Letters: November 30, 2009

118 Days in Hell
Public and behind-the-scenes pressure clearly led to Bahari's release. Why aren't the media and State Department doing the same for U.S. citizens held overseas?
Rayner Colton, Brooklyn, N.Y.

Maziar Bahari's article reminds me of the tale of Rubashov in Darkness at Noonby Arthur Koestler. Bahari is a lucky man: he could have ended up like Rubashov.
Freddy Mintz, Charlotte, N.C.

Obama Photo for 'The Take'
In your Nov. 30 issue, you published letters from readers who were offended by your Palin cover. One gentleman asked if you would use a picture of Obama at the beach. Your response was to place a shirtless Obama photo. Being disrespectful to the president does not cancel out your sleazy treatment of Sarah Palin. This was a puerile attempt to thumb your nose at your readers.
Allen and Janet Keyes, Greenfield, Mass.

Thank you for your response to Jim Pratt's letter by running the picture of Obama. I know some people will think of it as spiteful, but I think it's important to maintain a sense of humor, regardless of political leanings.
Holly Sleight Mt. Pleasant, Mich.

The Prize Is India
You describe as "bizarre" Gen. Stanley McChrystal's concerns over India's role in war-torn Afghanistan. McChrystal is on the ground, having seen action against the Taliban. He knows what he is saying. But from your faraway base in New York, you say India is only building schools and infrastructure and carrying out "limited" intelligence operations. Sir, how do you know that for sure?
Shafqat Jalil, Pakistan Mission to the United Nations New York, N.Y.

The First 'Pacific President'?
It is fairly common for a U.S. president to ingratiate himself to his host country while traveling abroad. When JFK visited Germany in 1963, he famously (though grammatically incorrectly) declared "Ich bin ein Berliner." We all know JFK was not born in Berlin, nor did he have German citizenship or German parents.
Ari Riser New, York, N.Y.

George Will's recent column is so oddly immaterial that it verges on bizarre. Obama was referring to his background immersed in the culture of the Pacific. He wasn't simply trying to express that he was the first president who spent time in close proximity to the Pacific Ocean! The whole piece was deeply irrelevant.
Erica da Costa, Plainfield, VT.

A Frog of a Different Color
Allison Samuels's claim that so few black women cross the color line because of "loyalty to the ideal of the black family unit" is more politically correct than it is true. Thousands of black women were thrilled when Diana Ross married a Swedish millionaire, and fantasize about being swept off their feet by Kevin Costner, like Whitney Houston was in The Bodyguard. Samuels doesn't admit that white men generally don't find black women attractive enough to risk social ostracism. These days, few yuppies are bold enough to bring black sweethearts to the family dinner.
Hosea Martin, Chicago, Ill.

The Blah-Blah of Gaga
Why couldn't you use a photo of Lady Gaga without her nipple showing? My 14-year-old son reads this magazine and, fortunately, I grabbed it first. I'm disappointed in your judgment.
Ruth Brewster, San Jose, Calif.