The Globe and Mail

Your newspaper’s coverage of “gendercide” in India avoids the philosophical question of how the targeted abortion of female fetuses constitutes a wrong. For anyone who considers it a woman’s “right” to abort a fetus, there can be no objection to this supposedly barbaric action.

Geoffrey T. Sigalet, Montreal

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Sex antics of the rich

Re Marrying Up, Cheating Down (May 24): In answer to Margaret Wente’s question, it is entirely possible that these women didn’t know who they were married to. DSK and Arnold and Tiger Woods and Eliot Spitzer et al. are all intelligent and successful and charming. But an erect ego just might be camouflage for another trait that can be carefully hidden for years from an unsuspecting wife: a flaccid character. And there’s no Viagra in the world that can compensate for that.

Chris Clark, Willowdale, Ont.

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Entitlement

I have noted that none of the recent articles in The Globe and Mail relating to the serious consequences of prominent leaders losing their integrity and destroying their reputations and careers has mentioned the important connection between workaholism and the loss of integrity.

During the very predictable breakdown that this addition to power and control follows, there are two significant changes – the loss of feelings and the loss of integrity – that produce serious changes in character and acting-out behaviours. The idealist Dr. Jekyll turns into a narcissistic, self-absorbed Mr. Hyde.

It is important to address the dangers inherent in work-related obsessions that lead to the entitlement issues that encourage such deviant behaviour. Power can be used to do good works, or for self-serving, selfish purposes.

Barbara Killinger, PhD, clinical psychologist, Toronto

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How wise!

Re Trading (Slowly) Goes Mobile – May 24: Just what the world has been waiting for – a mobile trading app. Now I’ll be able to drive and rebalance my portfolio at the same time!

Michael R. Conrad, Vancouver

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Nicol’s gift

Re ‘Writers Never Retire, They Just Die’ (May 23): I was saddened to read of Eric Nicol’s passing, having enjoyed his books. I do, however, remember an occasion when his writing had a particularly insalubrious effect on my punctuality. I was on the subway, reading Dickens of the Mounted on the way to an appointment, when I had to make a precipitate return home for a change of underwear.

It was worth it, though. Laughter is a gift. Thanks are due to Mr. Nicol for a lifetime of gifts.

Celine Papizewska, Bloomfield, Ont.