Papered over

[ Sept. 1 ] I felt conflicted reading this article about Liberty University’s handling of its student newspaper because I can see the argument from both sides. I wondered what I would do if I had responsibility for advising the students. Then I read the sidebar, “Against journalistic slavery,” and it was just what I needed. You provided context and principles illustrated by personal experience. —Phil Joseph / Milton, Ga.

I was baffled by this article. I saw a Christian university willing to do what it takes to keep heresy out. Why criticize Liberty for trying to remain a true Christian university? —Will Estrada / Lovettsville, Va.

The excessive reining in and dismissal of student newspaper staffers is disturbing. Christians should be the first to seek truth because we serve the One who is the Truth. Instead, as with Liberty, too often we make the truth subservient to an agenda. —Deborah Huegel on wng.org

Liberty has as much right to monitor and control the content in its newspaper as does the publisher of The New York Times. It is not shocking that the administration monitors its own publication; it would be shocking if it didn’t. —Joel E. Davis / Hillsborough, N.J.

Great article. I just graduated from Liberty this spring. The school has many very good qualities, but you highlighted issues that could develop into serious problems. —Andy Knudsen on wng.org

Allowing students to unleash their opinions about politics could mislead the student body and undermine the college’s leadership. Kudos to Drs. Falwell and Kirk, who handled this situation with great wisdom. —Brian F. Fleck / East Berlin, Pa.

Clearly the Champion is really just a public relations tool. The university has every right to use it that way, but it is a sad time for our country when institutions misrepresent, intentionally or not, their true purposes. —Ken and Pam Ellis on wng.org

Equal opportunity players

[ Sept. 1 ] I appreciate the positive impact of homeschooling; but if students wish to participate in a school’s athletic program or any other activity, they should enroll. No one would consider letting students attending one high school play on another school’s athletic teams. —Lawrence W. Roller / Mount Sidney, Va.

We homeschool our children here in Texas, and I wish our state would take a cue from states that offer more flexibility to homeschooling families. It is incongruous that an otherwise free state has such a restrictive stance. —Kim Pyle on Facebook

Legal or not, homeschoolers must eschew all entanglement with public schools. Believing that involvement with the system comes without strings (i.e., regulatory chains) is naïve and dangerous. We must grow private alternatives rather than bow to the government school system. —Tina Hollenbeck / Green Bay, Wis.

Our son chose music over athletics, and we were very pleased that our public high school welcomed him into the band program. There he found many friends, and we formed friendships with the parents of other students. We share the concerns about public schools, but for us it was a very positive experience. —Ed Marino on wng.org

Responding to ‘the unimaginable’

[ Sept. 1 ] Thank you for your well-written article about Sioux Center Christian School. I believe our local culture is the perfect breeding ground for such sexual abuse by a teacher. We tend to trust without accountability, and we don’t talk about sex, so predators can stay hidden. —Judy De Wit / Sioux Falls, S.D.

It is so good to see a community and its churches rallying to battle this together. As sad as the circumstances are, I am encouraged to see God at work. —Jennifer Johnsson McAfee on Facebook

It is good churches try to address issues once they learn of them, but too often people, especially kids, see the church as the least comfortable place to bring up sexual issues. The Bible openly discusses sexual sin, but we want to stay rated PG. —Paul Geier on wng.org

Far away from home

[ Sept. 1 ] I am a big fan of WORLD, but I have never been more disappointed than I was with your cover line about Voice of the Martyrs. Your reporting was thorough and the article was evenhanded, but you unnecessarily cast a shadow over the work of this Christian ministry. —Joel Fischer / Frederick, Md.

In too deep?

[ Sept. 1 ] This column is sobering but necessary. Thank you for the reminder that the deep truth of the Scriptures is our sure and steady anchor. —Sharon Skinner / Carlsbad, N.M.

Death of a Nation

[ Sept. 1 ] I saw this documentary the first weekend it came out and loved it! It truly arms you with facts you won’t get in your kids’ history books. —Julie Davenport on wng.org

Improbable events

[ Aug. 18 ] Marvin Olasky’s analysis was simply astonishing. The connection between Roe v. Wade, the fall of the Soviet Union, and the absence of post–World War II nuclear conflict hadn’t occurred to me. —Craig A. White / Costa Mesa, Calif.

Thank you for the reminder that only God knows where each act will lead, but we should never forget that each act matters. —Richard Armerding / Rohnert Park, Calif.

Deep community

[ Aug. 4 ] Leave it to Megan Basham to offer for a Swedish DVD with subtitles (A Man Called Ove) a recommendation that crackles with Christian enthusiasm. There’s a lot of criticism of reporting and reviewing out there, but WORLD keeps my respect by being both serious and fun to read. —Joe Martin / Montreat, N.C.

I have been a subscriber for many years and continue to enjoy your magazine. The emails with links to The Sift and weekly news Roundups on wng.org are a wonderful addition. —Tim Staley / Alachua, Fla.

Correction

The photos of Nicholas Isel were taken by Pamela Lewis/Pamela Lewis Photography (“Dear Anonymous Dad,” Sept. 29, cover and p. 33).

More letters, emails, and comments we didn’t have space for in the print edition:

Papered over

[ Sept. 1 ] Journalists are not slaves; they are employees hired to produce what the company demands. If a journalist wants to start his own paper, he can publish whatever he wants. —Gary Schulz / Midland, Mich.

Equal opportunity players

[ Sept. 1 ] In our small rural town, recreational sports end for kids at about age 13. Homeschool athletes have to choose between driving hours back and forth to the cities with private school or club teams and going to public school. I have heard from some families that the benefits of public school were not as great as they expected. —Lisa Fearing on wng.org

A green farming movement

[ Aug. 4 ] The ideas behind “agroecology” or organic gardening have proven themselves on a large scale, according to experts in organic farming. Yields are slightly diminished, true, but overall nutritional value is greatly increased. We would all be better off with a “victory garden” for ourselves and our family, friends, and neighbors to share God’s abundant physical and spiritual blessings. —Joy Noack / Waxahachie, Texas