfather Paul Lee Bellofatto in their sleep. It was not until after Sellers' final bid for appeal was turned down by the state of Oklahoma and his capital-punishment sentence became inevitable that his legal team propagated claims that Sellers suffered from multiple-personality disorder. Your readers should know that these claims were never proved in either of Sellers' criminal trials. Why didn't you follow accepted journalistic practices and give both sides of the story instead of filling space with a celebrity's drivel? JENNIFER BELLOFATTO CAMPOLA Vienna, Va.

MICROSOFT IN THE COURTROOM

Your report on what might happen if Microsoft loses the antitrust case against it presages bad news for the giant corporation [BUSINESS, March 1]. However, I hope the court will realize that a whopping fine, the breakup of Microsoft or some such punitive action will be hurtful on a large scale to the millions of shareholders and citizens whose income is related to the company's success. MURRAY BROMBERG Bellmore, N.Y.

People who contribute nothing of substance to the economy wish to break up Microsoft! Let me remind you: these are the same geniuses who broke up AT&T and screwed up the telephone system. I predict the same thing will happen when these #$&*%@s dismantle Microsoft and the vultures come in. ROY PROVINS Albuquerque, N.M.

PLAYING CREATOR

I own the "God games" Simcity and SimCity 2000 mentioned in your report on empire-building computer games [TECHNOLOGY, March 1], and I just purchased Civilization II. These games have beautiful graphics, true, but there is so much more. There are many games in which a player tries to kill as many aliens as possible, but now with these god games, players can actually build gorgeous cities or vast empires. Indeed, Super Mario gets old when you have explored the same possibilities hundreds and hundreds of times. Now please excuse me; I need to go negotiate a peace treaty with India. ALEXANDER PHILLIPS, 14 San Diego

KNOWN FOR ITS WIT

I howl out loud when I watch the TV show Whose Line Is It Anyway? [SHOW BUSINESS, March 1]. It is sophisticated, quick and entertaining. This is TV that keeps me on my toes and my synapses firing rapidly. The entire troupe is incredibly talented and funny. JOYCE E. FENNER Midlothian, Va.

Thanks for the insightful story on the return of sparkling mind games to broadcasting. For the record, we are the three other regular panelists left unnamed who appear on the NPR quiz show Says You! We'd like to assure you we are very understanding and sympathetic to funny problems like spatial constraints. And, after all, to be perfectly blunt, wit happens! Now, thanks to all our intelligent fans, with ever increasing frequency, more radios are tuned to Says You! than any other appliance. ARNIE REISMAN, PAULA LYONS AND FRANCINE ACHBAR South Natick, Mass.

THE GREEK EXPERIENCE

As current executives of the Panhellenic Council at Dartmouth College, we feel obligated to correct the stereotypes presented in Anita Hamilton's article about changes in the fraternity and sorority system at the school [VIEWPOINT, March 1]. Readers should consider the facts and not outdated or untrue stereotypes. For the Greek system at Dartmouth to be constantly compared to the 20-year-old movie Animal House is completely unjust. This image, along with the other out-of-date stereotypes to which Hamilton referred, is not deserved by the Greek system at Dartmouth, considering the tremendous steps we have taken to improve our setup in the past few years. KELLY BODIO AND JESSICA ROSS Panhellenic Council Hanover, N.H.

Because my mother had such a positive experience in a sorority, I decided to become a part of the Greek community at my college. Going Greek was the biggest mistake I ever made. I have reaped no professional rewards for my sorority experience nor any long-lasting friendships. In fact, I keep my Greek affiliation a secret because I am embarrassed by what many people think of fraternities and sororities. LAURYNN HINDE EVANS Seattle

For every Anita Hamilton who was "locked out of the sorority system," there are hundreds of us for whom the Greek experience as undergraduates was both positive and rewarding and was not centered on Animal House antics or around alcohol abuse. FRANK HOWE Denver

ADOPT A LIFE, JOEL!

Joel Stein's piece in which he called the Adopt-a-Highway program the lamest charity he'd ever heard of [NOTEBOOK, March 1] was a slap in the face to those of us who care about the state of the environment. This program provides money and manpower to help clean littered stretches of highway. Maybe Stein enjoys seeing the rotting wrappers that blow across the endless roadways, but most of us do not. BRANDICE HARTSOCK Blacksburg, Va.