Mail Call.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)

Obama On Obama: An Exclusive Interview

May the pragmatist always carry the day. Barack Obama's track record looks pretty good so far.

Since Obama's "time for change" campaign, the political world is more connected to citizens by using different social-networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter or YouTube. Now Obama employs these sorts of networks for official government communication. What a fresh new style! Other countries should take note and follow his example.

Florian Martin

Bariteauaix-en-Provence, France

The palaces and monuments of l'Aquila, Italy, are being rebuilt and the five-star hotels worked on because the money is there and nothing has to be redesigned and, therefore, little approval sought from the authorities ("Palaces Before People"). The restoration of the housing, on the other hand, requires redesigning to bring it up to code, as well as having to be in accordance with whatever requirements exist for historic districts. This is a long process in the United States. In Italy it is a longer one--it is the longest process imaginable. The right thing is being done under the circumstances: people in an earthquake-ravaged city are being given work. The bureaucracy in Italy is such that the people will get their housing back, but it is a question of in which generation.

Albert P. Hinckley Jr.