Truman defeats Clinton

It seems to me that if President Clinton had chosen Harry Truman as his role model instead of Jack Kennedy, he wouldn't be in the predicament in which he finds himself today ("Do we love the rascal?" Feb. 6). Truman stated, referring to an appointee who was a terrible disappointment, "He'd use his office for his own enrichment, he's not true to his wife (and a man not honorable in his marital relations is not usually honorable in any other). He'd sell out me or anyone else he's associated with for his own gain." That is a scary scenario when we remember that the president swore before God and men that he would uphold, defend, and protect the Constitution. Perhaps Mr. Clinton is showing us where most of the country stands when it comes to fulfilling our vows to our spouses. Is the reason Mr. Clinton's ratings are higher than ever because we have so many adulterers in the general population? - Joyce Meyer, Jamison, Pa.

Ticket balancer

It's nice to read the news without personal attacks on the House managers or Republicans in general. The derogatory remarks made in the other news media are extremely biased: criticizing how Henry Hyde walks, how big Paula Jones's nose is, etc. I have been so proud of the conduct of the House managers and other Republicans in Congress. I have also been proud of Democrats in Congress who have not stooped to personal ridicule and petty remarks having nothing to do with the trial at hand. - Virginia H. DuBose, Albion, Calif.

Let the polls decide?

Clinton's attorneys and those opposed to impeachment quote the polls as reason not to convict. However, if we are to follow the polls, why then is there no legislation outlawing partial-birth abortions (with 80 percent disapproval of the practice)? - John C. Ward, Akron, Ohio

We deserve him

President Clinton and the Senate remind me that ever since the time of the book of Judges (about 3,500 years ago), people usually get the kind of leaders they deserve. - Glenn Tuley, Melbourne, Fla.

Support the moral

I enjoyed "Wandering in the desert," about The Prince of Egypt (Feb. 6). As a youth minister, it concerns me that more Christians would go to the movies and support Titanic rather than The Prince of Egypt, which Hollywood spent $100 million to make. We need to wake up as Christians and support the "moral" and not the "immoral." - Dean Paul Pryor, Hagerstown, Md.

Mixed feelings

I find it strange that you declare The Prince of Egypt to be a box-office "bust" when it has earned nearly $200 million worldwide, among the highest grosses ever for a non-Disney animated picture. Still, it would have done even better if we evangelicals had been a little less picky about minor flaws. We complain that there are so few good, wholesome, God-glorifying movies out there. Yet when a major studio takes great pains to produce an enjoyable, technically dazzling film that treats God with reverence and respect, and that even directs viewers to the Bible for the full story, it seems all we can do is find fault. After this, I fear that Hollywood might write off the evangelical market as being more trouble than it's worth. - Glen Hoge, Pikesville, Md.

Correcting the record

Gene Edward Veith did a great job recapping The Prince of Egypt and its spinoff merchandise. However, he misspelled the name of the music group dc Talk as DC Talk. Also, Mr. Veith wrote that dc Talk, in its version of "My Deliver" is "one of the few artists and spinoffs to stress the way in which Moses points ahead to Christ," and then he quoted the lyrics from the song: "Moses heard the whole world cry/For the healing that would flow/from God's own scars." Mr. Veith's observation is commendable and is certainly not incorrect; however, "My Deliver" was written by the late Rich Mullins, and as the song is preserved on The Jesus Record (Mullins's last album) the song lyrics read: "... Jesus heard the whole world cry/For the healing that would flow/from His own scars." What Mr. Veith missed in his article is that the original version of the song, which is about Jesus and not Moses, was changed (by either dc Talk or someone in authority over the "Inspirational" Prince of Egypt album) to become more adaptable to the context of the movie. While changing the lyrics of songs is an accepted practice, the change in the lyrics (toward Moses and away from Jesus) of this song seems to reflect some of the conciliatory efforts that went into the making of the movie, the albums, and the books. - Scott Dilley, Danville, Ky.

In the company of giants

I would like to thank Mr. Olasky for his encouraging column, "Never, ever give up" (Feb. 6). The day before I read this essay, I remarked to my 18-month-old son, "I don't know what kind of world you're going to grow up in." I must admit that I find myself extremely troubled and saddened at the state of our union. Mr. Olasky's column reminded me that I indeed have much for which I am to be thankful to God and to these men in the Congress who did their duty. By God's grace, may history regard them with honor. - J. Darren Duke, Camden, Ark.

Right on

I am writing to tell you how much I enjoy reading your magazine every week. I want to refer especially to your recent editorial, "Never, ever give up." You are right on the money with your reference to Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, the six lessons, and your recognition of the perseverance of Henry Hyde, Lindsey Graham, Asa Hutchinson, and the others. Thank you for a quality magazine that does not cater to the whims of popular opinion. I appreciate knowing where you stand each week, and using your magazine as a way to get the "real news." I devour your magazine when I get it here at school, because while I am at home on breaks, I have to wait in line to read it-first my father gets it, then my brothers, and if I'm lucky enough to locate it by then, I get to read. Needless to say, WORLD is very popular with my family. - Heidi Goehner, Seattle Pacific University

Johnson pride

I have lived in Greeneville, Tenn., for 16 years and have never sensed any amount of shame in this "hilly little hamlet" about Andrew Johnson due to his impeachment. Perhaps you should view the locally produced His Faith Never Wavered, which portrays AJ as one of the greatest presidents. It has been shown on national TV. We take a lot of pride in our former president. I bank at Andrew Johnson Bank, play golf at Andrew Johnson Golf Course, drive on Andrew Johnson Highway, and drive often by the larger-than-life bronze statue of AJ in the middle of town. - Cole Wells, Greeneville, Tenn.

Lots of pride

To say that Greeneville, Tenn., pop. 15,000, is a "hilly little hamlet" with "few obvious signs of civic pride" makes me wonder: Did Mr. Maynard miss the $15 million restored hotel and new convention center a block from the Andrew Johnson Visitor's Center? Or the new chapel that First Presbyterian Church is building across the street? Mr. Maynard's point about the lack of signs pointing to the visitor's center once you get off the highway is well taken, and his facts about Greeneville's most famous former alderman, mayor, legislator, governor (and military governor), U.S. representative, senator, and president are right. Where he missed the mark most, though, is in not talking to enough people in this pleasant, busy town to find that most of us are proud of Johnson. Many lobbied hard to get the state of Tennessee to finally put up a statue of him a few years ago. It's a duplicate of the one in Greeneville. - Tom Yancey, Greeneville, Tenn.

Hold the dough

Thank you for your article about stem cell research. I was shocked to read that aborted fetuses are being used for this study. Our news media is so biased that I doubt we ever hear what is true. - Gretchen Kessler, Germansville, Pa.

Don't stop

I find your magazine extremely biased and one-sided, and if it ever stops being that way I'm going to cancel my subscription! - Kerry Dougan, Dominican Republic

Thank you

You have an excellent magazine, with many thought-provoking articles, columns, and editorials. The insights often really make me sit back and think. Keep up the good work! - Larry Barker, Anaheim, Calif.

Cutting ties

Because of the steady decay of television programming and its ability to imprison the mind, I've been wanting to ditch my set for years-only granting it a reprieve until I could find some other way to stay up on current events. WORLD has allowed me to cut off that last remaining tie, by reporting with objectivity not just mainstream news but also issues (i.e., ecumenism and abortion) that are important to me. The color displayed in your articles is refreshing, while their conservative view is reassuring. I particularly appreciate the way you inform readers on major topics in a truly stand-up fashion. I'm ecstatic to be a WORLD subscriber. - Curtis Donaldson, England