Mailbag

"Tea Party transit" (Nov. 20)

I enjoyed the article but would feel much better if Tea Party organizer Danita Kilcullen, instead of saying that we will not let new Tea Party lawmakers forget that we are their "boss," had indicated that we are ready with our prayers and support to fortify them against the immense pressure they will face in the Capitol. Getting them elected is only the first step; now we must enable them to do the work. Bill Conger; Mount Vernon, Wash.

"Grown up honesty" (Nov. 20)

I appreciated Joel Belz's comments about what's wrong with an entitlement attitude and his willingness to sacrifice for the system. We will all need to tighten our belts for "the greater good," and soon. But here's my rub: We send billions (not including disaster aid) abroad to support other nations. How can we ask our own elderly to sacrifice? Why not cut back on foreign aid, too? Greg Barger; Columbia, Md.

If we had 40 million more people in the system paying Social Security tax, there would be no problem. We are now hearing the "silent scream" of abortion and have to deal with it as a society. We could pass immigration reform, to get more people paying into the system, and help change the culture of death to one of life by encouraging and supporting families. But will we? Probably not. Lee Iden; Morristown, N.J.

I am going through my own personal tug of war as I plan to retire in a few months myself. I am most grateful to have Social Security, yet angst-ridden over receiving it at the same time! My Midwestern work ethic tells me I should keep working full-time at my current job, but my heart seems to be telling me that God now has something else for me to do. Dar Ingwerson; Raymond, Miss.

"Uncle Sam" needs to tell the truth: Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid are Ponzi schemes. Let's say it clearly: Get the government out of the business of socialism. It is up to us to save for our retirement, our health bills, and our food. M.D. Frank; Park Ridge, Ill.

It's easy for Joel Belz to say he could give up such a large percentage of his Social Security benefit. Most of us get far less than $1,000 per month. My husband and I paid into the system for 45 years and get less than $1,500 combined, and we have no other income. Ron & Sue Killingsworth; Mooringsport, La.

"Deeds done in darkness" (Nov. 20)

Articles like this one challenge the American church to repent of its self-centered, comfort-driven lifestyle as we consider the lives of our brothers and sisters in other nations. The testimony of their lives is a much-needed corrective to our easy Christianity. Tim Stiemann; Houston, Texas

While in Kabul some time ago, I asked a female humanitarian volunteer if Afghanistan was getting better. Would democracy and freedom eventually somehow ooze out of this mess, as Western embassies fantasized? And what of her safety? "It's going to come to the shedding of blood," she told me quietly. "And I'm willing for that blood to be mine." Since then more than one v­olunteer I've met has paid the ultimate price. Will Sayed Musa be next? How can this happen in a country whose justice system American taxpayers are funding? Jeanette Windle; Lancaster, Pa.

I was shocked to find that, apart from religious news services, the persecution of Christians in Afghanistan is going grossly unnoticed by the Western press. Thank you for opening our eyes to the persecution brothers and sisters in Christ are facing, and going where our nation's press is not. Courtney Searcy; Hendersonville, Tenn.

"Overcoming evil" (Nov. 20)

As a children's librarian and blogger, I related to Janie B. Cheaney's column. In a recent post I criticized a pro-homosexual novelist who thinks that children's books are a wonderful way to educate people about the normalcy of all human experience. The post received 1,500 hits and 70 venomous comments from Christians and non-Christians alike, clamoring for tolerance-except, of course, when it comes to people like me. Lauren De Vries; Pittsfield, Ill.

"Climbing the Hill" (Nov. 20)

I was very disappointed to see that you left Todd Young, who defeated a Blue Dog Democrat in Indiana's 9th congressional district, off your list of new faces to watch. Our family worked on his campaign, and I look forward to seeing him take on Washington. He's a former Marine and won't back down! Debbie Woolsey; Jeffersonville, Ind.

"Adoption obstacles" (Nov. 20)

Thank you for acknowledging that there is an international orphan crisis. Our family was in the process of adopting from Nepal when adoptions from that country were suspended. You cannot imagine the grief and shock. Because our government says they don't have the right paperwork, these children will likely spend the rest of their childhood in an orphanage. Some say we need more people to come forward to adopt, but there are so many families with broken hearts because of failed adoptions or long waits. Something is wrong with the system. Lisa Welling; Goshen, Ind.

"Real life" (Nov. 20)

Although we haven't yet seen Secretariat, we probably will in the near future, having read Andrée Seu's review. She did a masterful job defending a film that doesn't promote wickedness. Goodness knows, there are already plenty of those out there. Let Salon defend those and leave the good, the pure, and the lovely ones alone. Roger & Vicki Gorman; Gladstone, Ore.

"Blue bloods" (Nov. 20)

For those of us over 50, Tom Selleck is reason enough to watch this well-done police drama. This show, NCIS, and NCIS-LA, are television shows I can enjoy without compromising my worldview. Way to go, CBS. Margaret Ishikawa; Okinawa, Japan

"Getting over Brett" (Nov. 20)

Shame on you for picking on our quarterback, Brett Favre. He has done a remarkable job for our Minnesota Vikings and given us countless thrills while playing through pain. Many of his interceptions have not been his fault. We love him. Byron Lindaman; Ogilvie, Minn.

"Asteroid insurance" (Nov. 20)

In 1994 I led the Planetary Defense Panel at the Air War College in Montgomery, Ala., so I read this article with great interest. We concluded that it was "not if but when" a near-Earth object would hit. There was a NEO event in 1908 over the forested areas of Siberia that, had it happened three hours later, would have devastated Europe. Only the USA has the total technical capability to lead a planetary defense strategy, but all nations should join to ensure the survival of life on Earth. Victor P. Budura Jr., Colonel USAF (ret); Huntsville, Ala.

"Oil from a rock" (Nov. 20)

You mention the vast amount of water needed to ramp up the "in situ" process for extracting oil from the shale in the Rocky Mountain states, but not that so much water is nonexistent on the western slope. As well, the process would need new power plants, which take years to permit, plan, and build. Meanwhile we're knee-deep in natural gas. Why not adapt cars to run on what we have in abundance? Jim Walters; Littleton, Colo.

"'We will fight you'" (Nov. 20)

If Christians at the University of California-Irvine spoke that way about homosexuals, abortionists, or Muslims, it would be labeled "hate speech." It saddens me that a state-funded university allows on campus a Muslim group that supports terrorist organizations. Excellent news reporting. Stacy Landry; Saybrook, Ill.

"Finders keepers" (Nov. 20)

WORLD reported that Graham Barker prefers to keep a low profile on his belly-button lint collection. I, for one, would feel just a little better today if WORLD had respected those wishes. The description was unpleasant enough, but to include a photo was decidedly barfalicious. Jeremy Freed; Gridley, Ill.