Molded by Life’s Experiences

'Becoming McCain': Readers attempted to reconcile the complex character of John McCain as presented in our cover story. One said, "Your informative history of McCain's prison experiences and postwar psychiatric evaluation evolved mainly into a report about his temper. I await with anticipation your report on the well-known temper tantrums of Hillary Clinton." Another wrote, "McCain is by far the most seasoned and mature candidate. As a former POW, he will not require any 'growing up in office.' I trust he will lead my country with honor at any age."

On 'Happiness: Enough Already': "There is no greater torment than trying to maintain happiness as a steady state. Happiness is a vapor: it comes and goes. Better to dedicate ourselves to meaningful pursuits and let feelings of happiness be incidental."
Margaret McGirr, Greenwich, Conn.

On 'Diversity Training': "Has no one read Barack Obama's book or checked his background? His mother was white, and she and her parents (both white) raised him. He did not know his African father well. I choose to view Obama by both halves. If he is elected president, he would be the first biracial president, not the first black/African-American president."
Thomas Kolaz, Tucson, Ariz.

The Real John McCain
Sen. John McCain and I disagree on Iraq, health care and other issues ("What These Eyes Have Seen," Feb. 11). If McCain becomes president, I'll still disagree with him, but I'll never question his dedication, his motivations or his patriotism. Despite seven years of incompetence and hubris with the current administration, our nation is a lot like John McCain. It's endured the unendurable, and will survive.
Edward B. Ryder IV
Greenlawn, N.Y.

John McCain is to be honored for his ordeal as a POW and respected for his Senate service. As convincingly portrayed by Evan Thomas, however, he is a quick-to-detonate hothead and a mean-spirited bully—qualities that, should he become president, would be as likely to compound as to cure the catastrophic mistakes of the man he aspires to succeed.
Richard Boyce
San Francisco, Calif.

The opening line of your cover story, mentioning the "Republican smear artists" who tried to stop McCain's 2000 campaign by spreading rumors that he was "nuts" from being locked up too long as a POW in Hanoi, made me absolutely livid. I am sure these critics never served in the military, nor ever put themselves in harm's way. It's time to stop denigrating those who serve their country with honor and dignity, as John McCain did—otherwise this country has truly lost its moral compass.
John Baker
Hewitt, Texas