Mailbag

The real right

Thank you for the great coverage on abortion in your Jan. 30 "Pro-baby" issue. I feel that women certainly do have the "right to choose"-the right to choose whether they have sex or not. After that choice is made, that child has a right to life! No one else has a "right" to take that from him. -Pamela Ludlow; Georgetown, Texas

I very much appreciate your stand for the sanctity of life. WORLD is a beacon for the pro-life cause ("Pro-baby," Jan. 30). I saw this clearly in "Look at orphans" and "A pro-baby wave." But while adoption and abortion are two huge issues, we should also consider the West's current dilemma: demographic winter-declining fertility and population. The human child is quickly becoming more and more devalued. -Peter Helms; Fort Worth, Texas

Thank you for covering the real story of the pro-life movement and adoption to help orphans. I would like to point out that adoption is a big sacrifice but is worth the cost. We have adopted six children so far and hope to adopt more. Also, many states have a state-funded program with many children needing to be placed quickly. People who think they can't afford to adopt may be incorrect. -Van Pankrat; Lancaster, Minn.

Alisa Harris' piece on the drug RU486 ("Chemical reaction," Jan. 30) disturbed me into finding out how I can speak up for the ones who have no voice. Thank you for reporting the truth clearly. -Liv Hightower, 17; Atlanta, Ga.

Change, please

Such a neat juxtaposition: bookending the Jan. 30 issue with references to Brit Hume ("Politeness police") and David Hume ("Paine's brain"). And both columns were on a related issue: the need for an inspired change of heart. -B.J. Kirkwood; Nathrop, Colo.

There truly was a change of heart: the thousands who came out and voted the 41st member of the GOP into the Senate. That's just as good as one change of heart among the 60 senators. -Neil Johnston; Grand Prairie, Texas

It was God-ordained that Scott Brown won the special Massachusetts Senate election. No matter how poorly the Democratic campaign was handled or how successful the Republican campaign appeared, God had a plan to remind us that He is sovereign. -Bob Woodford; Hudson, Mass.

No greater gift

I applaud Brit Hume for his loving gesture toward Tiger Woods ("Keeping the faith," Jan. 30). There is no greater gift to offer anyone than God's forgiveness and love through Jesus Christ. What kind of tangible solace do Hume's critics have to offer the Woods family? -Todd Taylor; Victorville, Calif.

Although I personally agree with Hume, he came across as a little self-righteous and prescriptive, which is not in my opinion appropriate for a political analyst on a show like Fox News Sunday. I believe that Hume's comments damage the image of Christians and Christianity. -Mark Piotrowski; Newtown Square, Pa.

Thanks for a great column on Hume's advice to Tiger. Notice that Hume did not detail Tiger's sins or condemn him in any way. His suggestion was loving and constructive. No one criticizes those gossiping on TV about Tiger; how strange that Hume gets criticized for pointing Tiger toward forgiveness and redemption. -Bill Bouknight; Columbia, S.C.

Water is for fighting

There is an expression in the West: "Whiskey is for drinking, water is for fighting." Water rights and water use in the West are a complex set of issues, and "Water wars" (Jan. 30) exposes some of the complexity. However, a "jobs vs. environment" framework doesn't display a biblical view of creation stewardship. The endangered species issue should be a significant part of the equation. The Bible does not give us the right to pick and choose which species are too inconvenient to protect when God saved "every living thing" from the flood. -Jonathan Eerkes; Lake Bronson, Minn.

As a former part-time farmer who lives in an agricultural community, this article spoke to my heart. For far too long, Americans have been completely oblivious and shielded from the environmental war that has been waged against farmers by our government and its eco-warrior allies. -Sam Willson; Wapello, Iowa

A bigger plan

I enjoy your magazine but was disappointed with your review of The Book of Eli ("Blood and Bible," Jan. 30). We were thrilled with the film and feel that you focused on the gore in the movie while missing its true meaning. Like Eli, we may not understand our journey, but God has a bigger plan for each of us than we can imagine. -Barb Foran; Durand, Mich.

No surprise

Although I greatly appreciate Anne Hendershott's openness and embarrassment about the leftward lean of Catholic colleges and their graduates ("Higher learning?" Jan. 30), it is no surprise. Besides their Catholic education, these political leaders are mostly Democrats. I fear that not until Catholic laypeople examine for themselves their own faith, history, the Bible, and American history will there be an uprising of worthy and faithful Catholic leaders. -Steve Schipper; Havelock, N.C.

As a product of Catholic education and a graduate of a Jesuit university, it is apparent to me that many Catholics give more credence to church teachings than to the Word of God, the Bible. -Jeanne M. Zachman; Green Valley, Ariz.

At least

As a five-year resident of Spokane and a college student journalist, I read your article about Spokane Planned Parenthood overcharging taxpayers ("Life changes," Jan. 30) with great interest. It's about time it gets called on the carpet-if not for killing innocent children, then at least for overcharging taxpayers. Fun fact: The local paper, the Spokesman-Review (which did everything but come up with new cheers for Obama during his campaign) didn't report on the scandal at all. -Danielle Price; Spokane, Wash.

Still a man

I was disappointed in how you reported on the appointment of Mitch "Amanda" Simpson to an advisory position in the Commerce Department (Human Race, Jan. 30). By referring to him as "she" you cede valuable ground in this part of the culture war. Mitch Simpson may have had himself physically altered, but he is no more a woman than I am. At most he is a confused, mutilated man. -Stephen Brown; Woodbridge, N.J.

Striving for excellence

Mindy Belz employed a very creative and sincere way to apologize for errors in WORLD ("Mistakes were made," Jan. 2). We lay readers probably do not have a clue as to how much your staff goes through to publish and circulate this excellent magazine. We appreciate that you strive for excellence. -Susan R. Blish; Bronx, N.Y.

Walton responds

In his review of my book, Lost World of Genesis One ("Appearances matter," Aug. 29), Vern Poythress misunderstood and misrepresented certain aspects of my position. Foremost is the claim that I have made a "false contrast between material and functional" because "people in most cultures experience the world as a whole." Proposition 10 makes my stance on this perfectly clear. The Israelites understood that there was a material aspect to the cosmos, that the functions depended on the material, and that God was also responsible for the material phase. My point is that God was using their way of thinking about the material world in order to communicate His revelation concerning the functional world. When the Bible talks about thinking with the heart, we discount the material statement because we understand that the Bible is not communicating physiology. The same is the case with the waters held back by a solid sky and the land emerging from the seas in Genesis 1. I have offered a more complete response on the BioLogos website. -John Walton; Wheaton, Ill.

Correction

The WTKK producer quoted in "What Brown can do for you" (Feb. 13, p. 42) is Tom Shattuck.