New Justices in the Wings Thank you for the clearly written cover story on the Supreme Court (“The Supreme Question,” NATIONAL AFFAIRS, July 10). I am a high-school senior about to turn 18 and vote for the first time. I appreciated the careful delineation of Gore’s and Bush’s differences and possible influences on the composition of the court. This had not been brought to my attention before as a major election issue and I will certainly consider it when I add my vote to the ballot box. Greg Stanton Manchester, Mo.
To make the Supreme Court issue more concrete for voters, perhaps Bush and Gore should be required during the fall debates to discuss two or three landmark rulings from the past half century, explicate the judicial reasoning informing the decisions and explain why they agree or disagree with those decisions. Jonathan Herman Decatur, Ga.
It is my experience that lots of people, pro-choice and pro-life alike, have absolutely no idea what the barbaric “procedure” of partial-birth abortion entails. What has become of justice if the Supreme Court can legalize premeditated murder? What has become of our humanity if people can praise the court for its decision? What kind of country do we live in if partial-birth abortion can be viewed as a fundamental right? Elizabeth A. Kolby Amherst, N.Y.
Thank you, NEWSWEEK, for stressing the impact of this year’s election on the future of the Supreme Court and, as a result, on women’s right to choose. I am a 40-year-old married woman with three children who last year had to make a devastating choice when my husband and I found out I was carrying a severely disabled child. After weeks of agonizing, we made the decision to terminate the pregnancy and return this child to the earth. We named her, had her blessed, buried her ashes and planted a tree. When we disclosed our situation to friends, many said, “Oh, but your case is so different!” But who am I to say my situation is different from that of the pregnant 15-year-old inner-city girl who was the victim of rape or incest, or who would find herself on the streets if her parents found out she was pregnant? We are closing our eyes if we think that in selecting an anti-choice candidate like George W. Bush as president we are going to keep our reproductive rights intact. Name withheld Madison, Wis.
The Wizardry of J. K. Rowling My 11-year-old daughter and I enjoyed reading your interview with J. K. Rowling on the Harry Potter series (“The Return of Harry Potter!” ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, July 10). My daughter is one of those children who wrote to Hogwarts begging to become a student. She mailed her letter last summer, despite my husband’s and my telling her it couldn’t be delivered because there really wasn’t a Hogwarts school. Well, almost a year later, and at our new address, she received a handwritten reply from J. K. Rowling! It is a wonderful letter, which my daughter treasures. The only problem… if ever we travel to London she still expects to hear from Hogwarts! Pat Kearns-Michaelsen Leesburg, Va.
When I took my daughters to have J. K. Rowling sign their Harry Potter books, she recognized that my 13-year-old was in costume as one of the characters. “You are too pretty to be Hermione!” the author exclaimed. Whoa. Ms. Rowling’s sweetness dissolved the tension of our having waited in line for three hours and made our having put up with aggressive, snarling adults maneuvering SUVs in the tiny parking lot worthwhile. Not only can she entertain, J. K. Rowling is also admirably kind. Roanna Metowski Redding, Conn.
Grumpy But Great David Ansen’s retrospective on Walter Matthau’s career in your July 10 issue, “The Sourpuss We Loved” (TRANSITION), illuminated exactly why this actor is so treasured. It is only fitting that such a gifted performer be honored through such gifted writing. Of course, I can imagine in my mind’s eye Matthau’s rolling his eyes and snorting at such sentiments. Robert C. Fellmeth San Diego, Calif.
Correction In a July 24 NEWSMAKERS item about Christopher Andersen’s new biography on John F. Kennedy Jr., we wrote that the book dismissed rumors that Caroline abused cocaine. The reference in the book was to JFK Jr.’s wife, whose name is spelled Carolyn. NEWSWEEK regrets the error.
