‘Ready for reform’

May 27 A “case of beer, a bucket of change, and two fireworks” did not change the course of Cody McCary’s life. It was his decision to commit a felony. Now he is sad because he still has a record? What did he think would happen? —Doug Hjellen / Mill Creek, Wash.

‘New convictions’

May 27 As a longtime minister at a local jail, I think that our prisons are so full partly because criminals know they’ll usually serve less than half their sentence. —Ernest Smith / Leesburg, Ga.

‘Warfare vs. “lawfare”’

May 27 What a great way to demoralize the troops. They’re already facing an enemy that wears no uniform, and now they’re risking murder charges from their own commanders. The soldiers have to think twice and that could cost the lives of fellow soldiers. Why would anyone want to put themselves into that position? —Doris Heyns / Whiting, N.J.

Military lawyers are not our “enemy” and to compare them to “jihadists” and “infiltrators” is just wrong. They too have sacrificed and risked much to protect the Constitution. Lawyers make a convenient target, but accountability lies with the commanders, who convene the courts and approve convictions and sentences. —Porter Harlow on wng.org

I’m glad my time in the military is over, and I’m distraught over the patriots who are suffering under the zeal of lawyers looking for another notch on their belt. —Andy Smith / Knoxville, Tenn.

WORLD has a knack for investigating issues that no one else does. As a former Marine, I can relate to this story and am saddened by the treatment of our combat troops. It reminds me of the civilians from afar calling the shots in Vietnam. —Paul Matlock / Pagosa Springs, Colo.

‘Standing with the bulls’

May 27 Janie B. Cheaney’s analysis of the “Fearless Girl” statue cut to the heart of the issue: The Lord designed men and women to be biologically and psychologically different. And like all creation, there’s beauty and purpose in that design; why fight it? —Jeff S. Mitchell / Banning, Calif.

I see in the statue a plucky gal ready to rise to the challenge of whatever life throws at her. Cheaney raises some valid concerns, but I think we could do with a bit more of that kind of feminine strength. —Laura Weieneth on wng.org

Cheaney’s observation that a real girl wouldn’t stand a chance against a bull reminded me of Rachel Corrie, who was killed posturing in front of an Israeli bulldozer in 2003. Posturing has never been associated with common sense. —Dave Dahlke / Port Orchard, Wash.

‘Baffling bins’

May 27 I always enjoy Andrée Seu Peterson’s columns, but this one made me laugh out loud. She is so like me! Does she have troubles decoding laundry labels too? —Janis Viren / Billings, Mont.

The scandal of recycling is that janitors do pretty much whatever they want. If they reason, for example, that white paper will make the incineration process more efficient, they throw it in the dumpster with a clear conscience. —David Dileas on wng.org

“God got His commandments down to 10.” What an awesome line. If only the politicians could get our taxes down to 10 percent. —Janet Seagraves on wng.org

‘A world without gospel’

May 27 I enjoyed Sophia Lee’s biting review of The Handmaid’s Tale. It reminded me of a sermon I heard on 2 Peter; we must not go easy on false prophets. —Paul Weinbrenner / Vancouver, Wash.

I am amazed that the women’s rights movement has so little concern about moderate Islam, which represses women, but fears Christianity, which liberates women. —Pete Johnson on wng.org

If our society is unable to distinguish between the true gospel and a false gospel, we should consider how we might be misrepresenting the true gospel, and how we can help our neighbors better understand it. —Sarah Ramos / Grapevine, Texas

‘How does the church move the world?’

May 27 People who pray for their enemies, as those Christians in Iraq do, show that they believe their God is great. Thank you for the inspiration. —Henry Harvey / Memphis, Tenn.

I sign up with Mindy Belz to pray for the enemy. —Ruth Zellers / Cosby, Tenn.

‘Battle ready’

May 27 I appreciate this article on ministries to military members. A missionary like these reached me for the Lord in my early Army days, and his encouragement and discipleship guided me to seminary. —Matthew Tubbs on wng.org

‘Setting boundaries’

May 27 Hear, hear to Emily Belz’s article about slowing down an activist Supreme Court. Conservatives are not going to be in power forever. —John Kloosterman on wng.org

‘Storm stories’

May 27 Government bureaucrats have been beating the drum on climate change for decades to further their regulatory policies and agenda. —Randy Crews on wng.org

‘Not by bread alone’

May 27 Thank you for this detailed and heartbreaking story about Skid Row in Los Angeles. Someone I love works here, and this story is so very true. —Laurie Strumpfer Motz on Facebook

‘Trauma-filled city’

May 13 I was disappointed that this article didn’t mention fatherlessness as a major factor in the violence in Baltimore. We have incentivized fatherlessness through our welfare system. Boys growing up without a dad’s positive influence are far more likely to be prey for gangs and spend their lives in and out of prison. We need to expose this cruelty of society, not repeat platitudes about the need for better community policing. —John Ronning / Baltimore, Md.

By the Numbers

May 13 I found it ironic and shocking that Americans spent more on Easter candy ($2.6 billion) than the $2.1 billion the United Nations estimates famine relief will cost this year for 17 million people in Yemen. Many Americans have their priorities upside-down. —Chris Bennett / Charleston, S.C.

More letters, emails, and comments we didn't have space for in the print edition:

‘New convictions’

May 27 | Perhaps the United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world in part because inmates in other countries serving time for similar crimes would simply be executed. Also, prisons in many countries involve harsh conditions and even torture, so citizens there would fear time in prison more than they do here. —Larry Reader / Cumberland, Ky.

‘Standing with the bulls’

May 27 | Thank you for your insightful analysis. Cheaney’s statement about the roles of men and women reminds us that, as Genesis 3 shows, when men don’t take the lead and protect women, women will take the lead. —William J. Caldwell / Seneca, S.C.

‘How does the church move the world?’

May 27 | Thank you for this reminder of Christ’s mandate to pray for our enemies, and to do good for them. —Barbie Earthman on Facebook

‘Bad words’

April 29 | I am often saddened by the foul language Christian folks increasingly use, especially in my boomer generation. My pastoral urging to avoid such language and use words seasoned with grace usually goes unheeded. —Greg Carlson / Allegan, Mich.

‘Suffer the children’

April 15 | Thank you for the coverage of transgenderism. I have many close friends who are struggling with this issue. It's so hard to find a source that isn't pro-transgender but can also look at these individuals with love, understanding that they desperately need God. —Luke Blough / Windsor, Conn.