Knee-deeper?

I was both amused and pleased when I saw the title of Mindy Belz's article on Kosovo. "Knee deep in the big muddy" (May 8) is from a song written by Pete Seeger in protest to the Vietnam War. It is about soldiers who are led deeper and deeper into a dangerous river by a reckless leader, and concludes with, "Every time I read the papers that old feeling comes on.... We're waist deep in the Big Muddy and the big fool says to push on." Only time will tell whether this will apply to the conflict now. God help us. - Larry Davis, Marietta, Ga.

Tension

I was impressed by the number of letters printed in the latest issue of WORLD (Mailbag, May 15) opposing your practice of reviewing secular movies and rock musicians. I appreciate WORLD's Christian worldview but I do not want to influence my young teenage children with the reviews. Therefore, I tear out the pages containing the movie and music reviews before allowing my children to read WORLD. Since it creates a tension in the minds of my children, I will likely allow my current subscription to expire without a thought of renewing. - Mark Lyons, Greenville, S.C.

Be informed

I am thankful for the film reviews in WORLD. I don't always agree with them but I think Christians need to be informed about such a powerful propaganda tool as the cinema. - Steve White, Bloomington, Ind.

Ostrich?

I am very appreciative of the entertainment review section. Apparently, this column is quite controversial. As a parent, I am thankful to have an additional screener so that I may better evaluate the "opportunities" which entice my children. We cannot afford to stick our heads in the sand while our kids walk the road to Hollywood alone. - Mary Flinn, Austin, Texas

No swimming

The writers taking you to task for your movie and book reviews are quite correct to believe that the culture is, overall, a sewer. However, you're not advocating that we take a swim in that sewer. Instead, you help keep us informed of cultural issues so that we can avoid Hollywood's moral pollution. - Michele Reboulet, O'Fallon, Ill.

Balance required

I think it is necessary to be informed about what Satan is doing in this world. Otherwise, how can we know how best to combat it? There must be a balance between taking in too much junk and hiding in a hole. - Brian Schwartz, Wichita, Kan.

All too governmental

In All Too Human, George Stephanopoulos reveals his struggle with honesty and ambition ("Tribute and confession," May 8). Despite being the son of a Greek Orthodox priest, he also reveals how he has substituted the supremacy of government for the supremacy of God. - John C. Simmins, Lake City, Colo.

Double drivel

Your article "Double dribble" in the May 8 issue could have been called "Double drivel," what with the quotes from Marilyn Manson and the unnamed MGM spokesman. One pollutes the culture and denies responsibility for contributing to its problems (Manson); the other pollutes the culture and then says it is doing the responsible thing by trying to clean it up (MGM). - Steve Young, Germantown, Md.

Delight in the Psalms

Your recent articles on the Psalms have been a delight ("Our daily Psalms," "Covenant promises," May 8). The Bay Psalm Book was so quick to be published because of the heart-felt conviction that they needed this accurately translated song book to worship their God and Savior. May God grant us such a heart. - Mark Goerner, New Hartford, N.Y.

Babel again

Joel Belz's "Our daily Psalms" powerfully showed us how the Puritans needed and created a "reliable reference point" for the comprehension and expression of their faith with the publication of the Bay Psalm Book. What with the diversity of reference points among evangelicals today, I can't help feeling that an age of spiritual Babel is upon us. - Peter Kushkowski, Haddam, Conn.

Quote of the times

I was distressed to read what Howard Stern said about the Columbine murderers ("A shock too far," May 8). It is a bad sign of the times when someone can even whisper these terribly godless words without fear. - Hugh Henry, Roswell, Ga.

The Clinton approach

It was sad to see World Vision taking the Bill Clinton approach in responding to criticism ("Stonewalling, Inc.," April 24). - Robert Persons, Waynesville, N.C.

Pointers

Regarding the articles by Mr. Belz and Ms. Cheaney ("Good cop, bad cop," "Babel's tower," May 1), together these pieces sum up the reasons for the trouble I have accepting our nation's involvement in the bombing of Yugoslavia. Mr. Belz points out the irony of our President's amoral behavior in light of his "moral imperative" to punish Mr. Milosevic. Ms. Cheaney points our eyes toward heaven for the solution to the evil of ethnic hatred. - Ted Leininger, Greenville, Miss.

Real news

Thank you for reporting the news as it is and not watering it down. Keep up the good work and report the good, the bad, and the ugly. - Laura Owen, Nashville, Tenn.

Speaking volumes

Coming from a generation that is often spoken of as self-centered and unwilling to bear any sort of hardship, those young men and women of Columbine High who risked and even gave their lives in shielding classmates and holding open exits to allow for escape speaks volumes about the true character of some youth when push comes to shove ("Faith at gunpoint," May 8). If Cassie Bernall had suffered the fatal bullet because of an affirmation of the benefits of abortion or lesbianism, rather than faith in God, there would be no end to the outrage, not to mention media coverage, of special-interest groups touting the need for protective laws and speech restrictions. Strangely, when it comes to persecuting Christians, these outlets are silent. - Luke Gelinas, Dartmouth, Mass.

Non-crumbling

Thank you for the story of Cassie, the teenage martyr. Let my generation take into account her death and how she was able to boldly proclaim the name of God. Let us strive to have a fear of God that is so great that we would not crumble when our faith is tested. - Kerry Lundelius, 18, Fort Worth, Texas

Outraged, then amazed

I was amazed by the story of Cassie Bernall and how she came to Christ. At first I was outraged when I read the story about her death; after finishing the article I realized when a great example she was. And Edward Plowman did a wonderful job of showing how the slain students' lives could lead others to Christ. - Jonathan Horne, 14, Woodstock, Ga.

No surprise

I don't think we should be surprised at the events of Columbine High, or Paducah, or Springfield, or the Franklin pizza murders. What should surprise us is that a just God would spare us from further epidemics. - Roger N. Frey, Sparta, N.J.

Rarely tested

Thank you for the article on Cassie Bernall. When I heard about the shooting I was slightly upset and thought, "This was prophesied to happen in the Bible, oh well ..." Later, upon hearing the tale of Ms.Bernall, I, a 46-year-old black firefighter who has seen death multiple times in my 22-year career, could not stop the tears. Such faith is often talked about but rarely publicly tested. I pray that when the time comes I too can find the strength to answer that Jesus is my Savior. - Herman Cook, Dartmouth, Mass.