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A Nation of Dreams Your cover story “India Charges Ahead” is a most compelling read [Aug. 13]. The rumble from the Indian economy is a sterling example to all the struggling nations in the world of what dreams can achieve, even when one has not yet overcome terrorism, mixed religions, a sad history of colonization, imperfect democracy, socialism, political missteps and years of wars. India’s rebound in the global economy is multifaceted, but what inspires most is its ability to reach into a beleaguered past and a struggling present to continuously build a dream.
Moses Ida-Michaels,
Lagos

Despite appearances, India is still seriously underperforming. Its systems of justice, public education and health continue to constrain its growth. The half-baked economic reforms of 1991 did give India a boost, but the country had come off such a low base over the previous half-century that the effect was akin to that of an adrenaline shot on a man whose heart has stopped beating. India would enjoy higher and more sustainable growth rates if it reformed its institutions of governance. Unfortunately, India’s universally corrupt political leaders display a singular aversion to undertaking reforms, particularly those of the electoral funding system and the antiquated bureaucracy.
Sanjeev Sabhlok,
Bulleen, Victoria

Thank you very much for your wellresearched and glowing report on India, spanning its history from before European discovery, through the bloody massacre that broke the country in two, to India’s current rise in the space age. The special issue of TIME was a fitting tribute to a nation that is recapturing its long-ago glory. The biggest asset of India has always been its people. Even the emigrants scattered around the world share Indian citizens’ patriotism and passion for their country. To live up to the world’s expectations and confidence, India must now turn to the 80% of citizens who live in rural areas and for whom life has barely changed in the past half-century. They must contend daily with illiteracy, pollution, poor housing, and shortages of water and electricity. Political corruption needs to be addressed and the progress of rural people embraced before the nation can pull through to true superpower status.
Shailja Chaturvedi,
Sydney

The lament by Pakistani scholar Tarik Jan that Muslims were the rulers of India before the British came and should have been restored to power when the British left calls for some historical perspective. At the advent of British rule, the Mughal empire was in decline, and most of the subcontinent was under the sway of the Hindu Maratha empire. After World War II, the Indian independence movement was led by Mahatma Gandhi, a Hindu, and supported by people of all races and creeds. When independence was finally achieved, the new nation’s founding fathers were predominantly Hindu. To their great credit, they made India’s constitution a secular one. This allowed people of any race or creed, including Muslims, to call India their own and enabled disparate social groups to work together for national peace and prosperity. Handing over power to the Mughals’ Muslim descendants would be unthinkable to most Indians today — as unthinkable as living in an Islamic state.
R. Albuquerque,
Willeton, Western Australia

Harmony Through Hamas? Andrew Lee butters’ story “A Sort of Peace in Gaza” puts all the blame on Israel [Aug. 13]. He seems unaware that Hamas fires rockets at Israel every day and captured an Israeli soldier. Would any other country in the world be expected to aid people who are trying to kill its citizens on a daily basis?
Max Rosenthal,
Huntsville, Alabama

This story is living proof that Hamas propaganda is successful and that right and wrong have been replaced by expediency. Butters lauds Hamas for bringing “the rule of law” to Gaza, but nowhere does he question why Hamas can bring law and order to Gaza yet can’t stop the Qassam rockets that are launched into Israel daily. Hamas brought order to Gaza through sheer brutality: throwing Fatah members off roofs, murdering opposition leaders, firing shots into crowds of peaceful demonstrators, raiding and burning a Greek Orthodox monastery and attacking a school for nuns. Prior to abandoning peace talks to continue attacking Israel, Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank enjoyed the highest standard of living of any non-oil-producing Arab nation, compliments of Israel. The Gazan bor- ders are also Israel’s borders; Israel has the right to prevent enemies dedicated to its destruction from entering. Butters should stop drinking the Kool-Aid.
Jackie Reckseit,
Boynton Beach, Florida

Butters fails to mention that Hamas, Fatah, Islamic Jihad and Hizballah are all united with al-Qaeda, Iran and the Taliban in their desire to obliterate the state of Israel. If Israel did not guard its borders, it would be overrun by suicide bombers and its citizens would be murdered daily. Israel, until recently, provided Gaza with most of its water, energy and power needs. Fatah’s former leader Yasser Arafat embezzled $3 billion from his poor Palestinian “brethren.” Furthermore, in light of Saddam Hussein’s paying $10,000 to each suicide bomber’s family and of the alliance between Hamas founder Ahmed Yassin and the World Trade Center bombers, it seems rather ludicrous to defend any of the parties in power in Gaza.
Robert Harris,
Chicago

Butters’ story proves that if left to their own devices, most governments would do fine without U.S. interference in their internal affairs. Americans should restrain ourselves when it comes to Cuba, Venezuela, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Give them an opportunity to succeed unhindered. Unless, of course, we are afraid they might succeed, which would indicate that there are systems out there at least as capable as our own.
David G. McGrady,
Muskegon, Michigan

Democracy Italian Style Your report on the state of Italy’s democratic insitutions was an illuminating look into the seldom-mentioned dark side of democracy [Aug. 13]. However, I was saddened to see that the story made no mention of a possible remedy. Perhaps the Italians themselves have not developed one. With the political system dominated by octogenarian bureaucrats and Berlusconi- like operators, would it be out of the question for Italy to restore the monarchy? With the exception of the U.S., the most successful democracies, and those least prone to such institutional dystrophy, are monarchies, from the U.K., Canada, Australia and New Zealand to the Scandinavian nations and Japan. In Italy, the monarcy was abolished only because of its association with Mussolini, and because a referendum on the issue was sabotaged by communists in some areas. A restoration may take time to be effective, but it would make someone other than the “slothful political elite” responsible to the people.
Tim Knapp,
Sydney

No Apology Necessary Re Michael Kinsley’s article asserting that the American public should accept responsibility for being wrong about the Iraq war [Aug. 13]: The real culpability for Iraq lies not with the public but with the corporate-controlled media so eager to demonstrate patriotism in the wake of the 9/11 attacks that they neglected to scrutinize the government’s claims. By repeating the lies of Bush and his henchmen, the media lent credibility to them. The media fail our country and our Constitution when their regard for truth takes second place behind their need to ensure their own prominence.
Glen Winger,
San Lorenzo, California

I was one of the 93% who supported Bush when he went to Afghanistan after Osama bin Laden. I was one of the 30% who were against the Iraq war in 2002. I was one of the 50% who changed their mind when they saw then Secretary of State Colin Powell make his presentation to the U.N. Security Council. Now I am one of the 67% who do not support Bush anymore, and I find no need to apologize to anyone.
Maharaj Mukherjee,
Wappingers Falls, New York

Let’s divert $200 million (1%) of the proposed $20 billion arms deal to support soccer in Iraq. That may be a more effective way to achieve national identity and unity than introducing more smart bombs into the Middle East. Maybe throw David Beckham into the deal, too.
Dan Joldersma,
Holland, Michigan

The Slim Truth Re Steve Rushin’s essay “How Friends Make You Fat” [Aug. 13]: If it’s true that friends make you fat, then Rushin failed to mention how friends make you drunk, how friends make you stupid and how friends make you lazy. Same logic, different situations. Americans need to wake up and take responsibility for themselves and their actions. We should let our friends own their own problems.
Teresa J. Black,
Mount Vernon, Illinois