The mail.(Letter to the Editor)

Karl Zinsmeister's "The Election's Over--Now Fight the War" (BIRD'S EYE, December) was an exercise in prophecy in the most Biblical sense--not as seeing into the future, but by reading the signs of the times.

His was not an exposition on the great events of the day, or on the great men. It was a lionization of the "good man," who quietly bears the burden for his neighbor. The fireman, the cop, the Marine. He who risks all and goes to home and hearth with a happy heart. Rather than worshiping money, or power, or cunning, the altar of virtue is where these men offer up their prayers. Ordinary people doing extraordinary things.

Our whole society is built and sustained upon the shoulders of men and women like this. People you and I know. The naysayer and critic can have the academy and the media. As long as these heroes are next door, I'll put my family to bed with faith and tranquility.

Scott Salvato

Valley Stream, New York

Mustafa Akyol ("Show Us More of the Other America," December 2004) is correct that the corrupted parts of American society need to be promoted less to Muslims around the world, while the traditional, ethical, religious aspects of America should be elevated.

However, once again, Muslims are putting responsibility for lessening the jihadist acts against us on America. We should put forth effort, as Akyol suggests, but the most effective voices would be Muslims who live here and know us. American Muslims should contact their family and friends back home and set the record straight. They should be setting up Web sites, producing articles, writing books--in short, criticizing the false view Muslims have of us.