I love your attitude problem

Cranky, cranky, cranky-please stay cranky ("Sympathy for the devil," April 20). Seemingly, the people who expect us to "find common ground" when "hit in the face" with truth are not able to handle it, and those who do "polarize" are labeled harsh or unbending. - Don and Kris Rasmussen, Wausau, Wis.

Their master's voice

In "Sympathy for the devil," I applaud the initial stands the two believers took, although I deplore their running away when the heat got turned up. What did they expect? If friendship with the world is enmity toward God, how should we expect to be treated by the world if we are friends with God? Our problems are not due to sinners' behavior; they are just fulfilling their job description of serving their true master. The problems are due to the cowardice of the saints. - Steve Bogen, Lake Stevens, Wash.

Pastors get cranky

Whatever happened to pastors in politics? The whole foundation of our system of government is biblically based, but when our government is challenged, Christians don't get cranky, they get silent. I once thought that middle of the road-compromising, friendly debate-was the way to be. But when you stand in the middle of the road for too long someone will eventually run you down. It's about time we all get cranky. - Steven W. Ulett, Campbell, Calif.

When the going gets tough

Hang in there. Far too few Christians are willing to stick their necks out and speak the truth when the truth isn't very popular. - Eric Jones, Arden, N.C.

The tough get going

"Sympathy for the devil" clearly shows what every Christian parent should know by now: Government schools are thoroughly anti-Christian. That war was over a long time ago and the educrats won. This shouldn't be a direct threat to Christian children, however, because they don't belong in government schools. - J. Michael Brown, Tulsa, Okla.

For funny "funnies"

With all due respect to Johnny Hart, whose comics I enjoy, I'm not sure I am comfortable with pontification in the funny papers (April 20). I let my children read the comics, so I don't want sermonizing, whether from Doonesbury or B.C. I might be offended if I found Dagwood eulogizing Mohammed or Snoopy preaching Mormonism. Let the "funnies" be funny. If an artist wants to preach, let him do it on the editorial page. It's either that or let the comics be a public square of all manner of religious viewpoints. - Tom Welch, Jupiter, Fla.

Let's not pay for it

Why do Christians continue to patronize vendors who laugh at their beliefs? If Christian subscribers cancelled their subscriptions to all Los Angeles Times-affiliated publications and stated their reason for doing so, maybe the Times management would actually notice their declining readership. It is certainly worth a try. - Pat Parker, Los Angeles, Calif.

There ought to be a law

"Rampant foolishness" (April 20) explained that there is a partial role for government: to preserve "law and order." But was government not doing just that by enforcing the law of a democratic society, the Americans with Disabilities Act? "There ought to be a law" is effectively our national motto. Those who would give government an ever-expanding role in society have played an effective rhetorical game by taking Christian concerns and making them into laws. But it is the same game the Pharisees played. Christians will never win that game without speaking the rhetoric of grace more clearly, more compassionately, more often. - Ralph Gillmann, Burke, Va.

Begging the question

Why would anyone even think of formulating "National History Standards" for the teaching of that subject ("History substandards," April 20)? The effort itself goes against the making of history. The question "Why?" appears as soon as you describe your first historical event and necessarily brings out your bias. This is all good and fair (and unavoidable), but the attempt to structure this out of the teaching of history is itself a show of extreme political bias. - Clifton R. Muller, Saint Johnsbury, Vt.

Opening thoughts

The section "Closing Thoughts" lives up to only half the name: It is thought-provoking, but there is nothing "closing" about these pieces. Rather, they are the openings for discussion, attitude adjustments, and actions. Keep on making your readers think; it's good for us. - Marlene Gardner, Columbia, Pa.