Tasty but expensive

"Why Grey matters" (March 17) was excellent. I recently watched a couple of episodes to see what all the fuss was about. The compelling storylines, hospital drama, and interwoven relationships are all very alluring. Underneath, though, was an agenda regarding marriage, life and death, and homosexual relationships. We should not swallow a compelling story at the cost of such values being infiltrated into our lives. -Savannah Stroud; Lenoir City, Tenn.

I sadly admit I watched the first two seasons before I was strongly convicted about my attitude, which was that it was OK to watch it as long as I didn't behave like that. We Christians are to set our minds on that which is pure and holy, and there is little purity or holiness in this show. I hope this article will convict others to turn off such obvious secularism. -Leslie Mailloux; Dayton, Ohio

Your issue highlighting Grey's Anatomy arrived last Thursday, the day I reached the end of my tolerance for the show's utter moral bankruptcy. I knew from the first episode I saw that the self-absorbed, ethically challenged characters and storylines were not worth my time. But, like gazing at a train wreck, one can get sucked in to see just how bad it will get. Is it any wonder the show is No. 1? I usually enjoy Marvin Olasky's perspectives, but this time I think he tries to put lipstick on a pig. -Diane Ecklund; Grand Rapids, Mich.

Because of your coverage of Grey's Anatomy, my wife and I decided to view it. It took 15 minutes to be convinced that this is not appropriate viewing. We were very disappointed that you devoted so much space to it. -Winsor E. Larter; Rochester, N.Y.

Playing with souls

The interview with theologian and pacifist Stanley Hauerwas ("A playful mind," March 17) was interesting more because of what he did not say than what he did say. He spent more time re-phrasing or dodging the questions than answering them. He sounded more like a politician than a theologian, which is probably why Time magazine had such high praise for him. -Michael C. Morris; Athens, Ga.

I find Hauerwas' description of the meaning of Christ's death and resurrection troubling. Jesus did not refuse to defend Himself because violence is always wrong (see His response to the moneychangers) but because it was His mission to die for our salvation. -Helen Moulton; Tucson, Ariz.

Hauerwas' "playful" use of language is inconsistent with his preference for working-class authenticity. Working-class people do not traffic in fancy twists of meaning. Jesus was authentic when He told Pilate, "I came . . . to testify to the truth." It is upper-middle-class types like Pilate, Bill Clinton, and Hauerwas who prefer to play games with words. He had better beware; he is also playing with souls. -Mark L. Psiaki; Brooktondale, N.Y.

Know the price

How ironic that Marvin Olasky's interview with Stanley Hauerwas appears just a few pages away from "Wounded warriors" (March 17), telling of courageous and patriotic Marines who have sacrificed greatly to ensure the liberty of Hauerwas to espouse his views while living in a free nation. For all his intelligence and theologizing, Hauerwas doesn't seem to understand that others fighting, bleeding, and, yes, sometimes dying is the price of his liberty. -Eric Scheidhauer; St. Louis, Mo.

The "Wounded warriors" piece was a breath of fresh air after all of the negative press regarding the debacle at the Walter Reed military hospital. I only hope that the 19 million who are so taken by Grey's Anatomy and the well-intentioned but misguided educators of "Some assemblies required" (March 17) understand that their pleasures, behavior, bias, and freedom are bought by soldiers who have a sense of duty, honor, and country. God bless and protect our troops and our commander in chief. -Bill Russell; Brighton, Mich.

Thank you for "Wounded warriors." My son, a Marine, was almost killed in a suicide bombing in the Al Anbar province last summer. He spent five weeks at the Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. The medical care there was excellent. -Pam White; Colorado Springs, Colo.

Not just hymnody

I've often enjoyed Andrée Seu's columns, but "Dependence day" (March 17) touched me deeply at a time when I really needed it. "Prone to wander" is not just from our pious hymnody. It's reality for not-yet-glorified followers of Christ. -Ed Schick; Washington, Mich.

Good thing

James Cameron should consider himself blessed to be an American. He has produced a documentary on The Lost Tomb of Jesus ("Truth wins out," March 17), an attack at the root of the Christian faith, and he has lived to see its premiere. It seems to me that were he a Middle Eastern director making a film trying to debunk Muhammad, he'd likely have been killed by now. -Stefan A.D. Bucek; San Jose, Calif.

Normally, I'm grateful for the reviews of pop-culture media and have no objection to the use of cultural vernacular in such reviews. But, "scientists have Jesus' back"? I'm sure our Almighty Lord is ever so relieved. -Katalin H. Korossy; Kensington, Md.

Application gap

"Standing in the God gap" (March 17) raises the question of how so many people who claim to believe that the Bible is "accurate in all the principles it teaches" identify themselves with the Democratic Party, whose platform and actions are openly hostile to biblical principles. I can only conclude that many Christians are not applying their faith to their politics. -Christa Spangle; Moon Township, Pa.

More than hypocrisy

I loved the cartoon of Al Gore leaving his private jet for his stretch limousine (The Buzz, March 17). There is more than hypocrisy at work here; Gore is also truth-challenged. -Robert Morris; Atlanta, Ga.

Charmed

You wrote that Wild Hogs ("Hog tied," March 17) "has none of the charm of similar-themed City Slickers." I must not have any knowledge of the Midwest and what life is like in the real world. This movie made me laugh till I cried. It was certainly not as bad as you made it seem. -Tammy M. Fosse; Henning, Minn.

Inconsistent?

Some Democrats are worried about children's self-esteem because of being overweight, even though it is hard on the body ("F is for fat," March 10). I don't understand how they think-no need to tell girls about the physical and mental effects of abortion, but don't give kids the idea that they are overweight. -Shane Anders; Riverside, Calif.

Schools are already doing vision testing, hearing testing, and scoliosis screening. If you accept that any of this is appropriate for a government school (I'm conflicted), Body Mass Index reporting makes a lot of sense. -Stuart Fraley; Indianapolis, Ind.

Self-demonized

I find it ironic that American Islamic leaders complain of misrepresentation in the pamphlets Kamil Solomon handed out to Enloe High School students, "but declined to point out specific factual errors" ("Free speech fight," March 10). They can't point out any errors because the charges are true. The Quran promotes violence against wives, non-Muslims, and fellow Muslims who disagree. Islam demonizes itself. -Irving E. Friedman; Irvine, Calif.

Beacon of ministry

Amidst the seemingly overwhelming and never-ending news items that tear at our hope and security (death wishes of Islam, petty and putrid political games, all-consuming sports and media), a small item stood out like a beacon in the night. It was about the passing of biblical scholar Bruce Metzger ("Man knows not his time," March 3). Since his birth in 1914, he probably read of similar news countless times, yet he spent his time and energy translating and teaching God's Word. His life is a great reminder to praise God, for He has already won the victory. -Arlene Eldridge; Mililani, Hawaii

Correction

In Acts 20, Eutychus fell out the window in Troas ("'Amen!' 'Preach it!'" March 3, p. 47).