Mailbag

Socialism’s salesman

I wish this excellent cover story had made New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s anti-Semitism an apt case-in-point for the cultural Marxism mentioned in the article. Mamdani condemned the brutal Hamas murder of 1,200 people, mostly Jews, on Oct. 7, 2023, as a “war crime.” But he then immediately parroted Hamas’ call for a ceasefire, then labelled Israel’s counterattack as “Gaza genocide,” and announced that if Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu ever came to New York City, he, Mamdani, would arrest him as under warrant by the UN’s International Court.

Finally, on March 9 of this year Mamdani broke his end-of-Ramadan fast by inviting Palestinian grad student Mahmoud Khalid to dinner at the mayor’s mansion. An immigration judge has ordered Khalid’s deportation because he argued on behalf of the violent pro-Hamas protesters at Columbia University who harassed Jewish students. Khalid has appealed his deportation. Conclusion: While Mamdani’s socialism no doubt appeals to many Jews in New York City, this largest Jewish community outside of Israel should not rest easy while pro-Hamas Mamdani runs the city.
     Howard R. Killion, Ph.D. / Oceanside, Calif.

Contrary to what Emma Freire writes, the Pilgrims did not try “to start a socialist utopia.” They were merely following the agreement with their sponsors, the “Merchant Adventurers.” It was not improved ideology, but real-world consequences, that made them give up their sponsors’ scheme. There is no evidence that they, or anyone else in the Puritan movement, were ever socialist or communist.
     Robert Hellam / Seaside, Calif.

Mayor Mamdani’s mission is not to make “socialism great again” but to advance Islam in our nation. On March 10, he held the Ramadan iftar (fast-breaking meal) in the Blue Room of the New York City Hall. There were prayer rugs on the marble floor and Quranic recitations, and “Allahu Akbar” was heard throughout the halls. This was a declaration heard across the world that Islam is claiming New York City, the “premier city” and “gateway” to the USA. Islamic tenets are not compatible with our Constitution, especially our Bill of Rights.

The election of Mamdani is an invitation to Islam and its worldview, to join it and to continue its advance. It may be too late to redeem our nation, unless the true church is awakened from its slumber and sees what is happening. We thank the Lord for His sovereignty in all areas, and pray for our churches to be bold.
     Mrs. Brian Hebda / Bridgewater, Mass.

Mamdani’s mission to make socialism great again

I was dismayed by the wording on the cover page of WORLD’s April issue that implied socialism was once great. Socialism has never been great except for those in charge. Certainly not for the people. That said, I thoroughly enjoy WORLD and look forward to each issue.
     Larry Daugherty / Lenexa, Kan.

The red background against the face of New York City Mayor Mamdani is ­perfectly fitting. Socialism has never worked … same dog, different fleas. The best example today is Cuba. George Santayana’s quote says it all: “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
     Randy Crews / Spokane, Wash.

How can you make socialism great again when it has never been great anywhere in the world before?
     Brian Coleman / Landenberg, Pa.

I have been a very satisfied customer of your magazine for a good number of years. However, I must take issue with the cover about Mamdani’s mission to make socialism great again. Socialism, and its close ally communism, have all been attempted many, many times over history. Socialism has never been great! And, it never will be ever!
     Carroll Weyrich / Hot Springs Village, Ark.

Moving beyond MAGA

The “Principles First Summit” sounds like a load of disgruntled mediocrity, while President Trump and his Cabinet are hard at work making sure America continues as a sovereign nation. “Principles First” sounds like a misnomer, perhaps to lure the idealistic conservative Christian voter into what sounds like is actually a left-leaning camp—Logis “describes himself as ‘center-left’ on some cultural issues,” and isn’t that just a euphemism for pro-gay marriage and pro-abortion?

Virginian Karen Hilliard says she “had been voting Republican for four decades, thinking that character matters … family values and all that.” So she voted for Joe Biden in 2020 and Kamala Harris in 2024?! Those are the poster children for character and family values? Remind me how Kamala climbed the political ladder?

May the Vance quoted in your article absolutely eat his words about the midterm elections. Western civilization is at stake, and now, when the pendulum has been dragged to the radical left until it is like a stretched-out spring that can’t find its original shape, is not the time to “settle down” in the “middle.” The current middle is a left that has disarmed America so that our enemies think they can take over without a (military) shot fired because they have infiltrated all of our institutions.
     Marsha Epstein / Tacoma, Wash.

What those leading the Principles First movement don’t seem to understand is that when you vote for a presidential candidate, you aren’t voting for one person. You are actually voting for thousands of federal positions throughout every federal government department.

The choice, then, is whether you want thousands of far-left progressives or thousands of conservatives running every aspect of the federal government. As we now know thanks to the DOJ report, under Biden, there was an attack on Christians and Christianity at every level. This is in addition to federal support for trans ideology in schools, abortion promotion, an open border letting in 15 million illegal immigrants, and so forth.

Donald Trump has big flaws, we all see that. But compared to the demonic ideology of leftist progressives, Trump was the obvious and only choice for those of us who have a biblical worldview.
     Gary A. Brown / Edmond, Okla.

What is TrumpRx?

Maybe part of the reason prescription medications cost more in the United States than in other wealthy countries is that the United States is only one of two countries (New Zealand being the other) that allows pharma­ceutical companies to advertise directly to the potential patient. I’m pretty con­fident that the cost of advertising is figured into the cost of the drugs. Why are the consumers/patients footing the bill for drug companies to advertise drugs that can only be prescribed by a physician?

Primetime ads cost big money. Eliminating the ability to advertise to consumers should cut a big chunk out of Big Pharma’s advertising budget, thus lowering the cost of drugs.
     Beverly Parrish / League City, Texas

Kids deserve better

I have long been convinced that before any government entity takes action of any kind, it should be required to consider the impact on children. This applies to local libraries, state governments, Congress, the Supreme Court, and so forth.
     Russell Guetschow / Vicksburg, Mich.

Entertainment goes vertical

Before reading Bekah Bernhardt’s article, I had never heard of micro dramas. Since learning more, I am sickened at the prospect of this growing market. What a waste of intelligence and knowledge, spending time on this type of junk. The phrase “amusing ourselves to death” comes to mind, and good money is wasted on micro dramas, money that could be used for dozens of better things. As Christians, we are called to be salt and light to a lost world. How do these micro dramas fit into that calling?
     Jackie Lentz / Edisto Island, S.C.

Reality crisis

How good to know in any crisis, “even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you” (Psalm 139:12). Nothing is too hidden for God, even AI.
     Roy D. Hall / Diboll, Texas

Correction

Colorectal cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths for Americans under age 50 (“Deadly diagnosis,” May, p. 17).

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