Fundamentally agreed

The quote from CAIR's Hussam Ayloush caught my attention ("Truth or CAIR?" March 22). Just as secular fundamentalists attack Christians for creating an "atmosphere of hate" with regard to homosexuality, so too Muslims seem to be using the same rhetoric when Christians speak on Islam. It's not Christian fundamentalists and Muslim fundamentalists who are closely related; rather, Muslim fundamentalists and secular fundamentalists both demand that only their ways be followed, and both demand that opponents be silenced by whatever means necessary. - Paul Hair, Dillsburg, Pa.

Bob Jones's expose of CAIR was informative but hardly surprising. The biggest mistake Christians could make is to think that Islam is just like Christianity, only with different customs and another name for God. The Quran portrays a deity that is radically different than the God of the Judeo-Christian Scriptures. - George C. Hammond, Round Hill, Va.

Thank you for your eye-opening piece "Truth or CAIR?" This group, to me, is using a lot of smoke and mirrors. The truth is that Muslim fundamentalists have committed and continue to commit devastating acts of terrorism against our country and others in the name of their prophet. Gene Youngblood stated that Islam is "horrifying" and "dangerous." By their denials and silence and secrecy, CAIR hasn't shown us otherwise. - Michael A. Ritter, Anson, Maine

Pastor Youngblood is inflaming the situation, not shedding light on it. As a result, rational discourse between people of good will suffers, and those with ill-will take advantage of it. His approach is too similar to a recent reference to Muhammad as a pedophile-lots of heat, but no progress toward a solution. - James Banks, Buffalo Grove, Ill.

You state that the worst instance of anti-Muslim violence was in Yorba Linda, Calif., where an "18-year-old Arab man was attacked by 20 assailants wielding knives and baseball bats as they shouted obscenities and religious epithets." While it is true that a young man of Arab ancestry was viciously beaten, students from the area claim that it was an arranged fight between two groups of students. The case is still under investigation and no motive has been reported. - Alan Amavisca, Placentia, Calif.

Nothing personal

Thank you for "A little less condescension" (March 22). My wife and I are missionaries in Romania. A friend and I just returned from a driving trip to England across several European countries. We found everyone we came across in every country to be warm, friendly, and helpful. We experienced no anti-American sentiment at all. I would agree that the average European is not at all like the mainstream American media tend to characterize them. It is all in our attitude; when you respond to people in humility and respect, they tend to respond in kind. - Shane Herman, Bucharest, Romania

I heartily agree with "A little less condescension." What I remember most about backpacking across Europe years ago is the warmth and friendliness of the people I met. These people were angry with the U.S. government at the time for its foreign policies, but they did not take it out on me personally. - Joseph Gates, Mt. Prospect, Ill.

Freedom gone

"Repression made in China" (March 22) was great. I guess we knew this was coming. Say goodbye to a "free" Hong Kong. - Bill Adams, Savannah, Ga.

Moved by Tears

I saw Tears of the Sun this weekend ("Tears of the left," March 22). Whether or not the film is a box-office hit or failure, or if the liberal media liked it, I was profoundly moved by the moral choices presented in the film, especially in light of the current turmoil swirling around the war against Iraq. Do we, as Americans, have a moral obligation to help others? As Elie Wiesel said in his 1986 Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech, "Our lives no longer belong to us alone; they belong to all those who need us desperately." - Lindy Denton, LaGrange, Ind.

Hot topic

Because a vibrant faith in Christ will always be a hot media topic, we say "Kudos" to Joel Rosenberg (Flash Traffic, March 22). Praise God for a president who loves, honors, and worships our holy God. - Don & Kris Rasmussen, Schofield, Wis.

Barry Lynn of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State argued that the presidency is a "secular" job. If Mr. Lynn had his way, perhaps there would never be a Christian lawyer, judge, CEO, doctor, or congressman. I am proud to have a president who not only begins his day before his Creator to seek wisdom and guidance but is also not afraid to tell the world that he does. - M. Camp, Fort Myers, Fla.

Psyched

Andree Seu offers beautiful, brilliant descriptions of a winter wonderland in her column "Snowstorm psychology" (March 22). - Joni Halpin, Allen, Texas

Imagine that

Imagine my surprise when my mom said to me, "Did you know [PGA golfer] David Duval has vertigo?" Well, of course I knew that, but how did she acquire access to such important news? WORLD magazine ("Around the horn," March 22). I am sure you will catch some criticism from those who believe that anything that appeals to the masses must be inherently evil, but I think it is great. - Elizabeth Cole, Bristol, Va.

Deals with evil

Once again someone upset with one of your articles wrote that she was "quite upset" by an illustration of a D&C abortion and canceled her subscription. She has the right to do that, and, yes, the illustrations are gruesome, but abortions happen several thousand times per day and people need to know what they are so their righteous indignation can stop them. I'm so grateful for a newsweekly that deals with evil and tells the truth. I've given WORLD to over 50 people over the last few years. - Meredith Berg, Hudson, Wis.

Virtuous reality

Kudos to Susan Olasky on her excellent interview of Paul Theroux ("'Agents of virtue,'" March 15). It is good to see a review of his latest book with an analysis of its strengths and weaknesses. It was especially helpful to read his remarks about what turns him off about Christians, particularly his belief that people are innocent, not sinners, and that we are arrogant if we preach the gospel of salvation. I have had similar responses to my letters to the editor of our local paper. - Pamela Kae Ewing, Winthrop, Wash.

"'Agents of virtue'" reminded me of my teaching experience in Nepal. As the class and I were out for a hike we passed a bulldozer, worth perhaps $200,000, rusting on the side of a road. I mentioned how sad it was to see such an expensive piece of equipment going to waste. One of my students responded, "Why should we fix it? The next people will just bring another new one." - Ben Hungerford, Milwaukie, Ore.

A time to think

It was heartening to read "'Ultimate reality'" (March 15) and to see concepts like "hell" and "the wrath of God" discussed as realities themselves. While, as a pastor, these are not favorite topics of mine, these are nonetheless necessary topics. Recently, when I taught our youth on the need to be prepared for the afterlife, some of them asked me to stop because the discussion was unsettling to them. Yes, it's unsettling, but ignoring it doesn't mean it goes away. - Kent Scantlin, Fort Wayne, Ind.