Letters From Readers.(Letter to the editor)

URBAN FAIRY TALE

Congratulations are in order for Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman--especially since I've heard Kidman has been trying to become pregnant for years ["Days of Heaven," by John Powers, photographed by Annie Leibovitz, July]. What she and your article would have us believe is that thanks to serendipity she awoke one morning at age 40 miraculously pregnant. No doubt every pregnancy is a miracle regardless of how it is conceived. But if Kidman, facing advanced maternal age, relied on science to conceive, sharing her experience would have given hope to women who are facing similar challenges.

Michelle Sibinovic Temple City, CA

There I was reading the article on Nicole Kidman and telling my husband how much I enjoy John Powers's writing when out of nowhere Powers mentions, "If only she [Baz Luhrmann's wife, Catherine Martin] could have handled the occupation of Iraq" in an attempt at humorously describing Martin's organizational skills. Powers writes as if we all share the same political views. We don't! Many of us actually appreciate the hard work of the Bush administration.

Stephanie Williams Franklin, TN

I understand that John Powers's wish that Catherine Martin had orchestrated the occupation of Iraq is a joke, but come on! Please don't debase both by equating them with each other. It is important to distinguish between pursuits of aesthetic freedom and warfare! It belittles the horrible mess we are in, and comments like that make me wonder if it isn't just the administration that is to blame but also the apathetic attitude of most citizens.

Nicole Calian Seattle, WA