The Battle for Kosovo
The war in Kosovo is increasingly troubling to me. In your story “Doing Injury to History” (National Affairs, April 5), Henry Kissinger is correct in saying World War II did not start due to ethnic conflicts. But it did begin because one man decided to go after something he felt he had to possess, and he definitely had ethnic cleansing on his mind, which resulted in millions’ dying needlessly. The war in Kosovo should be viewed no differently. I’m glad the United States is not sitting on its hands as it did in the early phase of World War II, and is helping to bring a resolution to this crisis.
Miriam Green Cupertino, Calif.
How paradoxical that NATO now speaks of “early” action to avoid a wider conflict, when in the winter of 1996-97 the United States and Europe stood by as 100,000 people demonstrated daily against the Milosevic regime. Had we taken tough action in the region sooner, we might have avoided the need for military intervention in Kosovo.
Vanja Oduber-Vlajic Aruba
Why in the world are we in Kosovo? This is a civil war. Kosovo is a part of Serbia, and despite the despicable treatment of the Kosovars, we have no business getting involved. We have already worsened the plight of the Kosovars by attacking Serbia. Our fearless leader chose not to fight in a similar situation in Vietnam, but doesn’t hesitate to send our sons and daughters into a quagmire that can potentially become even worse than that war. If we get involved in an impossible situation, there is no disgrace in cutting our losses and withdrawing.
Walter W. Merriman Throckmorton, Texas
While the ethnic cleansing in Kosovo is a terrible crime and must be stopped, bombing without the support of the entire U.N. Security Council is not the way to do it. As a young Peace Corps volunteer serving in Russia, I’m a witness to growing nationalism and anti-American sentiment in this country, and not just by communists and skinheads. Nearly all of my Russian student friends support their government’s position against NATO’s use of force, and most are willing to take up arms to help defend Yugoslavia if necessary. At a time when we should be doing everything we can to promote friendship and cooperation between countries, NATO is instead helping to draw a new iron curtain across the continent. I hope that before making any decisions about ground troops, President Clinton will worry more about saving lives than saving face. Jason Stephens Vladivostok, Russia
The College Crunch
A freshman in high school, I’ve just been introduced to the dangerous subject of how to get into a highly selective college. I almost kissed your magazine when I read your article ("," Society, April 5) about admissions at the University of Chicago. Either the expectations of admissions officers have been sorely misrepresented, or the men and women at the University of Chicago are truly unique for their open-mindedness and ability to see beyond the piles of cookie-cutter applicants. If this is what goes on behind the doors of other prestigious institutions, I will continue practicing my bassoon, reassured that it is me, not my list of activities, that will get me into the school of my choice.
Stephanie Hurder Western Springs, Ill.
As an alumna of a prestigious university and a high-school teacher for more than 25 years, I was troubled by your article on college admissions. What about the bright, serious student who’s neither an athlete nor a performer, or even a joiner? He or she may be hardworking, intellectual and interested in attending a particular school to obtain the best education, not just to learn a trade or acquire status. But by the University of Chicago’s standards, this student might not seem enough of a standout to deserve a quality education at a “competitive” school. Shouldn’t we look at candidates, to paraphrase Chicago admissions officer Rick Bischoff, “by the kid,” instead of by the kid’s extracurricular activities ? What happened to the idea that students were admitted to a quality college because of their desire to learn and ability to perform academically?
Phyllis Weeks Southfield, Mich.
I found NEWSWEEK’s story on the university of Chicago’s admissions process both fascinating and disturbing. The emphasis on accepting students who are both passionate about learning and willing to express this passion through “rigor” is laudable. However, the implied definition of rigor would seem to place the mental and physical health of its young adults at risk. According to the school’s recruitment book: “You know you’re doing well when your GPA is higher than the number of hours you sleep a night.” If this is the definition of performing well, then the thinking of this elite college (and probably many others) has gone awry. I can only hope that my 16-year-old daughter will find a school that will be able to challenge her mind without overwhelming her being. Terry Becker New York, N.Y.
