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By Newsweek Editors
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The subject of our May 29 stories on capital punishment and DNA testing in America resonated with many readers. Calling the death penalty archaic, even "premeditated murder," they accused America of double standards and a lack of morality. One mocked, "A 'civilized' country is using violence to fight violence?" Another scolded, "Can't U.S. politicians put morals before economic interests?" A third insisted, "Capital punishment has never been a deterrent."
The Death-Penalty Debate
Thanks for "A Life or Death Gamble" (U.S. AFFAIRS, May 29.) We Europeans don't understand how an advanced country like yours can still use such an archaic punishment as the death penalty. U.S. politicians must know that it is fundamentally wrong. It might be lethal for their political careers to speak out against it because opponents could then portray them as friends of murderers. But politicians who do not oppose the death penalty are personally co-responsible for these official killings.
Florian Michel
Geneva, Switzerland
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Europeans have a problem accepting that a "civilized" country is still using violence to fight violence. What's the difference between capital punishment and pre-meditated murder? It seems as if the old lynch mentality is still alive in some states. Is this the same country that masterminds peace plans for wars abroad?
Doris Mettier
Unterwasser, Switzerland
"A Life or Death Gamble" highlights the concern I feel about America's attitude to the death penalty. I'm baffled by the seeming double standards America presents to the world. On the one hand, there's a nation that sometimes mercilessly examines its own systems; on the other hand, the death penalty is endorsed even when there is doubt about guilt, as in the case of Ricky McGinn in your story. A shadow is being cast over America's moral strength. As a European, I feel strongly about two issues: the death penalty and guns -- aspects of your democracy that are troublesome to us. The blight of slavery produced that awful national wound -- the Civil War. Are these two disturbing issues a legacy of wounds that have still not healed?
Alison Tanyar
Izmir, Turkey
In the graphic on executions since 1976, you say: "Because of the nationwide crackdown on violent crime, the number of executions has risen sharply over the past decades." This wording implies that without that increase in executions, you could not properly fight crime! Not true -- capital punishment has never been proven to have a deterrent effect. U.S. officials know this as well, as a survey by the National League of Cities shows. In 1994, 382 elected officials in cities with more than 10,000 inhabitants were asked what government could do to reduce crime. "More death penalties" ranked last on the list of 20 answers.
Andrea Reusch
Rosrath, Germany
In his article on European criticism of the American death penalty, U.S. Ambassador to France Felix Rohatyn ("The Shadow Over America") fails to note the fact that public opinion in Europe is divided on this issue and that a broad section of the populace (in some countries, even a majority) are actually in favor of the death penalty. Therefore, to describe it as a U.S.-European disagreement is to disregard opinion polls that show the populations on both continents to be evenly split regarding this issue. The major difference between America and the European Union is that the American political system, being more democratic, allows popular sentiment to influence the legislation; whereas in Europe the political elite has decided to disregard popular opinion in this matter, even to the point of inhibiting public debate. It is only because opponents of the death penalty are more vocal that Rohatyn is able to assume, however mistakenly, that they express a typical European attitude.
Clemens Hemer
Varberg, Sweden
I was irritated by Ambassador Rohatyn's comment that "the death penalty is viewed as a violation of human rights" by Europeans. Capital punishment is, besides being highly immoral, a violation of Articles 3 and 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was signed by the United States. In my opinion, and in that of most Europeans, it is a shame to see the leader of the modern free world holding on to barbaric methods like the death penalty. Why can't American politicians put morals and international law before economic interests, bear the risk of losing an election and abolish it once and for all?
John P. Thurn
Cologne, Germany
America doesn't have the oldest democratic tradition in the world, as Ambassador Rohatyn claims. Greece has laid claim to it since the fifth century B.C.!
Marilena Samara
Athens, Greece
The Protest of the Uwas
Thank you, Steven Ambrus, for "Earth's Blood" (BUSINESS, May 29). It's time people realize that the earth and the natural environment are more important than short-term monetary gain. Occidental Petroleum needs to leave the Uwas' land alone and their oil in the ground. These people may live in poverty by U.S. standards, but they don't need or want the money they could receive if they allowed drilling on their lands.
Kim L. Andrews
Via Internet
It is unfortunate that you did not respect the basic journalistic rule of hearing out both parties involved in a controversy. Specifically, you did not hear those of us in government whose obligation it is to balance the important rights of the 700 Uwa families with the needs of 40 million Colombians. This government quadrupled the size of the Uwa reservoir, making it roughly the size of Rhode Island. But it also needs to promote projects such as the one with Occidental, which, if successful, would increase government revenues by roughly $900 million per year. Finally, the problems of oilfields you pointed out are not unique to Colombia: oil exploration in Pennsylvania and Texas was environmentally disastrous, too. But we can learn from past mistakes. So let's find oil and develop it in a way that minimizes environmental damage and protects the Uwa heritage while it benefits all Colombians.
Alberto Calderon Zuleta
President, Ecopetrol
Bogota, Colombia
I'm amazed by the eagerness of Colombian Indians to stay centered despite being overwhelmed by the government, assassin guerrillas and the exploitation of drug lords. They must have an intimate relationship with that mountain of their! So, what are we going to do with this tribe, determined to protect their homes and ancestors from the invasion of trucks and drills? Colombia needs a better economy, but the Uwas have a spiritual right to our respect for their homes, territory and beliefs. This is not just about money. It is a confrontation between principles, human rights and the future of a nation in need of money.
Stefano Castellanos
Oslo, Norway
Endless E-Life!
What gives? Perhaps I'm missing the endless parades and celebrations occurring back in the States, but I just don't get this huge fascination that NEWSWEEK has with "e-business" (E-Life: Who Wants to Be a Billionaire?" SPECIAL REPORT, May 29). Perhaps I'm missing something, having lived abroad for the past three years. Is this kind of stuff the subject on talk shows now? Are these "e-celebrities" pictured with their significant others at awards ceremonies? I care little who the last "e-billionaire" was or how fast he lost it. I've read NEWSWEEK for years precisely because it didn't slobber over success as, say, People and Fortune magazines do. Now?
Adam Turnbull
Okayama City, Japan
You give a long list of Web sites for entrepreneurs, but surprisingly, for a magazine that calls itself international, this list contains almost no sites that might interest non-American entrepreneurs. Why?
X de Thieulloy
Via Internet
Closure on Vietnam
The 25th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War is a fitting occasion to make an attempt at coming to terms with the wounds inflicted on all those on various sides of that conflict. The dramatic final days and hours spent at it, and literally on, the U.S. Embassy in Saigon seemed well encapsulated in your riviting report depicting incidents of profound tragedy ("The Last Days of Saigon," SPECIAL REPORT, May 1). What I found most moving was how the same individuals could act so bravely but simultaneously be burdened with such guilt for neglecting those they half-voluntarily left behind.
Werner Radtke
Paderborn, Germany
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