Looking back

I always look forward to your "Year in Review" issue. And thanks for the picture of Dr. James Boice ("Deaths: Man knows not his time," Dec. 30/Jan. 6). He was my pastor when I studied at Westminster Theological Seminary. I miss him and his honest, calm preaching of truth. - Tim Broberg, Flourtown, N.J.

Where's Loretta?

As I scanned the obituaries, I was appalled that I couldn't find the name of actress Loretta Young. She died Aug. 12, 2000, and will be missed by her fans. You might have omitted Communist Party USA boss Gus Hall to see if anyone would notice. - Florence Fahrbach, Troutville, Va.

Unnecessary

I just wanted to let you know that I thought the picture of the seductively clad singer was completely unnecessary ("Riffs and midriffs," Dec. 30/Jan. 6). The swimmer on page 40 was a little much as well. - Vanessa Ventura, Dumont, N.J.

Truth needs no bias

Joel Belz's editorial strikes me as an attempt to rationalize bias in WORLD's reporting and a failure to acknowledge the criticisms received from canceling subscribers ("The objectivity sham," Dec. 30/Jan. 6). He wonders why his religion reporter friend now needs to mute her personal views in reporting on religions other than her own. Is it not because she is now serving a wider audience? Her evangelicalism is no longer the "home team." Further, because WORLD reported the Florida election debacle from a biased perspective, it provided little help in understanding how my Democratic neighbors could accuse the Republicans of electoral theft. Please, don't hide behind a mask of biblical "commitment" in the same way you accuse other publications of hiding behind a mask of journalistic "objectivity." Truth does not need an opinion. - Mike Dwyer, Fort Collins, Colo.

The road to objectivity

I appreciated the editorial on media objectivity by Joel Belz. Anyone who imagines that Time or Newsweek are objective has a lot to learn about objectivity. Those magazines will never attain it, nor will any human being, completely, because there is only one objective point of view in the universe. Only God sees all things as they really are. With the help of God's Word and the Holy Spirit, however, we can achieve objectivity (share God's point of view) on some things, and at least approximate it on others. So, the road to objectivity is humility. The humble man or woman who trembles at God's Word and is teachable will, more and more, be capable of being objective. - Jeffrey Niehaus, Danvers, Maine

One strike rule

I take issue with the batting average model Mr. Olasky used to evaluate the Republican Party ("Year's end," Dec. 30/Jan. 6). You see, I am one of those single-issue right-wing Christian fanatics. I believe that the Republican Party can get the economy right, can get taxes right, can reform the school system, and get government out of areas they shouldn't be in and still strike out-over abortion. How pragmatic was President Clinton when he took office? Did he avoid the controversial issues or moderate his tone? He signed numerous Presidential Orders that the fringe of his constituency demanded. Should we sit back and take what's thrown to us? I think not. - Steve Holle, Billings, Mont.

No polls

Mr. Olasky is correct to remind us that our political party affiliation is not our church body. It is naive to take the ball and go home if they won't play by our rules. And we Christian Republicans have eased lethargically into our too-quickly-uttered, "God is in control" excuse-making. Partly, we have not been willing to pick up our swords and defend the territory God has given us. Even my favorite hero, when he heard about Goliath breathing out threats against God and His people, rushed out to make right the wrong-no polls taken among the brothers or the sheep. - Cecile DeOrnellas, Santa Rosa, Calif.

Looking forward

Thank you so much for WORLD. I have been reading it for years on the Internet when I couldn't afford a subscription. I appreciate your biblical approach to the issues of the day and look forward to receiving each week's magazine. - Linda Whitlock, Salem, Va.

Connect the dots

The most telling event of the year 2000 is not highlighted by any single photograph on the cover of WORLD's "2000 Year in Review" issue, but in the dotted line that could connect photos of the two stories that had Americans transfixed for much of the year. The sorry tale of little Elián Gonzalez gave the Clinton administration one last opportunity to recklessly abuse its authority, and thereby outraged the Cuban Americans living in Florida. Had it not been for the Elián story, Al Gore could well have picked up hundreds, perhaps thousands of votes in Florida and there would never have been any manual recounts or court challenges-just a squeaker for Mr. Gore. The upshot? Bill Clinton thwarted the attempt of his own vice president to succeed him in office, and handed the election to George W. Bush. - Ken Miles, Camas, Wash.

Pray for Jane

You stated that Jane Fonda "has not come out publicly for her faith," yet I read of her conversion to Christianity in a summer issue of O (Oprah) magazine ("People," Dec. 30/Jan. 6). As for her continuing contributions to pro-abortion groups, could it be that, like most Christians, she didn't become perfect the day God found her? How many of us had solid convictions about every issue in life as soon as we became Christians? Let's pray for Jane Fonda and not be too quick to judge. - Danette Matty, Grand Island, Neb.

Duly noted

Tom Fears's NFL record of 18 catches in a game, against the Green Bay Packers on Dec. 3, 1950, was broken by Terrell Owens of the San Francisco 49ers when he caught 20 receptions on Dec. 17, 2000, against the Chicago Bears. I just thought you might want to know. - Elmer Goodeill, Centralia, Wash.

Truth needs no bias

Joel Belz's editorial strikes me as an attempt to rationalize bias in WORLD's reporting and a failure to acknowledge the criticisms received from canceling subscribers ("The objectivity sham," Dec. 30/Jan. 6). He wonders why his religion reporter friend now needs to mute her personal views in reporting on religions other than her own. Is it not because she is now serving a wider audience? Her evangelicalism is no longer the "home team." Further, because WORLD reported the Florida election debacle from a biased perspective, it provided little help in understanding how my Democratic neighbors could accuse the Republicans of electoral theft. Please, don't hide behind a mask of biblical "commitment" in the same way you accuse other publications of hiding behind a mask of journalistic "objectivity." Truth does not need an opinion. - Mike Dwyer, Fort Collins, Colo.

A different way

Perhaps the people who write to your magazine and complain of your "biased" reporting of news ought to check the first pages of the magazines they are currently reading, and look for a clear statement of the worldview of that magazine. I have never been able to find that kind of statement on any magazine that reports from the liberal worldview. Thank you for your honesty, and keep on showing us that there is a different way of thinking than what we hear from the national media. - Helen Lamb, Casper, Wyo.

The opposite

In his article about C. S. Lewis ("The lion still roars," Dec. 23), Bruce Edwards attributes to me some curious views-for instance, "that evangelical Christians have more to gain from listening to French deconstructionists than" Lewis. I do not think this, nor have I ever said anything remotely like it. Similarly, Mr. Edwards takes my statement that Lewis's "apologetic works presuppose ... the criteria for rationality themselves" as a critique of Lewis's "debilitating rationalism" (his words, not mine). In fact, in the passage he cites I was lamenting the decline of reason; my expressed view is therefore precisely the opposite of what Mr. Edwards claims. I am at a loss to understand why he attributes positions to me which I not only do not believe in, but have spent much of my career opposing. - Alan Jacobs Professor of English Wheaton College, Wheaton, Ill.

A jewel

Thank you, Andree Seu ("Living logically," Dec. 30/Jan. 6). Her statement that we should be "talking to yourself instead of listening to yourself. And when you're talking, talking Scripture" is a jewel of a thought. Marvin Olasky's "Year's end" is a classic and profound piece as well. Thank you, WORLD, for showing what it means to think things through, providing great assistance in what it means to shape a biblical worldview. - Joe LoGiudice, Lakewood, Calif.

A sorry excuse

Some well-intentioned friend who doesn't know me very well started sending WORLD to me about a year ago. I read the first issue, but I have been throwing it in the trash without even opening it ever since. Your sorry excuse for a magazine that allegedly represents "truth and righteousness" is one of the worst attempts to propagandize the news I have ever seen. Other than right-wing nut jobs, members of the Christian Coalition, and Focus on the Family listeners, it is hard to imagine any intelligent person falling for your conservative propaganda. - Mark A. Elrod, Searcy, Ark.

Corrections

Indonesian Vice President Gloria Arroyo resigned from the cabinet of President Joseph Estrada (Nov. 11, p. 8). - The Editors