AnalPhilosopher

To the Editor:

Bob Herbert cites the following recent remark by President Bush as an example of his being out of touch with reality: "The idea of democracy taking hold in what was a place of tyranny and hatred and destruction is such a hopeful moment in the history of the world." But the remark also illustrates our president's lack of clarity when it comes to the major life-and-death issue of our day.

Good English has its basis in good thinking. The president's bad English is symptomatic of his bad thinking (an idea cannot be a moment).

It is safe to say that he thinks this idea is a hopeful one, but since when do untold thousands have to die, be crippled, be bombed, imprisoned and tortured to sustain a careless thinker's optimism?

PHILIP WALKER
Santa Barbara, Calif., Dec. 24, 2004