Castro's Legacy
Mortimer B. Zuckerman's missive "My Dinners With Fidel" [August 14-21] talked about the Cuban World Series with Fidel, Fidel's mistake of "aligning himself too closely with Moscow," and other inane topics. Zuckerman even went so far as to say that the Generalissimo was "one of the most intellectually curious men" he had ever met. But what struck me was Zuckerman's comment: "Cuba's improved economy, thanks to its surge in tourism, has led to a relative degree of contentment in the country." This from a man who wrote in the same issue that "Israel must continue to press its attack on Hezbollah" ["A Matter of Timing"]. I doubt many Cubans share Zuckerman's view of the dictator.
CHRISTOPHER T. HICKS
Long Beach, Calif.
I hope that Zuckerman and Castro have not only "deep political differences" but ethical ones as well. In his decades of tyrannical rule in Cuba, Castro ruined and ended the lives of countless people; many children among them. One may study such a man, but he can't "bond" with him.
SCOTT KASHKIN
Passaic, N.J.
Imprisoned at age 13 for questioning the Marxist regime in Cuba, I feel that Zuckerman's piece shows disregard for the common people. His notion of "bonding" with Castro is as disturbing to the victims of that tyrant as any bonding to Hitler would be to the Jewish people.
JUAN CUELLAR
Miami Springs, Fla.
Please do not make a "great man to remember" out of Castro. Behind him there is a long history of bloodshed, cruelty, deceiving, bullying, aggression, and subversion, and you should evaluate him based on the result of his actions, not for his impressive personality.
ROBERTO MARTIN
Melbourne, Fla.
Wind Power Woes
There is more to the objection to industrial wind turbines than problems with the Federal Aviation Administration and Defense Department mentioned in your story ["Ill Winds Blowing," August 7]. Here in Perry, a small town in western New York State, we are overrun by wind turbine companies pushing government-subsidized economics and scare-tactics ecology that do not stand up to careful examination. Imagine a 410-foot tower (the size of a 40-story building) with three 160-foot blades rotating at almost 200 mph that sound like a loud washing machine in your front yard. Now imagine 60 of these machines within a few square miles of relatively heavily populated, pristine dairy country in the eastern migratory flyway of the United States. Wind power is not the magic bullet many hope will slay the energy dragon.
RICHARD BARTH
Perry, N.Y.
Managing the Mortgage
"A Reckoning With Risk" [August 7] was right on target regarding increased homeowner foreclosures. The Homeownership Preservation Foundation and its counselors in agencies across the country hear from more than 100 families a day who face the threat of foreclosure. About 40 percent of the calls our counselors receive come from individuals and families with adjustable-rate mortgage loans. If homeowners are uncomfortable calling their lenders, they should consider calling the Foundation's toll-free, confidential hotline, 888-995-HOPE, to speak with a counselor from a Department of Housing and Urban Development-approved counseling agency. This service is free.
COLLEEN HERNANDEZ
President
Homeownership Preservation Foundation
Minneapolis
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