READERS WRITE

Zimbabwe epidemic calls for intervention

How many people have to die in Zimbabwe from cholera before Robert Mugabe is removed from power? I have a hunch that had the British not foolishly gone into Iraq with us, they would have been the nation pushing for U.N. action there if not taking it unilaterally if military action was vetoed.

Is it a coincidence that whenever the United States gets bogged down in a country such as Iraq or Vietnam, the world’s scoundrels act up, fearing no negative consequences from their actions? If the United Nations cannot do more to prevent a country from being destroyed by a dictator, what is its reason for being?

ROBERT BARRON

Mableton

Celebrate Falcons’ season despite losses

To me, the Falcons were the very definition of overachievers. They did the most with what they had. But their flaws were evident. They had a young team, they barely won several games (including a home game against St. Louis they should have easily won) and a mediocre record on the road.

But let’s celebrate the year they had. The real joy is knowing that the Falcons now have pieces that can keep them in the NFL elite for many years to come.

TOM ASHLEY

Atlanta

Exhibit inspires humility

We visited the High Museum recently to view “The First Emperor: China’s Terracotta Army” and urge everyone, young and old, to be certain to see this extraordinary once-in-a-life-time display. Most amazing was the miniature representation of the production of the 7,000 figures. It took a factory of over 1,000 men to produce them on an assembly line in the second century B.C., equaling any mass production assembly line supposedly first developed by Henry Ford.

The finishing line had the responsibility for assuring that each individual figure would have a unique facial appearance. Furthermore, the crossbow triggers were made with precision-produced interchangeable parts, anticipating Eli Whitney’s introduction by almost two millennia.

How long it has taken us to catch up with what were then run-of-the-mill procedures. We consider assembly lines and interchangeable parts modern inventions of the Industrial Age. A little humility never hurts.

MEL RECHTMAN

Decatur

New plants a poor deal

In response to Jay Bookman’s column “Nuke revival puts all risk on customers” (@issue, Jan. 4), I wonder how many of us would be willing to pay for a car before the automobile plant is built, pay for a can of corn before the corn is even planted or pay for our clothes before the factory is built? What happens with our money if the car plant is not built or the assembly line shuts down? What happens with our money for the corn if the field is wiped out in a tornado? What happens with our money for the clothes if the plant burns down?

Thank you for making it easy to understand that Georgia Power wants us to pay for nuclear plants before they start producing electricity. That does not sound like a good deal for you or me or other Georgia Power customers.

CATHY BRADSHAW

Atlanta