Croatia is, on the surface, extremely prosperous. The cafes and shops of Zagreb were as sophisticated as those in San Francisco, New York and Los Angeles. Split and Dubrovnik (quite possible the prettiest city in Europe) have retained all of the amenities that made them the jewels of the Adriatic. Yet the rural regions, especially those near the Bosnian border, are a mess. Many of the structures still have battle damage from 1991 and the fields appeared unkempt. Industry is nonexistent.

I believe many of the problems with Croatia stem from a feeling within the country that the Croatians are really just the eastern outpost of Western Europe. My discussions with locals on the issues produced interesting observations -- I noticed Croatians would stiffen if I mentioned their past links with Yugoslavia; they seemed shocked that an American not attached to the United Nations mission would have any desire to visit Bosnia. I believe the reason why Zagreb, Split and Dubrovnik appear so spectacular while the interior of the country is run-down is that Croatians are betting Western tourists, when they return, will care only about the surface.

I absolutely agree that Tudjman's death presents Croatia with a unique opportunity to further democratic reform (Tudjman, though pro-Western, was definitely no political saint). Such reform should produce effective responses to the legitimate concerns of displaced Serbs and compliance with the war crimes tribunal in the Hague. Hopefully, Croatia will seize this opportunity.

-- Eric Winston

As soon as Operation Storm started, all the Serbian leadership in Krajina fled, leaving the entire Serb population in chaos to fend for themselves. Since the leaders fled, the population fled as well. Laura Rozen doesn't mention this in her article, instead attributing the Serbian flight to Croatian commanders; in fact, the Serbian leadership shares some of the blame.

-- Tammy D. Brinkman

Jack and Baby Vicky sittin' in a tree
BY VIRGINIA GILBERT
(12/14/99)

I can't help but be disappointed in the ending to this tale. Ms. Girly-girl should confess -- she was scared for her son's masculinity the whole time. I'm glad times have changed enough for this article to be possible, but hope there are others out there who don't associate gender with football and linear thinking. My husband never has and never will follow or play football, and is a warm, loving father who values both linear thinking and fuzzy logic. I'm sorry for Virginia Gilbert and her boy, who will probably always alter his behavior in light of his family's "mild" homophobia.

-- Yvonne Conybeare

Kill the yeast beast!
BY HANK HYENA
(12/14/99)

For years, women have been trying, to no avail, to cure vaginal yeast by inserting yogurt into the vagina (not the vulva, as Cross suggests). This makes a huge mess and really has no effect. Eating plain yogurt, however, is a good way to keep the yeast in check and balance. Acidopholis tablets, taken in large dosages, can help yeast infections. Inserting processed, fatty and sugared yogurts into our vaginas just does not work and often makes the problem worse.

-- Paddy Kennedy
salon.com | Dec. 22, 1999

Read more letters: New Leftists Art Goldberg and Stew Albert fire back at David Horowitz Plus: Amen to Joyce Millman's "year in TV" roundup; is it little girls -- or their moms -- who buy pink toys?

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