Reader Feedback
Karl Zinsmeister's "The Election's Over--Now Fight the War" (BIRD'S EYE, December) was an exercise in prophecy in the most Biblical sense--not as seeing into the future, but by reading the signs of the times.
His was not an exposition on the great events of the day, or on the great men. It was a lionization of the "good man," who quietly bears the burden for his neighbor. The fireman, the cop, the Marine. He who risks all and goes to home and hearth with a happy heart. Rather than worshiping money, or power, or cunning, the altar of virtue is where these men offer up their prayers. Ordinary people doing extraordinary things.
Our whole society is built and sustained upon the shoulders of men and women like this. People you and I know. The naysayer and critic can have the academy and the media. As long as these heroes are next door, I'll put my family to bed with faith and tranquility.
Scott Salvato
Valley Stream, New York
Mustafa Akyol ("Show Us More of the Other America," December) is correct that the corrupted parts of American society need to be promoted less to Muslims around the world, while the traditional, ethical, religious aspects of America should be elevated.
However, once again, Muslims are putting responsibility for lessening the jihadist acts against us on America. We should put forth effort, as Akyol suggests, but the most effective voices would be Muslims who live here and know us. American Muslims should contact their family and friends back home and set the record straight. They should be setting up Web sites, producing articles, writing books--in short, criticizing the false view Muslims have of us.
After all, we do not set up American cells in Muslim nations and murder civilians in the name of religion or secularism. Moral lassitude is not equal to murder of innocents.
Nicholas Weeks
Los Angeles, California
One important item was neglected in your December issue: the fact that NASA has a scientific research function in addition to the manned exploration of space. NASA's success in research is the reason the agency enjoys such a positive public image today.
Over the past 20 years, as the "glory days" of Apollo receded into memory, NASA-funded scientists have greatly enhanced our knowledge of our solar system, galaxy, and universe. The public appreciates this growth of knowledge, as evidenced by the large number of media reports on astronomy and space science.
As we ponder whether the President's vision of space exploration is affordable, too limiting, or even inappropriate, let's not forget that NASA's astronomers and space scientists, and the stunning results that remotely piloted probes can provide, have garnered NASA an impressive record.
Kevin Marvel
American Astronomical Society
Washington, D.C.
We disagree with Robert Zubrin's criticism of the science conducted during the last Columbia mission ("Space Legends," December). I encourage your readers to visit www.nasa.gov to learn about the significant scientific legacy of this mission as well as the research we are conducting onboard the International Space Station. Also, a number of the people interviewed in the December issue did not recognize many of the positive changes that are ongoing at NASA. In fact, we are in the process of transforming our agency's culture and organization into a more entrepreneurial model as we advance the ambitious exploration goals outlined by President George W. Bush last January. For example, through our Centennial Challenges, modeled after the Orteig Prize won by Charles Lindbergh and the recently awarded Ansari X-Prize, we will reward private-sector developers of breakthrough exploration technologies.
Al Diaz
Science Mission Directorate
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
I was glad Daniel Kennelly mentioned Kim Stanley Robinson's Mars trilogy in his "Sci-fi and Our Space Odyssey" (December), but he shocked my socks off by using the possessive pronoun "her" in connection with this author. Yes, the first name is ambiguous, but Robinson is a man, not a woman.
John Rathbun
Fort Wayne, Indiana
