Violence in Syria

Violence in Syria
Re “The Youtube War” [May 27]: In much the same way that the Roman gladiators basked in their opponents’ blood in front of the Colosseum masses, these fighters too see themselves as gladiators, basking in the eyes of the world through YouTube, Facebook and the Internet. Whether publicized online or not, these atrocities would still be occurring in this terrible conflict; technology has just brought it into our hands, homes and minds.
Dan Carmel,
London

A quote in the story expresses that what is happening in Syria at the moment is “inhuman.” The point is that such deeds are perfectly and even only human. Only humans commit such atrocities. No animal will ever torture and maim in the name of an idea. We humans are the beasts on this world, and our religion only makes it worse.
Boudewijn C. Barendrecht,
HüTschenhausen, Germany

Jolie’s Choice
Re “the Angelina Effect” [May 27]: You can’t help but admire one of the world’s most beautiful women’s decision to undergo a double mastectomy. Angelina Jolie has put life, and her children’s interests, ahead of fame and celebrity, and this can only be applauded. She says her actions no way diminish her femininity, but her argument doesn’t hold true, as she will never play iconic roles like Lara Croft again without her trademark figure. Regardless, in my mind femininity is not an issue, and she will now be remembered for her personal choices and pursuits other than her Hollywood background.
Anthony Artist,
Walton-On-Thames, England

Pakistan’s Road Ahead
Re “Hope and Change, Pakistani Style” [May 27]: While many of us in Pakistan feel good that continuity of civilian government has finally taken hold, we are truly concerned with the violence that is still being perpetrated. Nawaz Sharif is at the helm again. Somehow we doubt he can adequately tackle terrorism, corruption, sectarian conflict, women’s rights and the weak economy at home, while trying to build a more cordial relationship with neighbors (especially India) and, of course, the U.S. Could he be third-time lucky?
Ibrahim Mousa and Rahman Faroud,
Karachi

U.S. Foreign Policy
Fareed Zakaria is right to point to the erosion of American influence and goodwill across the globe [“America the Isolated?” May 27]. America has declared a “global war on terror” to continue until “terror” is defeated. To this end, the U.S. kills suspects around the world, thus creating countless additional “terrorists” — an arrangement that is nirvana for the military-industrial complex President Eisenhower warned against. At last they have it: global war without end or, as the late Gore Vidal put it, “perpetual war for perpetual peace.”
Jim McCluskey,
Twickenham, England

Zakaria rightly says U.S. foreign policy is interventionist. There can hardly be a person on this planet outside the U.S. who believes otherwise. Please spare us the freedom and liberty stuff. The U.S. uses its ownership of the words to do what it wants. The rules of civil diplomacy do not apply to the U.S. Exceptionalism is another word for hypocrisy and bullying; do what we say, not what we do. As a good friend of the citizens of the U.S., I must tell you that much of the world is actually fearful of your politics.
John Moore,
Nelson, New Zealand

All in the Family
“India Doesn’t Need Another Gandhi” is timely in the present context of an obsession with dynastic politics in India [May 20]. Being constantly surrounded by sycophants, rather than by objective critics, Rahul Gandhi has almost alienated himself from the common man in India. Thus, he has never been able to understand the problems, economic and political, faced by the people. If he were to make efforts to spend more time trying to understand the complex problems confronting the country, he would be in a better position to emerge as a dynamic leader and make a positive contribution.
Mahendra Mahanti,
Bhubaneswar, India