In Memoriam
As I study each page of your Feb. 10 Special Report, “Not Again,” I am saddened by the loss of such brilliant lives, and touched by the photos that exemplify their importance on this earth. The final heart wrenching comes as I view pictures of the shuttle debris discovered in my state, including the metal sole of a spacesuit shoe. It’s amazing how such a horrific incident can personally touch us. I am grateful for your kind work in showing us these heroes. God be with the astronauts’ families. John Cummins Abilene, Texas
While I join the rest of the world in grieving over the loss of the Columbia crew, I have to wonder why it is necessary to venture into space in the first place. If we had used those countless billions of dollars spent on the space program toward medical research, we would no doubt have cures for most diseases: cancer, heart disease, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s… the list goes on. Thomas Pasternak West Edmeston, N.Y.
I am totally taken with NEWSWEEK’s speed and depth of coverage of the Columbia disaster. Not only was the coverage impressive, with numerous photos and graphics, but the turnaround time was beyond belief. The event occurred shortly before 9 a.m. ET on Saturday, yet by Monday morning the magazine was in the hands of the mail carrier in time for delivery that afternoon. This means a staff was assembled to research, write, prepare visuals and get the material composed into pages, printed, bound and shipped in an impossibly short period of time. My compliments to a talented group of professionals. Don Christian Falls Church, Va.
As a former NASA jet propulsion Laboratory engineer who worked on the Mars Pathfinder, I found your characterization of that mission misleading. “From Earth to the Skies,” your time line of NASA’s successes and failures, summarizes Pathfinder as “sending the first images” while “later attempts fail.” Such a description undermines the overwhelming success of the endeavor. Not only did Pathfinder meet or exceed all the mission requirements, but it survived more than three times longer on the surface than expected. Thousands of images from the two vehicles were successfully sent to Earth and distributed to the entire world via the Internet. Considering that NEWSWEEK is often the only source for people on space-related subjects, you have a responsibility to accurately relay this information. It’s crucial to summarize NASA’s past successes as just that. Brett Lindenfeld Director of Engineering Alliance Spacesystems, Inc. Pasadena, Calif.
Your cover headline, “Not Again,” was a slap in the face to the gallant people who lost their lives in the tragic Columbia shuttle breakup. This has been the second in-flight accident that involved a loss of life within a manned space program that has lasted almost 40 years. Using a headline that implies that this tragedy is commonplace is insulting to the astronauts, NASA and all the people who support them. Sam Schoolsky Lake Charles, La.
Do we still need the space shuttle and the International Space Station? Absolutely! At a time when we are trying to encourage children to excel in math and science, the space program offers an avenue of exploration and discovery that is sure to capture the imagination and inspire future generations. We will best honor the fallen astronauts of the Challenger and Columbia if we continue our reach into space. Kendall Wells Knoxville, Tenn.
Now is not the time to cut NASA’s budget further, but rather to drastically increase it. We cannot change the past, but we can learn and improve the future. It’s time to create a new shuttle fleet and replace 30-year-old technology. It is time to create high-tech as well as blue-collar manufacturing jobs to build this new fleet to compete with the up-and-coming manned Chinese space program. Juris Breikss Elizabeth, Colo.
I’d like to extend sincere condolences to the colleagues, families and friends of the seven Columbia astronauts. I also wish to thank everyone at NASA for the hundreds of safe and successful missions that have propelled humans into space.The drive to learn, to understand and to explore is what fuels NASA missions, both human and robotic, and has expanded our horizons tremendously. Joseph Libby Marlton, N.J.
Tax Breaks for Whom?
Anna Quindlen is right to advocate tax breaks for the working poor (“Here’s to the Little People,” The Last Word, Feb. 10). In many cases in this country, the problem is as much underemployment as unemployment. We should all try to understand how difficult it is to support a family when making only $6 or $7 an hour. President Bush’s repeated tax breaks that exclude the working poor demonstrate that the term “compassionate conservative” is only empty rhetoric. If the need is to pump money into the economy, then let us do so. Dan Salveter Thomasville, Ga.
Anna Quindlen is off base when she says that the president’s proposal to cut the income tax on corporate dividends would benefit only the rich. I am a retired pediatrician who never earned more than $65,000 a year. I lived frugally and invested wisely. Currently my wife and I live comfortably, but not lavishly, on my retirement income, which consists of my Social Security plus dividends from my investments. I would welcome the extra income that would come our way if the tax on dividends were eliminated. Perhaps that money would help to pay for those prescriptions we need as we age, or maybe even an extra chance to take a vacation. I’m certain there are many retirees who fit my shoes and would love to have that little lift to make their finances easier. C. W. Biedel Bremerton, Wash.
Raising Kids Is Never Easy
As someone who has heard the line “Why don’t you just adopt?” more times than I can remember, I was glad to read an article that looked beyond the noble platitudes that so often come with the subject (“Demystifying the Adoption Option,” My Turn, Feb. 10). I do think it’s important to make a distinction between those who actively select adoption to build their families and those who have adoption thrust upon them by difficult and painful circumstances. Life did not offer Nancy Hanner the opportunity to sort out this choice. Jeni Mahoney Los Angeles, Calif.
I read with interest Nancy Hanner’s view of life with her adopted children. Now a grandmother of similar-age children, I want to reassure her that the characteristics she sees in her children are not so different from those of children who are biologically yours. I have learned first through my children and now through my grandchildren that kids are so self-centered they are unable to see beyond themselves. Appreciation for their upbringing will come at a much later date. Until the time when they acknowledge to themselves and then to you that rearing them was a sacrifice and a gift of love, you must hold it in trust for them. The love and understanding you give them today will return manyfold in years to come. Cheri Peters Madera, Calif.
Rhodiola Rosea’s Side Effects
Your recent article on rhodiola rosea provided the public with valuable information about a little-known herb with a big potential to improve many health problems (“Herbal Stress Buster?” Tip Sheet, Feb. 3). Unfortunately, my comments about side effects were incomplete. Although rhodiola has very few side effects, it can exacerbate anxiety and agitation in vulnerable individuals. If taken in excess amounts, it can cause a “revved up” feeling similar to caffeine. People with bipolar disorder should not take rhodiola unless their condition is stable and they are under close medical supervision. The activating and antidepressant effects of rhodiola can trigger manic reaction in those with bipolar disorder. Richard P. Brown, M.D. New York, N.Y.
Lingering Japanese Pain
Ambassador Don Gregg says that Japan has never apologized for “kidnapping thousands of Korean women to serve as… prostitutes during World War II” (“Kim Jong Il: The Truth Behind the Caricature,” My Turn, Feb. 3). The government of Japan officially extended its “sincere apologies and remorse to all those, irrespective of place of origin, who suffered immeasurable pain and incurable physical and psychological wounds as comfort women.” This statement has been repeated on many occasions, including at Japan-South Korea summit talks. Gregg also describes Japan’s reaction to North Korea’s admission that it had kidnapped Japanese citizens as “hysterical and solipsistic.” North Korea kidnapped many Japanese citizens–some of whom were reported as dead. North Korea has not provided any detailed information about these deaths to the Japanese families, and it attempted to place restrictions on recently returned abductees wanting to reunite with their spouses and children. The Japanese reaction to these terrible revelations was one of legitimate grief and anger. Calling it “hysterical” trivializes the great pain and sadness of those who lost their loved ones. Kazuhiko Koshikawa Deputy Consul General (Information) Consulate General of Japan New York, N.Y.
Correction
In “The Right Stuff” (Feb. 10) we said that astronaut Kalpana Chawla earned her degree at the University of Texas, which is in Austin. She actually graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington.
