Bring On ‘The Rings’
I greatly enjoyed your Dec. 1 cover story, “Hail to the Rings,” particularly the discussion of the chances that the finale, “The Return of the King,” has of winning the Oscar for best picture. While the final two installments of “The Matrix” were gut-wrenchingly awful and insulting, “The Lord of the Rings” movies leave their viewers in states of awe. The trailer for the third movie is already the best three minutes of film in 2003. It is time the Academy truly recognized a fantasy film for more than just technical awards. “Rings” is a masterful achievement in every aspect of filmmaking, from the superb acting to Peter Jackson’s directing to Howard Shore’s moving and thrilling score. It should not be penalized because of its popularity or supposedly light subject matter. It contains an immense amount of philosophical depth and religious insight. Last January you predicted that 2003 would be the “Year of ‘The Matrix’.” I’m sorry, but it is the year of “The Lord of the Rings.” Yoni Glatt Hillcrest, New York
I’m glad the overpraised “Lord of the Rings” films are finally coming to an end. The world of these films is dreary and depressing, the “epic” battle scenes look like a bunch of computer pixels fighting one another and the story is, for lack of a better word, boring. I much prefer the other sci-fi/fantasy series of today, like the “Harry Potter” films, the “X-Men” franchise or the much-maligned but vastly superior “Matrix” films. Russell Krone Decatur, Georgia
The “gaffes” sidebar about “the Lord of the Rings” contains an ironic error: the pictured orc, described as an Uruk-hai, is not an Uruk-hai. He’s just a typical, weaker orc. Kevin MacDermott New York, New York
I was appalled and taken aback by your cover. Why devote a whole cover story to such frivolous and ephemeral pursuits as a mere movie? Surely your editors know better. One reason I switched to NEWSWEEK from your chief competitor was that they were devoting covers and far too many pages to subjects such as the life and times of Leonardo DiCaprio and Japanese teeny-bopper girls. Now you, too, seemed to have succumbed to the whims and current fancies of Yuppies who have apparently seized the helm over there. Even Michael (who cares) Jackson gets two whole pages for his current travails. C’mon. Give us a break. Surely, current affairs take precedence over the “Lord of the Rings.” Please consider your core readership. David Weinberg Tokyo, Japan
Thanks to Jeff Giles for his wonderful report on “The Return of the King.” I’ve been greatly anticipating the film and had read the book many times in my youth. The movie conclusion of this incredible trilogy has been my fantasy come true. After Ralph Bakshi’s horrible animated interpretation in 1978, I despaired that any reasonable rendition–let alone an astounding one–could be achieved. Giles’s report captures how I imagined the characters, the landscape, everything. However, does he mean to imply that Merry has no part in the downing of the Chief of the Ringwraiths? It was Merry’s blow that toppled the Ringwraith and Eowyn’s sword that killed him. He had a major part to play and is in all three movies, yet you made no mention of him in your article. Joy Williams Scotts Valley, California
Thank you for your cover story on “The Lord of the Rings.” It was interesting to read about what goes on behind the scenes. I’m amazed by how well these movies have done at the box office. Fantasy movies have gotten a poor reputation over the years, but I think “The Lord of the Rings” will change that. Caran Allum Ephraim, Utah
I enjoyed reading about Peter Jackson’s blunders on “The Return of the King.” With an epic film like this, there are bound to be mistakes. But these blunders will fade to the back of audiences’ memories. We will remember J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic story told with flawless beauty and artistic mastery. I salute Peter Jackson for his superb accomplishment. Paul Dale Roberts Elk Grove, California
Dutch Slang or Ancient Greek?
Your Bush-supporting editors–especially Fareed Zakaria–amuse me. They may account for the fact that the best part of your magazine is your letters to the editor page. It is either that your readers are way ahead of you or that you have finally turned what used to be a respectable international news magazine into trash. Probably both. How else do you explain running a cover story on the “Lord of the Rings”? And by the way, allochton is not a Dutch but a Greek–and ancient, not modern, for that matter–word for foreigners (“Generation M,” Dec. 1). Selim Stanitsas Athens, Greece
You mention “allochtones” as Dutch slang for Dutch Muslims. In fact it is a normal Dutch word stemming from the Greek word “allos” (other) and “chthon” (land, earth, ground), hence meaning “foreigner.” The opposite is “autochtoon” from the Greek “auto” (self) and “chthon,” meaning “native.” I should know–having been born in Israel and living in the Netherlands, I am also an allochton. Moshe Gilula Bilthoven, Netherlands
Savior of the Democratic Party?
I read your Nov. 24 Periscope item “Clinton II,” about a possible Hillary Rodham Clinton run for the presidency in 2004, with more than casual interest. Rumor has it that Senator Clinton does not wish to get bogged down in any primary race but wants to come in as the savior of the Democratic Party this summer. With Howard Dean in the lead but lacking sufficient delegate strength and Richard Gephardt close on his heels but falling short, a floor fight would ensue between the two leading candidates. Enter Hillary Rodham Clinton, accepting a draft to unify the party. She will capture the nomination without any of the usual prerequisites and can home in on the campaign next fall. She would probably make the strongest Democratic candidate and would have a good chance to beat President Bush in November. To add to her ticket, she should choose Gephardt as her running mate: he is not only an experienced congressman but a Midwesterner who is strong with labor and an insider. Why wait four years until 2008 if the nomination is handed to her in 2004? The Democrats desperately want to win and desperately want to beat George W. Bush. With Senator Clinton they have the best shot. David Froehlich Former Chairman, Democrats Abroad Rehovot, Israel
Europe’s Alcohol Problem
I found your article “Is Europe Drinking Too Much?” (Nov. 3) most interesting. Now please let me inform you: not only does drinking affect a new generation of young people, but it also involves all the European states. I am a 23-year-old Spaniard who lives in a country where drinking on weekends is close to compulsive. I myself have practiced the popular botellon (all-night drinking session) a few times, and I know how important it is to young people. Recently the Spanish government decided to forbid it, and now nobody is allowed to drink in the streets. Politicians want to stop the rising number of young people who start drinking before the age of 14. But are we going to stop drinking? No, we will go on drinking in other places, away from busy streets. It does not seem to matter to the authorities that young people drink, only that they themselves can sleep in peace and collect money from alcohol sales. Rosana Ruiz Carrilero Valencia, Spain
Healing and Spirituality
As research psychologists working with chaplains, we read your Nov. 17 cover story, “God and Health,” with particular interest. The recent movement to improve physicians’ understanding of spiritual care is enormously important to the 10,000 professional chaplains in the United States. Generally, physicians are less religious than their patients and less likely than nurses to refer patients to chaplains. We recently studied referral patterns at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York and found that less than 3 percent of the referrals were made by medical doctors, compared with 82 percent made by nurses. If physicians avoid any conversation with patients about religion and spirituality, patients may not receive the best care they can get. Unlike doctors and nurses, chaplains receive intensive training in religion and spirituality. We are a multifaith organization involved in the training of student chaplains who are required to complete 1,600 hours of supervision. To ensure quality in spiritual care, it is critical that health-care institutions hire specially educated and certified professional chaplains. Andrew J. Weaver Kevin J. Flannelly The HealthCare Chaplaincy New York, New York
If you believe that we are here for a purpose, with the ultimate objective of going to a better place, then religion is good medicine. If you believe that we are the equivalent of a bunch of ants scurrying around, headed toward oblivion, then it probably isn’t. I choose to believe the former. Howard C. Hathcoat Winnetka, Illinois
The sick, injured and dying pray not only for heavenly intervention in their illness but also for protection against the arrogance leading to incompetence of some members of the medical profession. If the medical profession won’t adequately police itself, then prayer is of limited benefit. Everett W. Yaps Hebron, Connecticut
Loving intentions–what some people call prayer–is the greatest healer. Isn’t that what we are really talking about, loving ourselves and loving others? And wouldn’t it be easier to then train doctors to assist patients in areas of compassion, forgiveness and generosity (the bedrock of all major religions), as social counselors are already doing, than having them get bogged down in Religion with a capital R? Gene Golus North Massapequa, New York
Let us not forget to pray, and pray hard for the 43 million-plus uninsured in the United States. That’s a sin. Marion Julia Ford, R.N. Bronx, New York
The idea that a person’s health may be improved by the prayers of anonymous others had a negative effect on my own condition: my blood pressure reached dangerously high levels for hours after I read the article. Paul Murtaugh Corvallis, Oregon
Schism in the Church
My husband, an Episcopal priest, comes home every day saddened by yet another of his colleagues who is thinking of leaving the Episcopal Church because of the election of Gene Robinson as bishop of New Hampshire (“Souls Divided,” Nov. 17). It has always been important to my husband to be a part of the Episcopal Church, U.S.A., and it would never occur to him to split off. What also had not occurred to him, and what seems clear to me, is that the Episcopal Church, U.S.A., is now an orphan, since the worldwide Anglican Church appears to have embraced those clergy and parishes that are threatening to splinter. Much the way the early American settlers split from England, the Episcopal Church may split from the Anglicans, and it is for many of the same reasons. Our nation was founded on the issue of human rights, an unpopular practice in much of the world. We offer these rights not to one segment of the population but to all humans. If we Americans are split off from the mother church because of this, so be it. Linda Fine Zeman Watertown, Connecticut
I am a middle-aged, liberal, female heterosexual, as well as a lifelong Episcopalian. I love the traditional roots the Episcopal Church, U.S.A., shares with other Anglicans around the world. However, I don’t value those roots and an institution–the church–more than I value human rights. The day Gene Robinson was installed as bishop of New Hampshire was the day I was most proud to be an Episcopalian. Anne Seed Benicia, California
