Someone cares

I was glad to read that there is someone in Washington, D.C., who is truly concerned for the safety of its citizens ("Pleading self-defense," April 1). Firearms in the hands of law-abiding people would go a long way toward deterring crime. Just across the Potomac River in northern Virginia citizens are allowed both to keep guns in their homes and carry them, and there is nowhere near the same level of violence that there is in the District. Miss Seegars should be praised as a hero on the D.C. Taxi Cab Commission. -Stephen J. Peter; Burke, Va.

Miss Seegars has it right. Even the police agree with her. I can only think that Mayor Anthony Williams and the rest of the city council would rather sit back and watch the city's homicide rate continue to be among the highest in the country. It's a shame Miss Seegars will not be reappointed for another term. -Harry Heist; Verona, N.J.

Right on

I so agree with Joel Belz's column "Right thinking" (April 1), especially his comment that conservative humanism is just as deadly as liberal humanism except that "the fuse just takes a little longer to burn." -Sandra Jo Williams; Pine Bluff, Ark.

The food fights within the modern conservative movement aren't news to those who have studied politics since the 1980s. The modern right has always used hot-button "moral" issues only to procure believers' votes. As long as Christians continue to seek political and social authority at the expense of the kingdom of God they will, and ought to, be disappointed. -Rick Nowlin; Pittsburgh, Pa.

A delicate balance

In the article on Soul Force ("Forgiving their trespass," April 1), I was encouraged to read how Lee University students presented the biblical side without all the hate-mongering that homosexual activism engenders. It was a delicate balancing act, but your coverage was fair and from a strong biblical worldview. -Bob Meredith; Golden Valley, Minn.

T for thanks

Thank you so much for your insightful review by Andrew Coffin of the atrocious movie V for Vendetta ("V for vile," April 1). This and many other articles have been a welcome and insightful news resource. -Wilfredo Codilla; Warrensburg, Mo.

I appreciate your movie reviews a great deal, but I was pretty ticked off after reading "V for vile." I saw the movie to judge it for myself and found the suggestion that it was an "apologetic for terrorism" to be ridiculous, and please do not spoil the finale for those who have not yet seen the film. -Ben McKain; New Albany, Ind.

Good and bad

In "Country music's culture war" (April 1), you speak of Brad Paisley's "When I Get Where I'm Going" and Carrie Underwood's "Jesus Take the Wheel." I enjoy both songs, but you failed to mention that Mr. Paisley also has "Alcohol," a song about getting drunk, and in Ms. Underwood's newest CD there is a song about doing damage to her boyfriend's car because he is cheating. Then you talk about Trace Adkins' "Honky Tonk Badonkadonk," but his CDs also contain lovely songs about family, work, values, and God. I even have his version of "Victory in Jesus." Most of these artists have both good and bad songs. -Donna Hollis; Sturgis, Ky.

Equipping soldiers

As a soldier in the Salvation Army, I appreciated Andrée Seu's comments ("Mac attack," April 1). The awesome gift by Joan Kroc is intended to enable the construction of community centers in poverty-stricken areas around the country. -John E. Cormack; Mesa, Ariz.

Past time

It is interesting that there is so much hype about bird flu, which has killed about 160 people to date ("Threat from above," April 1), while we pay little attention to one of the biggest infectious killers in the world, tuberculosis, which kills more than 2 million people each year. Multidrug-resistant strains of TB have emerged and are on the rise. They will continue to spread unless we do more to diagnose and treat TB on a global level. TB is the largest curable infectious disease and it is time it becomes a disease of the past. -Ken Patterson; Swannanoa, N.C.

Too true

Upon reading the cover headline, "'Broken promises, cynical voters: Israel goes to the polls'" (March 25), I thought that this title could, with the change of one word, apply to the American political scene as well. -Joe Paglia; Lombard, Ill.

Coming up

Mr. Belz seems convinced that the "mortar" of public education has no hope of being replenished, that the older generation of teachers are the last hold-outs of Christ in public education ("Prophecy fulfilled," March 25). There are young Christian educators in public education, and every year thousands of young Christians join the rank-and-file of public educators. They need the encouragement of their elders to stay the course; they don't need to hear that their entire support system is going to be gone within the next few years. -Steve & Sheryl Brown; Dallas, Texas

Gripped

Born in 1987, I grew up with WORLD ("Celebrating 20 years of WORLD," March 18). My first interest, I admit, was due to the political cartoons. I first read WORLD cover to cover as a freshman in high school and was entertained, but last year I began to be shaped as, for a writing class, I wrote responses to your articles. I was enthralled by your unwavering commitment to truth, higher thought, and especially faith. And to hear the news from a Christian perspective? Gripping. -Kristina De Graaf; Marshall, Minn.

I appreciate your commitment to God's truth and your showing the good things that small groups of Christians are doing all over the globe. That is so refreshing amidst all the negativism that bombards us daily. -Christina Rapp; Middletown, Md.

Thank you for putting out such quality writing that results from bold thinking, and for your unapologetic stand for the cross of Christ. May God continue to delight in you and honor your efforts to lift Him up in this world. -Stephanie Van Gorden; Templeton, Pa.

Gray maker

Matt Ristuccia must know that his gray fuzz makes a wonderful teaching tool for his flock ("A close shave," March 11). He should tell them what he told us: why he's going to North Africa and that men are "supposed to" look fuzzy there. He should tell them about 1 Corinthians 9:22 and Hebrews 2:17. He might even explain why Paul had Timothy circumcised and refused to circumcise Titus. All of these uphold wonderful biblical principles. And let us remember: Who made gray hair? -Larry Rippere; Mountain View, Calif.