Inbox

Surviving Disaster

Amanda Ripley's piece about surviving disaster was both informative and important [June 9]. But her recounting of the fatal fire at the Beverly Hills Supper Club, which I covered as a correspondent for ABC News, omitted two key lessons. One: when someone yells "Fire!" (or anything equally alarming), people must err on the side of caution. And two: exit doors must open outward! Most of the corpses at the Beverly Hills were lumped up against the exits. The people who reached the doors first couldn't open them because they opened inward, and when more people pressed up behind them, the doors couldn't open at all. Greg Dobbs, EVERGREEN, COLO.

Morgan Stanley security chief Rick Rescorla may very well be the greatest American hero no one has ever heard of. Rescorla's many friends--from his Army days on--have been advocating a Presidential Medal of Freedom for him. But that has gone nowhere, because to celebrate his achievements and sacrifices on 9/11 calls attention to those--at the Port Authority and elsewhere--who got it all wrong. Steven R. Hansen, JONESBORO, ARIZ.

You missed an opportunity to promote a critical need: for average Americans to get involved with their local community emergency-response team. Too many people still expect others to take care of them when first responders are overwhelmed in a large disaster. Don Jones, SAN JOSE, CALIF.

In all disasters, our ability to communicate with our social network underlies everything else we may do to survive. My experience providing mental-health services at disaster sites and hospital emergency centers convinced me that I needed to get a ham-radio license. Wayne Rosenfield, NORWICH, CONN.

It's a pity that leadership during crises rarely comes from the top. When Hurricane Katrina hit my home, everyday heroes like policemen, firefighters and neighbors did their jobs admirably. Meanwhile, our dear Federal Government seemingly had no idea what to do. Maybe Washington should read your article for a few tips. Arush Sarwar, KENNER, LA.

Only in second grade at the time of 9/11--I'm now in eighth--I had been utterly confused by the tragic events. However, your article about the heroic efforts of Rick Rescorla and the risks he took for his colleagues sent my mother and me into tears. Rescorla's ability to remain calm and assertive in a dangerous situation is inspiring, and I hope we can learn from his example. Martha Harding, PALO ALTO, CALIF.

The Art of the Export

Re Justin Fox's "a port that exports": you don't wipe away an $800 billion annual trade deficit by further weakening the dollar, exporting raw materials and wishing for good luck [June 9]. It takes real change in trade policy--labor and environmental standards that will raise living standards at home and abroad, better guarantees for safe food and toy imports, and no more NAFTAS and other corporate trade deals. We need more trade--but under a very different set of rules that work for our families and our communities. Sherrod Brown, U.S. Senator, AVON, OHIO

Uncle Sam's Energy Lag

In his story on how to solve the energy crisis, Jeffrey D. Sachs says President George W. Bush "dithered for eight years instead of investing in new technologies for a sustainable planet" [June 9]. This year alone, the Bush Administration will dedicate more than $5 billion to research, develop and promote technologies including low-emission coal, renewables, nuclear power and vehicles powered by advanced biofuels, electricity and hydrogen. More than $40 billion in loan guarantees will help put such technologies to use. The President's 2009 budget calls for nearly $1 billion in public and private investment for the world's most ambitious program to demonstrate nearly emission-free power from coal. Last year's energy-bill mandates include billions of dollars of private investment to improve efficiency of vehicles, lighting and appliances and call for replacing 15% of our gasoline with alternatives. These efforts will cut billions of tons of greenhouse gases. With the U.S. investing more than any other nation to advance new technologies, Sachs should join the country in urging the rest of the G-8 and other major countries to do their part. James L. Connaughton, Chairman, White House Council on Environmental Quality, WASHINGTON

Sachs' article should be required reading for every Senator and Representative in this great country--before it's not great anymore. The one point that really blows my mind is that the U.S. in 2006 spent $3.2 billion on energy research--nuclear, wind, coal, solar and biofuels--while the Pentagon spends that much in about 40 hours. Howard Sandt, BIG STONE GAP, VA.

Your article was absolutely on target. It is essential that the U.S. develop new sustainable sources of nonpolluting energy. You have made clear the interrelationships among the availability of that energy and international politics (and the need for the U.S. to operate without one hand tied behind its back), the environment and the world economy. A Manhattan Project--level effort is needed. Time is running out. Donald J. Loundy, CARLSBAD, CALIF.

A Good-Faith Effort?

As an ardent reader and fan of your publication, I am finding it hard, even 24 hours later, to close my jaw after reading your story on Tony Blair's faith [June 9]. How dare Michael Elliott refer to "the chattering classes of London'' who think of Blair as smug. I think you'll find this is a common view, echoed from Lands End to John O'Groats, and with very good reason. Blair's deeds--and those of his unelected inner circle of cronies--have left the British public with little faith in politics and politicians, let alone religion. Colin Wright COUNTY DOWN, NORTHERN IRELAND

By conveniently waiting until after he stepped down as Prime Minister to embrace Roman Catholicism, Blair demonstrated that his political career was more important to him than his faith. Frederic Renard, BRUSSELS

You've put into words what I have always felt was the truth about Blair. I don't think he's achieved what he has set out to do yet, but I know he will, and history will judge him better than the U.K. media have. Rosamund Hubley, LONDON

Re your statement about Blair being "curiously reticent in talking about his own faith ... characteristic of British politicians, not American ones": American politicians who loudly tout their faith are usually touting membership in one of the Christian sects, and rarely Judaism (and even more rarely Islam). The political climate in the U.S. makes it useful to boast about one's belief in Jesus and the Christian God, and political suicide to mention any faith that is focused in a different direction. Can you imagine a candidate for President glowingly referring to an uplifting feeling at a full-moon ritual or celebration of Tu B'shvat? Sadly, what really should be the valuable part of any faith--namely, the way one's integrity guides one to live it--is not something that needs advertising. Deborah Greymoon, CASCADE, COLO.

But They're Dressy Cutoffs!

Bravo to Lisa Takeuchi Cullen for her article "What (Not) to Wear to Work" [June 9]. I have distributed it to every student I train for internship placement at a college-prep high school in San Diego. Unfortunately, many students think shorts are acceptable work attire. When students come to my office in shorts for an interview, I will not proceed--at which time they try to explain that they're wearing "dress shorts"! Jill Wien Badger, BONITA, CALIF.

A Taint on the GI Bill

The photograph accompanying "A Brief History Of: The GI Bill" contained what appeared to be one black and 10 white individuals [June 9]. Ironically, this represents exactly the kind of disproportionate access to GI Bill advantages that were available to returning GIs. The sad truth is that while the government was willing to pay for college and housing loans, it was unwilling to change the laws that prevented most nonwhite GIs from taking advantage of this money. In fact, the GI Bill in 1947 "threw open the doors of elite academies" only to the white masses. The same was true in the housing market, where discriminatory practices kept most people of color out of the flood of new housing, particularly in the suburbs. Kathryn Kaatz, WAYZATA, MINN.

Please Pass the Cockroaches

Re "Eating Bugs": how about advocating for a more palatable vegetarian national future [June 9]? I've been a vegetarian for 37 years. I'm 61, 6 ft. 2 in., 185 lb. and healthy enough to compete in 100-mile mountain-bike races, ski, climb and dance all night with my wife. I've been living extremely well on rice and beans for protein, tofu, tempeh, fruits, greens, grains and 40 g of fiber daily. Meat and dairy products cause more obesity, heart disease and other ill-health consequences. Eat vegetarian for yourself and the planet! Join me on the starting line of the next mountain-bike race! Frosty Wooldridge, WESTMINSTER, COLO.

How long will it be before bug activists complain that the insects are not humanely killed before cooking? Julian Hoyle, CAMARILLO, CALIF.

Flack Gets Flack

Former White House spokesman scott McClellan deserves a medal for having the courage to tell the American people what many already knew [June 9]. Life inside the Beltway is nothing but a struggle for power. While it is an honor to be appointed press secretary, McClellan should not be expected to stand before the Washington press corps every week preaching the Administration's line when the messenger knows full well that what he is saying is untrue. Larry Marthaler, LONGBOAT KEY, FLA.

Defending Jimmy Carter

In his article "in Carter's shadow," Ramesh Ponnuru states that former President Carter "eked out a paper-thin victory only because of Watergate, stagflation and defeat in Vietnam" [June 9]. That's like saying we won World War II only because we had a superior military, we were a united country and right was on our side! Phil Kenny, COLORADO SPRINGS

Friends of Barack

So Barack Obama gets a pass for his association with radicals Bill Ayers and Bernardine Dohrn because others associate with them [June 9]? I am from the Deep South, where a lot of folks associated with KKK members and said "everybody else does." That was wrong, and this is wrong. We should expect better judgment from someone vying for the presidency. Chuck Rainey, AUSTIN, TEXAS

Obama's association with ayers and Dohrn wouldn't matter except that, along with his friendship with the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, it says something larger about the political environment from which he springs. Chicago is a troubled city. Why would American voters want its way of political life brought to the country at large? We're not just electing a President; we're electing the people around him too. Mark Richard, COLUMBUS, OHIO

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