The World's Richest Kids
I loved the Olsen girls on your cover. I am a 32-year-old college graduate and mother of three. My only girl is 2, but even my boys, who are 4 and 7, and my husband enjoy watching Mary-Kate and Ashley's videos. They bring light into a dark world right now.
Kathleen Jones, NEWBERG, ORE.

It was intriguing to see how the wealth of the young who are rich and famous does not control their entire lives—Holly Branson hoping to be a pediatrician and the Trumps with their business endeavors. It's refreshing to see that they are aspiring to their own dreams and goals.
Julia Cole, WINNIPEG, MAN.

I thought your article would be interesting, and it was. What I didn't really count on was how depressing it also would be. While I might not have the money to pay for a necessary doctor visit, some of these kids are trying to figure out which gown to buy or car to take to an event.
Maddie Gaskill, LENEXA, KANS.

How many 16-year-olds do you know who have a personal hairdresser and receive Range Rovers for their birthday? Please!
Holly Clebnik, MANSFIELD, CONN.

Good timing, PEOPLE. With the economy going downhill and unemployment skyrocketing, you have to give us a story about wealthy kids enjoying their gauntlet of gold while everyone else is suffering.
Tara Hamblen, WAYNE, PA.

In your cover story, you state that Charlotte Church's boyfriend has "been seen of late driving a BMW and wearing expensive clothes," which would imply that she had purchased those items for him. For the record, Ms. Church's earnings are held in trust, and she receives an extremely conservative allowance from that trust. The registration for the BMW in question is in Ms. Church's boyfriend's father's name. Like many young men his age, he is driving his father's car.
Cece Yorke, press agent for Charlotte Church, Pariseau Yorke Raymond Public Relations, BEVERLY HILLS, CALIF.

Shame on PEOPLE for the tiny postage-stamp front cover of Bee Gee Maurice Gibb's death and instead featuring a cover of the Olsen twins. Who cares how much money they make? I would much rather have had an issue as a keep-sake of a beloved person who I will always remember for his talent, not his money.
Patricia West, CAMERON, N.C.

Financial security for the rest of your life is a nice privilege indeed! But I don't see how someone can call these kids "normal" when they have never lived a day of their lives as the rest of us "normal" people.
Karen Gennarelli, BELLMORE, N.Y.

Maurice Gibb
I was saddened to hear of the death of Maurice Gibb. As a Bee Gees fan for over 25 years, I was fortunate to have met Maurice many times. He was very approachable, always willing to sign an autograph, pose for a photo or have a chat. The Bee Gees' contribution to music has been extraordinary, and Maurice will be missed.
Sue Brooks, LYNWOOD, ILL.

George Ryan
You go, former Governor Ryan. Too many times we kill the innocent to satisfy our human nature's appetite to see revenge on those who we feel deserve it. I feel sympathy for those who have lost loved ones, but there's never a reason to take another life.
Nichole Barker, WELLINGTON, FLA.

Former Governor Ryan said, "I'm going to sleep tonight knowing I made the right decision" after granting clemency. I bet he sleeps with one eye open when he thinks of the families of the victims and the outrage against him.
Don Callis, CHARLOTTE, N.C.

Mailbag
Perhaps, Judy S. Dodd, you are so wrapped up in your antiwar agenda that you've forgotten the economy began to decline after Sept. 11. Compound that with the loss of jobs, which equates to wary spending by most, and it seems unrealistic to blame one man. Blame Osama bin Laden, not our President Bush.
Roseanna Bommarito
SHELBY TOWNSHIP, MICH.