Mailbag

"Inside outsider"

(Feb. 11) I am in a quandary over who to vote for. We have Mitt Romney, who gives his full tithe to the Mormon Church; Newt Gingrich, who has a history of infidelities and a temper; Ron Paul, who is out in left field on foreign policy; and Rick Santorum, who would make a wonderful neighbor. All are flawed to a degree, so for me the choice will come down to who has the guts to make the real changes that our country so desperately needs. Only God knows, and may He grant us the wisdom to discern. Diana Doran; Boise, Idaho

"More unmerited mercy"

(Feb. 11) Marvin Olasky reminds all of us that we are called to walk a fine line: being in the world, but not of the world. I appreciate his honesty and candor. Dan Marshall; Monroe, N.C.

Olasky's warning in 1997 regarding proposed changes to the original NIV concerned me greatly. How sad that a Christian publisher would decide to make changes in Scripture merely to please our constantly degrading culture. How I appreciate WORLD for sticking with this battle for scriptural accuracy. Lee Parlee; Rockford, Ill.

"More unmerited mercy" states that the former Evangelical Press Association code of ethics "insisted that members ... not do or say anything that could hurt the brands of other members." That is incorrect. The code said, "Whenever substantive mistakes are made, whatever their origin, they [members] should be conscious of their duty to protect the good name and reputation of others." Only a few years before the "Stealth Bible" controversy, EPA honored investigative reporting by Cornerstone magazine that exposed Christian speaker Mike Warnke. EPA does not discourage its members from critical reporting about Christians. Doug Trouten, Executive Director, Evangelical Press Association

"Citizen first"

(Feb. 11) I know nothing about the Boston Bruins but was pleased with the story on goalie Tim Thomas. Let the liberal media say what they want; this man has courage and lots of it for declining the invitation to visit the White House to shake hands with the president. D. Stromley; Brazil, Ind.

I disagree with Thomas' decision to skip the Boston Bruins' visit to the White House. Thomas not only snubbed the president but also his teammates. This event is a harmless, decades-old tradition. It wasn't the right venue to display his displeasure with the president. John Cofer; Hinckley, Ill.

I agree completely with Thomas. And why has it become necessary for every president to invite all these professional and college sports teams to shake hands with him? If the president wants to honor someone, there are plenty of people who deserve recognition for regularly making a real difference in the lives of others. Russell Guetschow; Vicksburg, Mich.

"Be specific"

(Feb. 11) As a high school English teacher, I have tried teaching writing without the five-paragraph formula and it is a disaster. Many students have no idea how to put together sentences to make a paragraph, much less put together paragraphs to make a coherent paper. I do require rewrites and the grading is onerous, yet students don't read the corrections or change their writing. Unless students want to learn to write, all of my corrections and instructions are in vain. Jennifer Wright; Hardin, Mo.

I am a homeschooling mom and regularly require third and fourth drafts. Thank you for affirming that great writing requires so much work. Debbie Slingo; New Smyrna Beach, Fla.

"The cross in the stone"

(Feb. 11) Amen to Andrée Seu's comments about the nudgings in our hearts, "coincidental" timings of songs, and images in rocks. How wonderful it is that such a God, in whose hands are the affairs of nations, bends to interact lovingly with individual sinners using that "still, small voice." Linda Maphet; Canton, Ga.

Seu writes that "even Christians who say signs and wonders have ceased deny their own position whenever they ask for the healing of Uncle Bob's cancer." However, many cessationists, such as myself, believe the gifts of miracles and wonders ceased with the apostles, but they also believe that God is still performing miracles and wonders on the earth. Jon Hueni; Bremen, Ind.

"A weight of hopelessness"

(Feb. 11) Thank you so much for the column on the growing unrest in Uganda. I was there in January and last summer. My Ugandan friends have come to accept corrupt government leaders as normal, a fact of life that cannot be changed. I don't want to be simplistic, but the best hope for Africa is the gospel. Steve Walters; West Point, Neb.

Mindy Belz's column brought to mind a powerful quote from Susan Wise Bauer's The Story of the World: "The history of the twentieth century is, again and again, the story of men who fight against tyrants, win the battle, and then are overwhelmed by the unconquered tyranny in their own souls." Jane Bentley; Mobile, Ala.

"Climbing out of the cradle"

(Feb. 11) I appreciated your excellent articles related to Black History Month, but I must take issue with your assertion that white Southerners turned to segregation in a backlash against the Populist Movement's courting of the black vote. Immediately after the Civil War most white Southern Democrats were already attempting to continue to subjugate former slaves. After forcing an end to Reconstruction, they intensified gradual and systematic efforts to enact horrible laws to deny black people their basic constitutional rights. Kent Karmeier; Kansas City, Mo.

"Darwin: founder, destroyer"

(Feb. 11) I'm sad to see a fresh effort to apply Darwinian thought to the field of economics. The push for economic change today is based partly on the theory that we are a product of evolution competing for finite resources in a zero-sum world. I'm thankful to be created by and rely upon the resources of an infinite God. Vance Wendelburg; Stafford, Kan.

"Mystic chords"

(Feb. 11) Thank you for Janie Cheaney's column on the Eisenhower Memorial. The proposed memorial would indeed be a travesty for the memory of Dwight Eisenhower, for our nation's capital, and for our nation. Eric Wind; Washington, D.C.

"Singles' stories"

(Feb. 11) It is sad to see what Christians believe about singleness. As Paul said in 1 Corinthians, it is good to remain single. As a 22-year-old in a sea of college relationships, God has used me in far greater ways than He could have if I were in a relationship. Molly Soneson; Bangor, Maine

"A family sacrifices"

(Feb. 11) I was chaplain to Ben Wise, the second son of Jean and Mary Wise to die in combat in Afghanistan, when he was with the 5-20 Infantry from 2003-2004 in Iraq. Ben was a good man with a tremendous sense of humor, and a brother in Christ. I also met his brother Jeremy [who died in a terrorist attack in Afghanistan in 2009]. I am honored to have known them both. CH (MAJ) Kelly L. O'Lear, 4BCT Brigade Chaplain, 82nd Airborne Division

"Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close"

(Feb. 11) I believe your reviewer and many others may have missed an important point, namely, that the boy Oskar tested positive (although inconclusively) for autism. That sheds a whole new light on Oskar's character and behavior. Having some insight into mental disorders, I see the uniqueness and value of such a mind and the film as a serious and positive commentary on mental illness. Mary Morman; Missoula, Mont.

Corrections

More American youth say they are pro-life than pro-choice for the first time since the Supreme Court's 1973 Roe v. Wade decision ("Life down under," Jan. 28, p. 56).

One casualty of Europe's record snowfalls died in Belgrade, Serbia, from a falling icicle (Dispatches, Feb. 25, p. 8).

WORLD around the world

Glendalough, Ireland Submitted by Molly Anderson

Send photos to: mailbag@worldmag.com