Mailbag

‘Running with the bulls’

Oct. 15 After enduring all the sarcasm, meanness, and hateful Facebook posts involving both candidates this long pre-election season, thanks to Krieg Barrie for his unique cover design. It was funny in a godly way, with no cruelty or obvious slams. May God help us choose the best driver.

—Julie Poehlman / Denton, Md.

‘Unfinished business’

Oct. 15 While the idea of military intervention in Syria has merit, it is a bridge too far. We lack the same margin of military superiority that we enjoyed in Bosnia over the Soviet Union. If the American military challenged Russia in Syria, Iran would push back and we’d see greater Chinese assertiveness in the Pacific. The biggest strategic mistake of this century was to invade Iraq, and now we are paying the price.

—Paul Jaedicke on wng.org

I believe we still have the military strength today to intervene in Syria; but we lack the will, and our current leaders are inept. Sooner rather than later our military will be rendered pathetic, and it’s doubtful that either major candidate will restore our former defensive power.

—Janet Seagraves on wng.org

‘Longing for a “strong leader”’

Oct. 15 Perhaps democracy is falling apart in the United States because this country is too big to sustain it. A country with people spread so far apart with very diverse values will often be in conflict. That’s partly why Congress is often deadlocked, decisions are relegated to appointees, and outraged citizens feel overlooked by their representatives.

—JennyBeth Gardner on wng.org

‘Everything is a joke’

Oct. 15 Thanks for the insightful column. Mr. Cash will one day realize, hopefully before death, that he turned his life into a game in which he held everyone around him in contempt. He epitomizes Solomon’s pursuit of folly. Sad.

—Larry Panella on wng.org

‘Bad bargain’

Oct. 15 Thank you to Joel Belz for explaining that, with abortion, there’s forgiveness for individuals but judgment for societies. We have hardened our collective heart to the point that we are calling good evil and evil good in so many areas. We deserve judgment, but we are praying for mercy.

—Gayle Cloud / Riverside, Calif.

‘Out of balance’

Oct. 15 Excellent reporting! I had wondered about the scarcity of Christians among the Middle Eastern refugees accepted here. Given the horrific persecution (a chief reason to accept refugees) of Christians in Syria and elsewhere in the Middle East, we should be searching out more believers.

—John Monroe on wng.org

‘A Reformed reformer’

Oct. 15 Ben Sasse is a most encouraging voice in the Senate, and we appreciate his unwillingness to endorse Trump. If Sasse runs in 2020, we’ll be listening; but meanwhile we have found Evan McMullin, who also sees politics as a project for serving others.

—Katharine Birkett on wng.org

‘A near miss’

Oct. 15 This review of Queen of Katwe was a near miss. I was entranced with the story, impressed with the quality of the script, and surprised by the overtly Christian elements. I wonder how John Mark Reynolds missed the gospel displayed through the lives and choices of the characters.

—Ann Westerman / Vienna, Va.

‘Unfit for power’

Oct. 29 I love the magazine, but I am very disappointed. Trump was by no means my first choice, but our country has a better chance of remaining free and changing the atmosphere in Washington with him than with Hillary.

—Barry Dorsch / Fort Worth, Texas

The subhead says it all: “What applied to Bill Clinton in 1998 applies to Donald Trump in 2016.” I was among those then who insisted that “character matters.” If we hypocritically set that and other principles aside in a desperate attempt to “save America,” we are like salt that is no longer good for anything. Thanks, WORLD, for maintaining your saltiness!

—Ron Denlinger / Lancaster, Pa.

I was appalled by your call for Trump to step aside. Do you not realize that in trashing Trump at this late date you virtually ensured Clinton’s election? With a Clinton presidency, WORLD will be responsible for her liberal Supreme Court appointments and the continued slaughter of millions of innocent babies.

—Richard Rothermel / Millersville, Md.

One day, when I have to defend my vote for Trump to my daughters, I will say this: “Hillary’s radical view of abortion was anti-woman and anti-human. She wanted to legalize killing babies on their way out of the womb, and she wanted me to pay for it. Trump may say and do deplorable things to women, but he was our best bet at not killing them.”

—Carly Albee / Asheville, N.C.

I finished “Unfit for power” with tears running down my cheeks. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for staying true to what God has called you to say, despite what your readership might think!

—Kelly Studley / Yardley, Pa.

You should be spanked. Your holier-than-thou attitude is repugnant. You should have supported Trump. Please cancel my subscription.

—Gretchen Finch / Whitefish, Mont.

This was not about personalities or past transgressions. This election was about the Supreme Court, abortion, national security, immigration, radical Islam, Clinton corruption, wresting control from a corrupt media and a corrupt establishment, and restoring dignity to our military and foreign policy. Thanks so much for undermining our chance to stop the regressive left. Please cancel my subscription.

—Zack Cosgrove / New Braunfels, Texas

With so many evangelicals diving off the cliff like lemmings to support Trump, it was such a relief to find WORLD crying loudly against the tide when remaining silent would have been easier. This confirmed our decision to become contributors to WORLD.

—Jeff Taylor / Watertown, Tenn.

WORLD may lose some subscribers over this issue, but it will not lose me. God bless you for taking a brave and righteous stand!

—Robert Hellam / Seaside, Calif.

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

‘Unfit for power’

Oct. 29 I chose to gamble with Trump. With Clinton’s election comes the death of the United States as a republic.

Craig A. Loewen / Gettysburg, Pa.

Something drastic had to happen to change this broken and corrupt system, someone exactly like Trump. You should have called both Trump and Clinton to step aside. I know your intentions are good, as are mine, but our opinions differ. All we can do is pray.

John McLaughlin / The Woodlands, Texas

‘Unfinished business’

Oct. 15 This piece truly was exceptional. I wish every member of Congress and all our elected officials—including those running for president—would read it.

Edith Bauer / Warsaw, Ind.

‘Hurry up and assimilate’

Oct. 15 I appreciated the article, which highlights a number of the challenges faced by high-school international students coming to the United States, but it offered little perspective from the other side. Regarding international student dorms, for example, some schools work hard to prevent the formation of cliques and “ethnic conglomerates,” and to ensure no student is overlooked.

Jason B. Watson / Miller, S.D.