Beyond tough talk

Alan Keyes is not a prophet ("But can he win?" March 13). He is, however, a political candidate from the same mold of candidates that founded this country. The principles of our own republic-life and liberty-are at the foundation of Mr. Keyes's pro-life stand. We've been told that a "big tent" Republican majority is our only hope. Yet, earlier this year, the Senate majority gave away every advantage and allowed our felonious president to escape unscathed. The party mentality has given us moral cowards who talk tough but retreat at the mere mention of an unfavorable poll. Others may throw away their vote for a "winnable" candidate whose political conversion to moral issues ends the day after the election. As for me, if Alan Keyes is on the ballot, he already has my vote. - Michael Irish, Chippewa Falls, Wis.

So much more

I was thrilled to see Alan Keyes on the cover of your March 13 issue. However, I was disappointed with Bob Jones's narrow coverage of this incredible man. True-nothing fires up Alan Keyes more than the issue of abortion. But there is so much more. Mr. Keyes is right on the mark on every issue, from education to Social Security to taxes. Yes, he can win if those who believe in individual responsibility support a man who, although not one of the "front-runners," is not afraid to run the race as God would have him run it. - Debbie White, Wentzville, Mo.

A must-win situation

Thank you for the write-up on Alan Keyes. He is the type of person we sorely need in this time of moral decline. It doesn't bother me that others think he can't win; I believe he must win if we are to salvage this nation from the degradation that both political parties have brought us to. - Rev. John C. Quigley, Kenedy, Texas

Don't fall for it

Your huge headline ("But can he win?") plays into the hands of the liberal Republican strategists who argue that conservative and pro-life issues do not resonate with voters. If they can trick conservatives into withholding support from candidates like Pat Buchanan and Alan Keyes by repeating the mantra, "But can he win?" they will have succeeded in putting down conservatives without having to discuss the issues. And when it is all over, they will say, "Didn't we say no one really cares about the pro-life issues?" But if pro-lifers strongly support candidates with convictions like Mr. Keyes and Mr. Buchanan, though they lose, there will be a powerful message sent. - Jack & Christine Smith, Cherryville, N.C.

Crossover appeal

Alan Keyes not only stands head and shoulders above the other candidates when it comes to oratorical skills, he also brings something new to the arena that no one else has the ability to bring: appeal to many potential crossover Democrats, primarily minorities, who would vote for Mr. Keyes in droves in a general election. It would be a fatal mistake to underestimate the potential of Alan Keyes. - Mrs. Pam Pfenninger, Houston, Texas

An expensive whirlwind

After wearing Levis all my life, I stopped when the company started promoting the homosexual lifestyle ("Slaves of fashion," March 13). Levi-Strauss sowed the wind of supporting sexual immorality. Are they now reaping the whirlwind of lost income? - J.D. Moyers, Littleton, Colo.

Something to celebrate

Not only is the demise of the Levi-Strauss empire "not worth crying over," as Chris Stamper put it, I believe it is something to celebrate. The Levi-Strauss company is an unabashed supporter of homosexual rights. Several years ago, Levi-Strauss pulled its six-figure funding of the Boy Scouts after the Scouts refused to allow avowed homosexuals to become Scout leaders. Might this decline in sales be a result of the boycotting efforts of grassroots organizations? - Salongo Reis-Green, Wales, Wis.

Our own PC police

Your editorial on the culture wars is dead on ("Babylon, USA," March 13). We have ignored true culture by retreating into a purely Christian ghetto. Moving out of it will take self-examination and deep thought about what is and isn't compromise. Here's part of the problem: When a Christian artist creates something not specifically Christian but clearly in line with Christianity, do we praise him or try to drag him back into the fold of the "religiously correct"? Unfortunately, we have our PC police too. - Robert Dunbar, Dixon, Ill.

Keep it up

My wife and I appreciate seeing WORLD in the mail every week, and we always pass it along to fellow believers. You provide such a refreshing contrast to the liberal media. Keep up the good work! Don't let those who cancel their subscriptions discourage you. They're fooling themselves if they think the liberal media will give them unbiased news. - Tommy Cheng, Torrance, Calif.

And don't come back

I have never been so turned off from Republicans since being given your magazine as a gift. Pro-life, pro-Republican, anti-gay, anti-Democrat, anti-this, anti-that-you people have a bad attitude. How do you and some of your readers cope with life? You must be on anti-depressants. The editor obviously has the mentality of control-hungry parents. Threats, power, mind-control, and scare tactics only work in undeveloped countries. If your readers truly enjoy the sound of a broken record and come to the conclusion that the United States is such a terrible and wicked place to live, then I strongly suggest that they get to the nearest airport, get on a plane and leave the country, and don't come back. - Paul Nielsen, Wausau, Wis.

Glad to be back

In 1997 my wife and I returned to the United States after serving as missionaries in the Solomon Islands. After living in a developing nation for nearly 10 years and reading local newspapers where almost anything goes, we were looking forward to reading quality articles written by journalists whose opinions were based on the Judeo-Christian framework. We tried many of the weekly newsmagazines and were disheartened and saddened. That which they believe to be the modern way of thinking is the same as the confused thinking found in animistic cultures. I want to express my appreciation to WORLD for publishing the commentaries by Cal Thomas, Joel Belz, and Marvin Olasky, who write with a concept of truth that is based on biblical truths and absolutes. - Charles E. Dugnolle, Forest City, N.C.

No interest in Hollywood ...

I am having a hard time understanding how in a Christian magazine there are four pages critiquing movies containing lesbianism, profanity, and blasphemy, as well as a picture of an actress dressed immodestly, holding a Bible, and talking about honoring God ("Two cheers," March 13). Doesn't Christ tell Christians to be separate from the world? As Christians we should have no interest in Hollywood or what comes from it. - Joanne Byl, Grand Rapids, Mich.

... or cleavage

My husband and I thoroughly enjoy your magazine but would you please, for the sake of the men who have made a covenant with their eyes not to look upon a woman to lust after her, be more careful to censor the "cleavage content" of your magazine. - Mrs. Vanessa Ventura, Bergenfield, N.J.

They knew

The question of whether a smoker's demise should be blamed on the manufacturer of tobacco or on the consumer's manner of using it ("Smoking guns," March 6) shifts the debate over responsibility into the wrong court. The onus should be on the government's lap for hypocritically permitting the sale and distribution of any product it knows is intrinsically harmful to its citizens. Regulatory accountability is appropriate whenever a clear and present danger is perceived-not 40 years after both the tobacco industry and the FDA knew about it. - Paul Hansen, Westlake Village, Calif.

The bottom line

I am ever amazed at the ludicrous rulings in lawsuits concerning illness and death resulting from smoking. Yes, the tobacco industry is a social evil, but what about personal responsibility? I have never seen a Philip Morris representative force a cigarette into anyone's mouth. The bottom line is human nature. If cigarettes, drugs, alcohol, and such products are available, people will use them; if they are not available, people will find something else. In either case people will always find a way to pass the blame and excuse their actions. Regarding gun control, what if those who had been killed by guns (most of whose deaths are due to illegal activity anyway) had been stabbed to death instead? Look out, Buck Knives! - Buddy Helms, Chetek, Wis.

Caught sleeping

Your column ("Two cheers," March 13) has Pavarotti belting out "Nessun d'Orma" (Nobody from Orma?) rather than "Nessun dorma" (Let no one sleep). Even Homer nodded, they say, and so do writers and proofreaders, obviously. - Walter Bishop, Atlanta, Ga.