Mailbag

Alabama’s chief muckraker

After a complimentary introduction to 1819 News and its work, and Dawson’s commendable journey to salvation and respectability, the story takes an interesting twist. To tell a story is one thing. To wrap it in a Christian context can be tricky. For someone who received a lot of grace and second and third chances in his life (did he get threatened with 384 years of prison for nothing?) Dawson is pretty quick to pull the trigger on someone else, someone who might need some grace himself.

Yes, Copeland obviously did some wrong things. When WORLD’s reporter says that Esquire downplayed Copeland’s offenses, how do those stack up against Dawson’s attempted murder, aggravated robbery, and extortion? Who is going to judge what’s more reprehensible here? And is that the point? All of us can use a little grace. Even if we don’t deserve it. Especially if we don’t deserve it.

In an increasingly polarized environment if we—as fellow sinners—can’t figure out how to give each other enough grace to at least live together, it’s only going to make things more difficult.
     Sam Reid / Issaquah, Wash.

Fighting words

I love the May cover! A Founding Father in his curled wig, a roaring fire crackling behind him, bent with patriotic zeal over his—laptop computer?! The true Spirit of 1776 is alive and well 250 years later. Praise be to God. May we continue looking to divine Providence for help and wisdom both individually and nationally.
      Elizabeth Ramirez / Harrisburg, Pa.

I was amused by the cover drawing of a 1770s Colonial era character in period surroundings sitting in front of a laptop computer. I also had to chuckle at the “Revolutionary reporting” article. Here were more Colonial-era characters, and the majority of them seemed engrossed with their smart phones just like so many today. One ­person is sitting with his back to the group messing with a laptop computer.

Based on what I’ve observed of so many today whose entire existence seems intertwined with their phones to the exclusion of the reality around them, I have to wonder, if such devices had actually existed in the 1770s, if we would not still be a British colony.

I did read the article, by the way, and it was very good.
     Timothy McGowan / Lund, Nev.

Foundational problems?

Erick Erickson says fractures in the MAGA base are greatly exaggerated, and from what I can read, it is not about Trump, but about revitalizing America. There are many folks in my circles who don’t particularly like President Trump but tolerate him and would vote for a third term (if it were possible) because they love the return to the Reagan years. So it will be interesting (and important) to see if they vote in the midterms.
     Howard Eyrich / Director of the DMin program / Birmingham Theological Seminary / Birmingham, Ala.

I was reading Erick Erickson’s story about “the MAGA base,” and I am wondering how he defines MAGA (or how most would define it). I voted for Trump, both times. However, both times I voted for someone else in the primary. I thought he did a great job in his first term, for the most part, but I was troubled by him personally. I don’t appreciate the way he puts people down, how he says such nasty things about people—especially those who oppose him in any way. I could go on, but I guess the point is that I am not a fan of him as a person. Am I MAGA? A Trump supporter? I don’t feel like I am. How are we defining MAGA?
     Martie Vacek / Moline, Ill.

Life in Cuba

Thank you for the article on the beautiful people working/volunteering in Cuba to save babies with meager funds but God’s rich blessings.
     Cheryl Irish / Bastrop, Texas

What a breath of fresh hope, learning of the church’s pro-life work in that unfortunate country!
     Dale E. Brown / Holt, Mich.

A time to dance

I enjoyed reading your article “A time to dance” by Theresa Abell Haynes. I wonder if WORLD is also aware of the traditional form of dance known as “contra dance,” which is family friendly, wholesome, and suitable for a very wide range of ages. In our state, I know of at least three groups who host dances on a monthly basis, with 100 to 150 people attending.

This form of dance has a large appeal to the conservative Christian home­schooling circles that I’m a part of, because you can bring your whole family to the event, socialize with your community, meet like-minded people (including potential spouses!), and join in wholesome dances accompanied by a live band playing traditional folk music.
     Kierah Hines / Bradford, Maine

Lindsey Graham’s repeat performance

Page 18: I always give Sen. Graham the benefit of the doubt and am willing to hear him out on a variety of issues. Seven-and-a-half years ago during the Brett Kavanaugh Supreme Court confirmation hearings, Graham eviscerated the Democrats for their shameless treatment of Kavanaugh. Graham’s comments that day encouraged me to believe there are still those willing to speak truth in Washington, D.C. Graham’s masterclass in calling out “this unethical sham,” as well as his unending pro-life support, has made him a hero in my book. I hope the good people in South Carolina reelect him.
     Cindy Mouw / Holland, Mich.

Carolina Lumetta’s profile on Lindsey Graham lacks both an historical understanding of Southern politics and relies too much on his critics. South Carolina is a small state, with a total population about the size of the Atlanta metropolitan area. Political survival here, and in the South, requires reelection and incumbency, which leads to seniority in Congress. Despite criticism, Graham was the first Republican elected in his third congressional seat since Reconstruction, and he followed Strom Thurmond—a legend in longtime survival. Graham wins because he “gets things done.”

A number of GOP candidates have opposed him from the right, and they have all failed. His power comes because he’s been reelected and has been close to important Republicans in Washington. Seniority epitomizes success, and he’s an influential conservative spokesperson. The article should have referenced the quote from Ben Robertson’s Red Hills and Cotton about the state political culture. “We hated bankers and we hated merchants … they were usurers and thieves, and we fought them ... in our counties, in our state and at every national convention.”
     J. David Woodard / Thurmond Professor of Political Science Emeritus / Clemson University / Clemson, S.C.

The Story of Everything

Bob Brown’s tongue-in-cheek review of The Story of Everything is brilliant! Thanks for the chuckle and also the thoughtful commentary.
     Beverly Jacobson / Monument, Colo.

Time for some tough love?

I read with interest Addie Offereins’ article. One method not explored in the article is the highly successful one running in Austin, Texas, called Community First! Village. The distinctive that makes it work so well is in the name. Housing is important, yes, but not in isolation behind a locked door, as the article points out clearly. The answer is housing ... but with community, which provides the needed support through neighbors from like circumstances and trained staff living among them. Other nonprofits around the country are replicating this model, including the organization I serve, Joppa.org, in Des Moines, Iowa.
     Bill Mech / Des Moines, Iowa

Is the West breaking up?

The tone of Lauren Smyth’s article was Europe good, Trump bad. Left unsaid was that there is a global shift and Europe is increasingly less relevant. Without our support financially and militarily, they would be a shell of what they are. Almost all European countries have become more secular and their governments more progressive. We have an “America First” president, and I am comfortable with him putting us first and giving Europe the cold shoulder. We’ve done too much for them for too long with very little appreciation.
     Kathy Connors / Medina, Wash.

Send letters and comments to:

editor@wng.org
OR
WORLD Mailbag
PO Box 20002
Asheville, NC 28802

Please include full name and address. Letters may be edited to yield brevity and clarity.