Paying enough

Thanks for the sidebar, "Another view on vouchers," with your cover article on vouchers ("Voucher kids," May 15). As a homeschooling family with four children, we see vouchers as just another form of government redistribution of wealth, taking from one group of people to give to another. We don't want our homeschooling to be subsidized by the taxpayer, nor do we want to pay double for our children's education, both for taxes and homeschool curriculum. The basic problem is that government is involved with education at all. For the first 200 years of our country's history, education was carried out, in one form or another, by the private sector, and it achieved a remarkably high literacy rate. - John Hargrove, Redmond, Ore.

Another way

I, too, am concerned about government strings attached to vouchers, and that's why I believe in another alternative: education tax credits. This allows a family to divert their tax dollars to the school of their choice before the government claims it. - Michael Chapman, Eden Prairie, Minn.

True success

Asking that "handful of thoughtful Christian leaders for brief responses" to the question of Christians and politics was a great idea ("Blinded by might?" May 15). I greatly appreciate those who realize that there is no failure in a faithful life, inside or outside of the Beltway. - Rodney Boone, Holden, Mo.

A serious stand

I was encouraged by "Blinded by might?" I am considering the political realm myself and I am dismayed by some of the responses I get from Christian friends, like, "You'd have to become a crook," or, "What good would it do?" Government isn't our god, but we must continue to fight for what is right and take a serious stand for Christian values in every avenue of life, including politics. - Rachel Beach, Somerset, Ken.

Real revival

Essentially, I would agree with Mr. Dobson and Mr. Thomas ("Cal Thomas & Ed Dobson respond," May 15) and probably go further. In our circles it is easier to fellowship about politics than things of the Spirit, or visit with the unsaved about the mess in Washington than present the gospel. Revival is not manifest when more pro-lifers are elected to public office or poll results show increasing concern over moral issues. Revival only happens when believers return to God and when unbelievers turn to God, and that will not be accomplished by a Christian president, Congress, or Supreme Court. - Dean Fitzsimmons, Westbrook, Minn.

Extending ministry

I strongly disagree with Mr. Thomas and Mr. Dobson that churches should not be a place for political action. I am an associate pastor of a Southern Baptist Church and am also an elected, Republican member of the local county Board of Education. I view my political service as an extension of my ministry. - G. Shawn Fargerson, Toney, Ala.

A simple point

I think Mr. Thomas and Mr. Dobson were trying to make a simple point: The problems that America is experiencing are not political but spiritual, and the solutions are not political but spiritual. - Austin G. Abercrombie, Ft. Mill, S.C.

Applies to everything

I could not have been more disheartened to read the advice offered by Cal Thomas and Ed Dobson. To call for silent pulpits on moral issues which are not "closely tied to the Bible" suggests that we shouldn't search the Scriptures for everything because some things aren't related to them-but the Bible addresses every area of life, including civil government. - Sarah N. Zes, St. Louis, Mo.

Screaming from the pulpits

Our ministers should be screaming from their pulpits about the evils of this administration and what this corrupt government has done to our citizens, our culture, and to other peoples in the world. - Rick Kowalski, Franksville, Wis.

Like Robinson Crusoe

The evangelical subculture has often been castigated for doing what Mr. Weyrich suggests: creating a separate set of institutions-"islands of sanity, of goodness, of Christian living" ("Creating a new society," May 15). But if we love those islands too much, we end up having the same impact as Robinson Crusoe: living for years alone, unable to touch any other men in need of God. - Michelle Van Loon, Waukesha, Wis.

Self-deception

Regarding "Creating a new society": Until we desire the mature, self-denying spirituality of our forefathers, we are deceiving ourselves to think that this approach will have any more impact on society than the political route. - Mike McMillan, Duncanville, Texas

Too far

I like to play first-person games ("First-person shooters," May 15) but I do agree that some of those games just go too far, such as Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain, where you take on the role of a vampire. - Adam Fluegeman, Columbia Heights, Minn.

Nukem option

Regarding Duke Nukem 3D, while there may be some inappropriate content along the lines of gore, foul language, and the occasional stripper, a parental lock that comes with the game filters out almost all of this. - Chris Shilts, 17, Westminster, Md.

Twisting and tweaking

I appreciated your article on the NBC miniseries Noah's Ark ("NBC sinks the ark," May 15). Producer Robert Halmi took "poetic license" to twist and tweak the biblical text almost beyond recognition. The most troubling thing to me is that God was portrayed as an indecisive, elusive, dependent, and all too "human" being who eventually came to the conclusion that "I need humans as much as they need Me." - John Zimmerman, Allentown, Pa.

It's a start

Before everyone starts complaining about the inaccuracies of Noah's Ark, let's be thankful the secular world is even considering a biblical topic. I, too, had to catch myself yelling, "Not true, not true," but at least God, righteousness, sin, and judgment were mentioned. That they didn't get it completely right is no wonder. Also, watching this movie motivated my kids and me to look up the real story in the Bible to compare and contrast. Realizing that Noah and his family spent an entire year in the ark made me think that maybe they did get on each other's nerves. - Deborah A. Mackall, Pasadena, Md.

The only way

I would remind the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) minister complaining that the Columbine memorial service "was not inclusive to all faith communities" (The No-Comment Zone, May 15) that Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." - Vern DeWolf, Dixon, Calif.

Go Dole

I was appalled at your article about Elizabeth Dole and gun control in your May 15 issue ("Doling out restrictions"). She deserves praise for supporting the ban of assault weapons. - Anna Weaver, Mt. Airy, Md.

Unsurprised

I believe J. Budziszewski hits the nail on the head in the article, "The wrong question" (May 15). Indeed, how could it not happen? It was not easy to read the description of a partial-birth abortion, especially as I cradle my 12-week-old blessing in my arms, but it echoed a conversation my husband and I had just days ago. When we teach our children that it's OK to murder a completely helpless infant, how can we be surprised at what comes next? Thank you for your magazine and for not being afraid to speak the truth. - Karen Snyder, Chebanse, Ill.

Top concern

Thanks very much for the "Massacre post-mortem" (May 15). Chiapas, Mexico, may not be everyone's top concern, but it became mine this season when my twin sister served there with Christian Peacemaker Teams. As I sift a baffling spectrum of information, I appreciate the vision and integrity of WORLD, which made the conflict a little less obscure. - Sue C. Wheeler, Lansing, Mich.