More than paper

I was one of those hat-waving, foot-stompin', chair-standing, hoopin' and hollerin' (and now hoarse) Texas delegates at the Republican convention. All week members of other delegations asked us how we put together such an energetic group. It was done one precinct meeting at a time, with years of perseverance and sacrifice. Most of us went back home to our families or jobs, homeschooling our children or volunteering at our local crisis pregnancy centers. But we all went home knowing we participated in a process that sets us apart from most of the rest of the world-a process that allows us a say in the policies that hopefully will guide this nation. Some say the Republican platform is just a piece of paper. Well, so was the Declaration of Independence. - -George W. Clay, Bowie, Texas

Clearing the air

I have always been aware of the liberal bias of the media but you have opened my eyes to the way they deftly mold the news to fit their liberal agenda ("Boo-hoo: GOP provides news media no negative campaigning to criticize," Aug. 12). WORLD is a breath of fresh air in the stagnant world of magazines. - -Andrea Schumann, Moberly, Mo.

Spun out

I am sickened of the liberal spin by political "analysts" on those intolerant, uncompromising Republicans. The Democratic platform is just as staunch for abortion as the Republican platform is against it. And members of which party's California delegation booed Boy Scouts when they walked on stage to lead the Pledge of Allegiance? And where was the media to report this? Strangely silent. Instead we saw, several times, the quiet prayerful protest of Republican Christians against the gay member of Congress who spoke at the Republican convention. Which is the real party of intolerance? - Trevin Wax, Murfreesboro, Tenn.

Avoiding the trap

I think you completely misread Mr. Bush's tactics in his interview with Barbara Walters ("An aborted vision," Aug. 12). Mr. Bush's simple response, "I am pro-life," turned away an opportunity for her to pick him apart or try to force him to equivocate. Too many professing pro-life politicians have been seen to waffle, temporize, or obfuscate. Mr. Bush's statement and his choice of a pro-life running mate show that he means to avoid this trap, and his promise to sign a bill banning partial-birth abortion forces the Democrats to defend this abomination. - Robert D. Sexton, Fresno, Calif.

No soap

I found Dr. Reardon's "judgment call" against Gov. Bush to be an exceptionally naïve assessment considering, as Dr. Reardon himself pointed out, Barbara Walters's agenda to portray the Republican candidate as the "enemy of choice." It is naïve to assume that one's staunch ideological enemy would allow your noble soap box moment to air unedited and unchallenged. It was not the forum to deliver a State of the Union address on the issue. - Bryan J.L. Glass, Elkins Park, Pa.

You've got mail

Dr. Reardon found an answer to those who are pro-choice, pro women's rights, etc. I am impressed with his thoughtful solutions to a difficult problem. I hope you sent a copy to Mr. Bush. - Anne Batty, San Clemente, Calif.

A soft answer

Rather than send a nasty note to General Mills, I called to thank them for putting the Bible on the CD even though they had apologized for it ("Nixing Scripture," Aug. 12). Meanwhile, I am enjoying the software. - Marte Kellogg, San Antonio, Texas

Nixing General Mills

My husband and I were very disappointed with General Mills upon reading "Nixing Scripture." Our family has decided to stop using General Mills products until they can satisfactorily explain themselves. - Karolyn Dunlop, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio

Noah Webster's colleague

Another great job, Lynn Vincent, on "Nixing Scripture." However, Miriam is the sister of Moses. It's a Merriam who helped write the Merriam-Webster Dictionary. - Rick Merriam, Marion, S.D.

Noah Webster's colleague

Another great job, Lynn Vincent, on "Nixing Scripture." However, Miriam is the sister of Moses. It's a Merriam who helped write the Merriam-Webster Dictionary. - Rick Merriam, Marion, S.D.

Just a game

While Mr. Veith's theory about Survivor being Darwinian was interesting, it might have helped if he had watched the show first ("Alternate reality," Aug. 12). His supporting claims were wrong; not all the old people were gone, and neither was Rich, the professing homosexual (he ended up winning). True, the Christian was voted off, but it appeared to me that people were more concerned about his health than his views. I think that Mr. Veith missed the point-it's only a game, it's not about true survival. - Sarah Schmidt, Mankato, Minn.

Cutthroat community

After finding myself uneducated about today's culture, I decided to watch Survivor as a study in human interaction. These castaways are in a game for the money, supposedly cutthroat, but from week to week there is a communal society affected by each other's actions. After people are voted off, there is always solemnity and mourning of some sort. There's more food to go around, but they've eliminated part of their group at the same time. Perhaps this group of castaways, a cross-section of our society, has demonstrated how people strive to survive without God and how ugly, sad, and unnecessary it all is. It has shown me that I could be any of those people, except by the grace of God. And perhaps the castaways are much more like us than we would want to acknowledge. Now that's reality. - A.K. Lemons, Phoenix, Ariz.

A one-time event, we hope

Thanks for your sincere apology for misspelling Mr. Cheney's name on the cover of the Aug. 5 issue. - Eleanor Wright, Central City, Neb.

Blessed by the ADA

My response to your peevish attitude about the "unintended consequences" of the Americans with Disabilities Act is that record piracy is caused by criminals and not by the ADA ("ADA ... live in concert," Aug. 12). The law should be touched up to prevent exploitation, but I would hope you are not suggesting that it should never have been passed or that it be repealed. I supported the ADA from the time President Bush signed it into law. I later gave birth to a son with spina bifida. He is now 7 and ambulates in a wheelchair, and I see daily reminders of what a blessing the ADA is to the disabled and their families. - Lucy Fetner Edling, Plano, Texas

American by understanding

In "Immigrant immisprint" (Aug. 12) you talked about "how many unqualified individuals might have gained citizenship." This does not bother me when I consider how many native-born Americans are also "unqualified." I know several immigrants who know what it is to be an American better than many native-born Americans because they do not take what we have for granted. - Thomas M. Blooming, Roseville, Minn.

Smoked out

Your defense of the tobacco industry is very offensive to me, having had personal loss in this area ("Stubbing out freedom," Aug. 5). Please cancel my subscription. - Russell Pilegaard, Ruthton, Minn.

New light

Your July 8 cover, the negative of the Supreme Court, was clever and graphic ("A dark day"). Yet even in the darkness of the negative, there was some light peeking around the columns. The Supreme Court's decision to strike down a ban on partial-birth abortion was a tragedy for the unborn but a wake-up call for the pro-life movement. Rarely is evil so clearly exposed as it is in partial-birth abortion. We must redouble our efforts to end the practice. Our recommitment, buoyed by God's love, can bring some light back into the abortion picture. - Ward Irvin, Marietta, Ga.

A sharp guy

"Locking up the big guns" (Aug. 12) was not the kind of article on the GOP convention I expected from WORLD. The critical and cautionary tone caught my eye, starting with the "Soft focus" cover headline, and it continued with "How Bush could blow it" and "An aborted vision." You apparently chose to sound a warning for a clearer vision, but I felt that Mr. Bush's Thursday night speech fired round after round of conservative values, including a pro-life stand. His hits on the current White House were right on target. Mr. Bush is the lens needed to sharpen the focus of the Republican Party. - -Gary S. Karwoski, Riverside, Ill.