Letters: Aug. 14, 2000

THE NEW PHILANTHROPISTS

“The true measure ofphilanthropy lies in giving, even when it hurts. And then a widow’s mite trumps the rich man’s might.” OWEN WILLIS Tantallon, N.S.

A new opportunity for social responsibility faces those who have amassed great wealth in recent years [SOCIETY, July 24]. You’ve shown that the Andrew Carnegies of today have stepped up to the challenge. Only time will tell if their generosity will have a lasting impact. I hope their acts will alter the views of many and help foster an environment that is even more generous than the one that exists today. BRIAN R. ZWEIR Boston

For years I was critical of Bill Gates for not returning to the public some of the vast amounts of money he made from us. When I read about his promise to give philanthropically, I waited skeptically. How wrong I was! He has stepped forth, met his promise and benefited millions of people. He has done so in a way that ensures the funds will be well spent. KAREN HUEMME Carmel, Ind.

I applaud these new philanthropists for their continuing efforts to give back to society. I hope your article will inspire people who are in a similar position but have not yet taken up the challenge. JENNY GATES Winnipeg, Man.

Bill Gates could afford to give away 99% of his entire worth ($65 billion) and still have $650 million in the bank–an amount that 99% of Americans will never see in their lifetime. FRANK D’ANGELI Medford, Mass.

What low-income individuals truly need is the basics: funds to fix broken vehicles so that they can drive to work; financial aid to cope with skyrocketing housing costs; and money for medical services, utility bills and funeral expenses. Federal, state and local aid for these basics is dwindling. Private philanthropy too often shies away from providing “direct service” and does not adequately help needy, hard-working families. PHILIP KELLERMAN, PRESIDENT Harvest of Hope Foundation Oneonta, N.Y.

It’s hard to understand how you can celebrate the very people whose unprecedented concentrations of wealth have helped cause the inequities and environmental degradation they pledge to ameliorate. Donating $220 million to find homes for stray animals, as one couple has done, while children go to bed hungry and millions live without health insurance? Come on! PETER LA CHAPELLE Los Angeles

To these aristocrats, money is meaningless. Their time is much more valuable. They give what they can afford to expend. The true philanthropist is the little guy who gives to another little guy–not for the tax write-off, but because it is the human thing to do. DENISE DENOVA Palm Harbor, Fla.

OSCEOLA SCHOOL DECISION

Your story “One Classy Failure,” about the decision by the Osceola, Ark., school board not to endorse a publicly financed charter school [THE PULSE OF AMERICA, July 10], seriously misrepresented the Arkansas School Boards Association’s role and my conduct as a staff member of ASBA. Here are the facts: I did meet with the Osceola school board at a properly announced meeting and at the board’s invitation. Contrary to your report, never at any time did I advise the Osceola board to block the charter-school petition. My presentation may have encouraged some board members to oppose it, for I pointed out several problematic items they had not known about. Nevertheless, my role was simply to explain the board’s responsibilities under the law and to point out what I saw to be the strengths and weaknesses of the application. When I left the meeting, I was not at all sure how the board would vote. You have played fast and loose with the ASBA’s reputation and wrongfully cast the principal players in this story as heroes and villains. JUDY WILMOTH WHITE Arkansas School Boards Association Little Rock, Ark.

THE SCOURGE OF AIDS

I read your story on the worldwide AIDS menace with great interest and even greater dismay [WORLD, July 24]. This plague is ravaging the Third World because of a lack of funds for relief. The money could be raised, but what is needed is determined action on the part of the world’s leading nations. As a German, I gratefully remember the Marshall Plan, which put us back on our feet after World War II. Something similar could be accomplished today for Africa. ANDREAS JAFFE Krefeld, Germany

HOLY SMOKES!

The $145 billion judgment in Florida against the Big Tobacco companies is obscene [BUSINESS, July 24]. Why should smokers, most of whom knew what they were doing was harmful, be rewarded for their stupidity? KENNETH L. ZIMMERMAN Huntington Beach, Calif.

CAMP DAVID CHALLENGES

It would be good for the U.S. to learn that conflicts like the one between the Palestinians and Israelis are better left to a resolution between the parties directly involved [WORLD, July 24]. If the U.S. would really like to contribute to peace in the Middle East, it might instead consider stopping the sale of weapons to this region. If that were to happen, however, Clinton’s legacy would be far less glorious–as thousands of defense-industry workers would be left without jobs. DMITRY MOGILEVSKY Dayton, Ohio

Peace in the Middle East can’t be settled in Washington between heads of state. Most peace agreements that have been haggled over by leaders of different countries or political factions fail because the citizens themselves don’t like what their leaders give away. And all the peace agreements in the world can’t hold up as long as there are people hell-bent on destroying one another. PETER A. STRAIGHT Quesnel, B.C.

X-MEN IN TIGHTS

Your review of the X-Men movie [CINEMA, July 24] made me wonder why Hollywood always feels the need to change the costumes of superheroes. The popularity of the Superman films proved that the public will accept a hero in primary-color tights. In the Marvel comic books, the X-Men heroes wear colorful garb, but in the film the superheroes wear more realistic, everyday clothing. This change is absurd. These are fantasy characters. They are supposed to be bodybuilders in tights, beating one another up. Why do you think wrestling is so popular? I hope Hollywood will wake up and cast actors with muscle tone in spandex for X-Men II. JIM CIRILE Los Angeles

TOUR DE FORCE

As a cycling fan, I appreciated your coverage of Lance Armstrong’s performance in the 2000 Tour de France [SPORT, July 24], but it was wrong to say that Armstrong’s U.S. Postal Service team was weak, when in fact it proved to be one of the strongest teams in the 2000 Tour and the only one to have all its riders finish the race. Its members consistently protected, paced and delivered their leader, Armstrong, to the final climb in each of the mountain stages and to the finish line. These riders have put aside their individual goals to help Lance keep the winner’s yellow jersey for the second consecutive year. JIM ESCOBAR Stamford, Conn.