Thanks, Baseball

I picked up my Times Monday, as I do every morning, and I was so very comforted by the front-page photograph. The last 54 days I have been greeted with planes flying into buildings, voyeuristic photographs of stunned people walking in a daze amid the rubble, jets taking off carriers and men in turbans vowing our death.

Monday morning I saw the miracle, and here I am sure I wax too emotional, of our national pastime’s soothing effect. From the time of the Civil War through our calamitous world wars and our unfortunate police actions, baseball has, like the United States, endured. I know we are all in for a difficult and long struggle, but it was reassuring to have the frivolous image of a bunch of guys exulting in their victory. Thanks, Diamondbacks, thanks, Yanks; and thanks, baseball!

Ralph M. Casillas

Los Angeles