Mailbag

"Primary concerns"

(Feb. 25) Thank you for your affirmation of the importance of primary care medicine. In Ohio only one in 20 medical school graduates is entering the field. Earnings won't cover their massive debts and family doctors are drowning in unpaid administrative work. But after 28 years in family medicine I consider myself blessed beyond measure. Just when you feel at your lowest, an 85-year-old patient will hug you and tell you how much you mean to them-except that it's the other way around! Kristofer Sandlund; Zanesville, Ohio

This article was a thinly veiled attack on the Affordable Care Act. The act has at least five initiatives that promote primary care; change for the better is coming. Also, one of your sources criticizes the act as creating many "underinsured" people on Medicaid and in the subsidized state exchanges, but that will be better than what those people have now. Dean C. Coddington; Littleton, Colo.

"Unhealthy decision?"

(Feb. 25) It is tempting to label advice to roll back screening as "rationing" or government meddling, but there are many examples of medical practices that are marginally helpful or even harmful. PSA screening seems intuitive but has no clear benefits and can lead to many clear harms (perioperative deaths, impotence, and incontinence). Not doing what doesn't work is ethical, not frightening. Terry S. Ruhl; Altoona, Pa.

"The battle for accurate Bible translation in Asia"

(Feb. 25) Thanks for the article on translation issues in the Muslim world and for bringing in the voices of converts from Islam, who worried that they will be the ones "sweeping up all [the translators'] mistakes." Indeed. I am very encouraged that these brethren are shining very brightly in a dark place. Jason Rosas; Creighton, Neb.

Although calling Jesus the Son of God may be an obstacle for unbelieving Muslims, it is certainly no more of an obstacle than Jesus telling the Jews that "unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you." That was "culturally insensitive" to a people with very strict dietary requirements. Caleb Gardner; Kansas City, Mo.

I was very disappointed in WORLD's take on this. If a literal translation of "Son of God" communicates to Muslims that Jesus is God's illegitimate child, is this really an accurate translation? If Muslims stumble over Jesus Christ because of a true understanding of the Trinity, so be it. But it is a shame if they stumble because of a twisted understanding of this biblical concept. Daniel Fada; Seattle, Wash.

There was a time when I sincerely believed that if we could make the message clear enough, without the hindrances of unclear translations, everyone would respond with real faith in Jesus. But that is simply not the case. Remember, the Word "came unto His own and His own received Him not," not because of a lack of clarity but because of the hardness of men's hearts. Phil McIntosh; Strathmore, Calif.

"Living on SNAP"

(Feb. 25) We already are living on $2 per meal per person and eating a bit healthier. I prepare everything from scratch-even macaroni and cheese-and try to "shop the edges of the store." I buy meat on sale, but avoid food that's less than fresh: no Little Debbies, donuts, or nasty Hamburger Helper. Free school breakfast programs prepare millions for a life of unnecessary dependency, but families should eat together. A nation is only as strong as its families. Beth McMichen; Meansville, Ga.

Marvin Olasky wrote that because SNAP households often use the extra income for non-food items, many "weren't hugely needy." But food is not the only thing that needy people need. Many people struggle to pay all their bills and food, for obvious reasons, is the last thing that people stop paying for. But I wholeheartedly agree that those who really want to help people with their food needs should support food banks. Debbie Prout; Levering, Mich.

"Advantage America"

(Feb. 25) I've been thinking a lot about the plummeting fertility rate and how children are God's most unpopular blessing. With our current fertility rate of 1.2 here in South Korea, a whole generation is growing up without the love of siblings, aunts, uncles, or cousins. Young couples struggle to support two sets of aging parents. As parents demand the very best of their one or two children, academic pressure and workplace competition has led to an epidemic of depression and suicide. South Korea is just one example of how the "wisdom" of the world yields short-term material benefits, followed by long-term social devastation. Anna Brinkman; Ilsan, South Korea

"Coming to America"

(Feb. 25) This article reminded me of how incredibly blessed I am to be homeschooled in a Christian environment and attend a college of my choice. Programs that transfer Chinese students to American private schools offer a great opportunity, but the real solution would be educational reform in the Chinese school system. Terrill Zentmeyer; Odessa, Fla.

"Automaton army"

(Feb. 25) Having robots fight our wars would certainly cut down on the casualties, but implanting "ethical constraints" into a robot can only go so far. Robots can be useful tools, but men and women should make the choice to pull the trigger. Nicolas Poole; Bristow, Va.

Notable Books

(Feb. 25) WORLD reviewed Elizabeth George's book Believing the Lie. I was appalled by the description of the book. A different author with the same name, Elizabeth George, has written Loving God with All Your Mind and A Woman After God's Own Heart. Would you please clarify for readers that this is not the same author? Jessica Wenger; Port Royal, Pa.

"The Vow"

(Feb. 25) This review was disappointing. It was not just a "one-dimensional plot" and I wish the reviewer had noted that this story is based on a real married couple, Kim and Krickett Carpenter, who reportedly have a strong faith in the Lord. Dawn Coon; Arroyo Grande, Calif.

Quotables

(Feb. 25) I love the high value WORLD places on human life as made in God's image, and so I must quibble with the phrase "fatal birth defect" referring to Bella Santorum's syndrome, Trisomy 18. I know T18 patients who lived into their 30s. Our own daughter with T18 lived six years before she died of pneumonia, and we learned more about God, unconditional love, and grace during our daughter's life than at any other time. I have a hard time seeing her as "defective" despite her disabilities. Loren Warnemuende; Canton, Mich.

"Viral denial"

(Feb. 25) As a foster mom who has cared for babies exposed to HIV in utero, I am appalled. If contracting HIV-AIDS were as one-dimensional as participating in reckless behavior, perhaps Fischer would have a reason to pursue this line of thinking. But to anyone who has seen this disease at work, this man's views seem absurd. Mary Flickner; Duncanville, Texas

"Impractical magic"

(Feb. 25) The quote from Steven Hawking, that certain physical laws like gravity are reliable enough to "create," astounded me. He seems oblivious to the fact that first someone had to create matter. Joan M. Hochstetler; Charlotte, Tenn.

"Blessed by the dozen"

(Jan. 28) After taking a few samples, the doctors told my mother that her baby would likely have Down syndrome and recommended an abortion. But she wouldn't budge, believing that she had been given the child for a reason. She was right. I am here for a purpose no matter what my health is like, and those 12 kids are here for a purpose no matter what the world says. Jordan Armstrong; Valparaiso, Ind.

Correction

The Hebrew scholar, seminary professor, and Bible translator who died on May 29, 2011, was Hermann J. Austel ("Departures," Dec. 31, p. 66).

WORLD around the world

Summit of South Sister, Oregon Submitted by Korey Hehn

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