March 7

‘Rebuilding Owosso’

I love it when folks with vision and passion take a chance on reviving a town with cool history.

John Wynn on Facebook

Good to hear a positive story about my hometown.

Steven Lauber on Facebook

‘Ukraine’s long winter’

People can easily pick sides about sending troops from America, but I see the grandmothers on the street who sleep without heat or water. My friends worry they might be conscripted because they don’t have the money to pay bribes. I talk with children who are bitter and hopeless. Every day the war continues people die, from bullets and from cold and poverty in a failing economy. The reality of war is heartbreaking.

Mary Schuck / Odessa, Ukraine

No amount of negotiation will redirect Moscow’s efforts until it achieves its economic and strategic objectives. I do not believe this would have happened 20 or even 10 years ago when America was perceived as stronger.

dmalcolm on wng.org

‘Absorbing the punches’

I appreciate Joel Belz’s comments and WORLD’s even-handed approach over the years. I stopped supporting David Jeremiah’s ministry after reading the article (“Buying a bestseller,” Feb. 21) and let him know why. I enjoy his preaching but had always been bothered by the TV show pushing his books.

John Hosie / Rumford, Maine

It’s usually preferable to err on the side of grace—I’ve opened my mouth too many times—but as journalists you don’t have that luxury. I applaud WORLD for speaking the truth boldly and with grace.

Greg Rummo / Montvale, N.J.

‘Time for a refresher course’

We need to have the discussion about who should look after the poor, governments or individuals or something in between, such as churches or charities. Paying our taxes should not be our gift to charity. We should be able to choose the organization that aligns with our personal beliefs.

Molly Crocker on Facebook

Excellent piece. Letting the government do it is the lazy and dishonest way of handling problems.

Rick Slater on Facebook

‘Little League, big mess’

I’m 63 and watched my first full baseball game on TV when the Jackie Robinson West Little League team won the title. I saw those boys shine as they were honored throughout the area, and now I’ve seen their demoralized faces as if the boys had cheated. Why can’t the adults be punished without destroying the boys?

slava tebje gospodi on wng.org

Do people really think that the kids did not have any idea they were outside the boundaries? I find that hard to believe.

Ken Allen on Facebook

‘Fifty Shades of Grey’

A sex-saturated culture has drained the beauty out of what God created as good (in marriage) and left behind, for so many, a soiled and often colorless routine. Restlessness and dissatisfaction prompt women to seek outside stimulation, proving the premise of Helen Thorne’s book, Purity Is Possible (“Notable books,” March 7). It introduces hope, even for the fallen, because God can make all things new. Sadly, much of America will remain in bondage to images.

Elaine Neumeyer / Seagrove Beach, Fla.

The truly implausible fantasy is that a woman will get her man if she gives him whatever he wants, even to the point of degrading herself. As if that’s a great way to land Mr. Right. What rubbish. How many women have been terribly used and tossed aside this way?

alinnc on wng.org

‘True lies’

Thank you for your powerful article on Shin Dong-hyuk and his remarkable story. Sitting in our safe homes, with protected loved ones and no real threat of discomfort, we can barely fathom experiences like his.

Naomi M. Chadwick / Dry Ridge, Ky.

‘The Drop Box’

God’s grace is indeed providential. The profile of this once-derelict man was a great encouragement to me, as I’m still smarting after stumbling in an area of long-standing weakness.

just david on wng.org

‘Spreading the guilt’

Janie B. Cheaney’s lumping of “gun cultures” with “hate cultures, rape cultures” denigrated millions of lawful gun owners and sportsmen. A more appropriate term would have been “violence cultures.”

John Griffin / Altamonte Springs, Fla.

‘Cable charade’

I enjoyed Andrée Seu Peterson’s unpacking of the “vague diminution of the English language.” We can all be as misleading as the cable company. At what point does a bad word choice become a lie?

Regan Hess / Winfield, Kan.

‘Dueling courts’

Alabamans voted 81 percent in favor of traditional marriage, but one unelected federal judge overruled them. U.S. citizens should be very concerned that our Supreme Court could well show total disregard for the will of the people and tell us all to accept homosexual “marriage.”

M. Cutchins / Auburn, Ala.

February 21

‘Black & blue’

I love your cover photo. I was so encouraged to read how police officers are working in their communities by building relationships with residents. They are doing a tough job with little appreciation from many of us.

Jen Litowski / Matthews, N.C.

‘Digital detox’

This article was very informative about the negative effects of our electronic age on children and included some creative ways for families to address this problem. And what a delightful irony to read in the lower margin, “Download WORLD’s iPad app today; details at wng.org/iPad.”

John Kirkpatrick / Kissimmee, Fla.

‘Coal’s kill fee’

The Environmental Protection Agency is out of control. Green energy is all well and good, but if we try to switch over to it too quickly, we wouldn’t adapt and the economy would crumble.

Gavin Lukanc / San Jose, Calif.

‘Faith is the thing’

Insightful commentary, especially, “faith is always only exercised in not having.” Two of my three daughters left for Asian mission fields, taking eight grandchildren with them. People were shocked when I said that I prayed for their protection but wasn’t trusting God to keep them safe. I trust God to keep them as He sees fit, and He may allow sacrifices to come their way.

Mike Mann / Sylvania, Ga.

January 24

‘The last shall be dead?’

Thank you for this insightful commentary. Truly, God chooses “the weak” (such as preborn citizens who cannot defend themselves) and the humble “who realize they are unfit” and need God’s saving grace to be part of His kingdom.

Joe Loftis / Providence, N.C.

Corrections

In late February Venus and Mars could be seen close together after sunset below and to the right of the crescent moon as it set (“Looking ahead,” Feb. 21).

Former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell received a two-year sentence for corruption in January and is free pending appeal (“Human race,” March 21).

WORLD Around the World

Drouin, Haiti Submitted by Frank Janowski

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