A real threat

I commend you for addressing the issue of germ warfare ("Back to the future," June 2). As a physician who attended the Second National Symposium on Medical and Public Health Response to Bioterrorism last November, I consider biological weapons and in particular smallpox to be the greatest threat to health that our planet currently faces. I suspect that few in the public health community who celebrated the eradication of smallpox over two decades ago realized the potential for terrorists to reintroduce it into an unprotected population a generation later. Given that experts believe there to be a high likelihood of this occurring in this decade, and given the shortage of vaccines and treatment, I believe that we as Christians should address how we might prepare for this horrible yet real threat. - Robert S. Berry, Greeneville, Tenn.

The price of peace

Tears filled my eyes as I pictured the men trying to take Omaha Beach and the price they paid ("We must remember," June 2). I worry that a growing proportion of our youth lack a reference point for these experiences. I served in Vietnam, but my children (10, 12, 14, and 15) cannot really comprehend the costs on the families of that generation of soldiers, let alone the effect of World War II on families. It seems more than ironic that liberty with peace requires such a price in blood and violence. - Sieg Brauer, Kearney, Neb.

Someone remembers

Thank you to Mindy Belz for "We must remember," and thank God for the couple from Caen who decorates soldiers' graves at Normandy. - Roger Hudgins, Ponca City, Okla.

Gospel burlesque?

My wife and I were sincerely disappointed by "All things to all men" (June 2). Must people who name the name of Christ digress to a lower moral common denominator in society? Must we attempt to promote the gospel in a form of burlesque on stage? - Douglas F. Swope, Port Orchard, Wash.

Has-fled TV

Gene Edward Veith hits the nail right on the head in observing that when grownups have the same cultural tastes as children, "both demographics are in big trouble" ("Must-flee TV," June 2). I have an antenna that gets local channels only. Why pay $30/month and up for cable or satellite service to pipe trash into my living room? That's money better spent on good books and on my subscription to WORLD. - Bryan Cass, Charlotte, Vt.

Parental warning

"Must-flee TV" reminded me that America does not face a problem with rebellious and irresponsible children so much as it faces a problem with rebellious and irresponsible parents. - Eric Blievernicht, Terre Haute, Ind.

Opposite of sleaze

I had the same impression of New York City as Joel Belz ("The apple's polished," June 2). This spring my daughter was on a college choir tour and I met her there (no way, I thought, was I going to let her visit NYC with 60 college kids as companions). It had been 25 years since my last visit and I was pleasantly surprised. We stayed in a hotel in the theater district near 42nd Street, and spent three days walking our legs off all over the city. I'd expected dirt, sleaze, and crime, but found quite the opposite. - Adrienne McLaughlin, Sarasota, Fla.

Shunned

Sen. Jeffords single-handedly handed over the chairmanships of the Senate committees to the Democrats. No self-respecting Republican owes him the time of day. - N. Costanzo, Bristolville, Ohio

Definitely hostile

The ACLU's challenges to student prayers at high-school graduation ceremonies are hostile to creedal faith ("Neutral or hostile?" June 2). Any talk of neutrality is rank hypocrisy. - Lawrence Andrade, Swampscott, Mass.

Sacred mouse?

We were disappointed in your review of Shrek ("DreamWorks' nightmare," June 2). Yes, there was potty humor galore, and I would have left out some of the one-liners, but I was glad that the princess made the choice she did. Regarding your comment that the movie takes "potshots at classic Disney moments," when did Disney become a sacred cow? - Amy Giannini, Zumbrota, Minn.

Lighten up

Except for the crude bathroom humor in Shrek, I cannot remember the last time I laughed so hard for so long at any movie. I realize that humor is like beauty and in the eye of the beholder, but lighten up a little. The references to the old Disney flicks were part of what made this movie wonderful. Being far from "clunky," I found it to be witty and extremely entertaining. - Randy Evers, Harrisonville, Mo.

Rather biblical

We wondered why the review did not mention the message in Shrek that beauty is not what's seen on the outside but what's on the inside of a person, or how Shrek's love for the princess released her from the curse of being forced to live as something other than her true nature. We see nothing wrong with these kinds of themes coming out of Hollywood; they seem rather biblical to us. - Douglas Johnson, Zionsville, Ind.

Seems unlikely

Were the unnamed liberals attacking Attorney General John Ashcroft for holding a voluntary Bible study on government property also shouting and complaining of the same injustice when the president of the United States, William Clinton, was having oral sex in the Oval Office ("Ashcroft rapped for staff prayers," May 26)? - Jane K. Lord, Perris, Calif.

Party animals

Your May 19 cover regarding Senate gridlock over judicial nominees sums up what's going on in Washington ("Red light district"). When will the politicians who profess to be Christians start voting in allegiance to God rather than looking for the applause of their party? - Marion Piester, Germantown, N.Y.

Lewis lovers

"Love and chocolate" (May 26) by Andree Seu touched my heart and comforted my soul. We also owe a great debt to C.S. Lewis; our children and now our grandchildren never grow tired of The Chronicles of Narnia. - Delores K. Seward, Bergen, N.Y.

Driving dangerously

Marvin Olasky's column on traveling by car brought back many childhood memories of cross-country trips taken to visit relatives in Idaho and Washington ("Simple pleasures," May 12). Who would relinquish their first view of the Rocky Mountains? I remember straining to see if I would be the first one to catch sight of the foothills as we traveled across the plains. My Dad liked to live dangerously, so we wouldn't make hotel reservations; we would just see how far we could drive and then hope we could find a room. This worked, usually. - Arlene Hardman, Peru, Ill.

Appalled

As a homeschool student, I was appalled at the liberal, humanistic ideology being pushed in some public schools ("Daze of diversity," May 26). I am praying for America's students my age who are only being given one viewpoint. - Brent Shirley, 15, De Ridder, La.

Insight

What insight J.D. Wetterling showed in "Mom's place" and "War is hell, but it's not forever" in the May 12 issue. - Howard Tull, Slidell, La.

Stay together

Regarding the article about graduated driver's licenses, I think it is high time people realized that barely 16-year-old teens should not be allowed so much driving freedom so suddenly ("Not so fast," May 5). I am looking forward to driving, too, but I would rather stay in one piece. - Rachel Marie Blum, Thornton, Colo.

The promised land

After years of wandering in the wilderness of liberal, humanistic garbage masquerading as news, I discovered WORLD. I had given up hope that there could be a periodical such as yours. My wife had been getting it for a few months, and one day I picked it up and read it through. The perspective was Christian and the writing precise, highly informative, clever, and thoroughly entertaining. - Ken Demster, Idstein/Niederaufoff, Germany

Correction

Chip Duncan is the producer of a C.S. Lewis documentary scheduled to be shown on Chicago PBS affiliate WTTW at the end of 2001 (June 16, p. 34). - The Editors