Mailbag

Doubting readers

I don't want to hide my head in the sand regarding the criticisms of President Bush expressed in "Doubts about 'W'" (Feb. 14). However, regarding government spending, does anyone think a Democratic president would spend less? On moral issues, the president has spoken out clearly for life issues and against same-sex marriage. Every one of the Democratic candidates, and especially John Kerry, is solidly pro-abortion and weak on marriage. Turning to a third-party candidate or staying home in protest will send a Democrat to the White House in November.

-Elsie P. Palmer, Wayne, N.J.

If Joel Belz and his "tepid" friends really want another tax-and-spend, womanizing coward in the White House, they are going about it the right way: sitting on their hands and complaining about spending. That issue can be resolved-and should be-but to give aid and comfort to the Democrats' shortsighted desire to leave the Middle East with our tails between our legs, the way we left Vietnam, is appalling.

-Alzina Stone Dale

Chicago, Ill.

I, too, find my support for President Bush wavering. For a conservative to push a liberal domestic agenda in hopes of buying enough votes to get reelected does not show the moral backbone, courageous leadership, or probity of a candidate worth supporting.

-Ron Weber

Bartonville, Texas

I have to agree, unfortunately, with Joel Belz about the tepid support for Mr. Bush. The most damaging thing is the deficit-going to back to huge deficits is not what I expected or wanted from this administration.

-Bill Gensky

Bryan, Texas

Joel Belz is right on target.

-Ray Engel

Salem, Ore.

I read with dismay Joel Belz's survey of 50 people reacting to President Bush. Was this one of Mr. Belz's unscientific surveys at Wal-Mart or were these his friends? If the latter, my strong recommendation is that he get some new friends.

I've always argued that Christian leaders should never make partisan endorsements, so I won't. But I can say that all my friends are on their knees daily praying fervently for the president. What they have in mind are judges, abortion, gay marriage, a strong stand against radical Islam and terrorism, Sudan, sexual trafficking, prison rape, jobs for ex-inmates. Would you like me to continue? I must say that I too spend a lot of time saying nonpartisan prayers for the president, for his continued Christian witness, and for the success of his policies for the good of the country. Try my friends next time.

-Chuck Colson

Washington, D.C.

Anyone who describes President Bush's stance on abortion as "wishy-washy" needs to take another look at his record. President Bush signed into law the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act and the Born-Alive Infants Protection Act, and supports other major pro-life legislation pending in Congress. He also eliminated federal funds for embryo research and reinstated the Mexico City Policy. George W. Bush has accomplished more for the cause of life than any president since Roe vs. Wade, and I will be proud to vote for him in 2004.

-Lisa Bode

Hamilton, Va.

That Mr. Bush is the most conservative candidate likely to win in November puts conservatives in a pickle. I find it disturbing that he would set aside conservative principles for a better chance of election.

-Abigail Johnson

Powhatan, Va.

Baylor's new blood

Great news on the developments at Baylor University ("Baptist brawl," Feb. 14). May Mr. Sloan have the courage to stay the course to make lasting and meaningful changes.

-Carl T. Martin

McDonald, Pa.

It's not at all shocking that Baylor constantly has battles within its ranks. Baylor's nonaccountability reflects both the hazards and benefits of autonomy. A form of church discipline needs to be upheld and enforced within both the SBC's churches and educational institutions.

-Neil Horlock

Broken Arrow, Okla.

I attended Baylor under Herbert Reynolds and was very disillusioned by the lack of Christian worldview in the classes on the Waco campus. The best thing for Baylor would be for Mr. Reynolds and his followers to be courageous and leave. Meanwhile, having recently attended Baylor's Winter Preview for prospective students with my daughter, I am greatly encouraged by the "new blood" among the faculty and the decision to no longer forgo Christianity for the sake of education.

-Donna Hunt

Ovilla, Texas

Herbert Reynolds's "two spheres" theory seems to borrow less from Luther's "two kingdoms" than from Stephen Jay Gould's "Nonoverlapping magisteria," in which science deals with objective reality and religion deals with subjective feelings. If religion does not deal with objective reality, one wonders why any sane person would bother with it. For the evangelical Christian the idea is anathema. The God of Abraham is the God of history, science, art, letters, and every field of human inquiry. I wish Mr. Sloan well in his Baylor 2012 program.

-Bill Hensley

Sugar Land, Texas

Cultural sewage

We brought our TV in from storage in the shed to watch the Super Bowl ("The Super Bowl of online punditry," Feb. 14). An old acquaintance was playing. We and our young sons turned it off during every commercial and ate a late dinner during halftime. Can you imagine our relief the next day when we heard about what went on during the halftime show?

-Dr. & Mrs. Scott Costa

Waterville, Vt.

Eleven years ago, after Michael Jackson's disgusting crotch-grab during halftime at Super Bowl XXVII, there was no cry of outrage. Fast-forward to the final few seconds of Halftime XXXVIII, and all pandemonium has broken loose. Janet Jackson fired a TV breast-shot seen around the world, without which the debauched bumping-and-grinding, crotch-grabbing, cultural open sewer that flowed for 20 minutes before the "wardrobe failure" would have been perceived as normal. Out of bad, good may come.

-Peter Kushkowski

Haddam, Conn.

Rushing to evil

When a high court decides that the state must call homosexual partnerships "marriage," it has imposed a fundamental change on society ("May in Massachusetts," Feb. 14). The grand tradition of marriage, legally recognized and safeguarded for centuries, now needs protection from judges rushing to subvert it.

-Robert Woodrow

Arlington, Texas

Speak up

As a former active-duty Arabic linguist, I can confirm the insights shared by Andree Seu ("Intel outside," Feb. 14). Human intelligence is our Achilles heel in most of the world's hot spots and is likely to remain so for years to come. The armed forces train Foreign Area Officers in Urdu, Pashtu, Arabic, and Farsi, but they, along with a few Special Forces team members and a smattering of seminarians, are a meager offering for so vast a mission. My hope is that 9/11 served as this generation's Sputnik, and that training in those unglamorous but vital tongues appeals to a new generation of Johnny Mike Spanns.

-Brad O'Brien

Killeen, Texas