Mail Call Looking For Guidance In Turbulent Time

Reconciling God and War

Thank you for your boldness in writing about our president’s faith in your March 10 cover story (“Bush and God”). I respect a man who is willing to allow the world to see him bow his head in search of divine wisdom and strength. I admire our president for realizing he was on the wrong path during his youth, admitting his error and repenting. The Biblical truth of salvation lies in humility, and President Bush has that. We must stand united behind the institution of the presidency and pray daily for wisdom from God. Calvin B. Biggers San Diego, Calif.

The description of an American president convinced that he is answering God’s call is frightening. Our constitutional separation of church and state is the reason we have avoided the horrors of religious strife suffered in so many countries. I don’t care what religious dogma the president chooses as a private person, but America does not need its own ayatollah. Marilyn Goodman Yaphank, N.Y.

As a Christian attempting to center my life on Biblical truth, I cannot believe that the United States is “chosen by God” to attack Iraq. Christians are meant to apply Bible study toward eradicating evil within their own souls, not as ammunition to confront any evil they perceive in others. Chapter 12 of Paul’s letter to the Romans admonishes us to feed our enemies and leave any punishment to God. Jesus teaches us to love our neighbors as ourselves, then extends that to include enemies. If Muslim Iraqis are equally beloved as any of God’s other children, how can I support a war that would kill multitudes of my siblings in God’s kingdom? Elizabeth McCullough Farmington Hills, Mich.

Thank you for your in-depth review of President Bush and his life-in-action testimony of faith and convictions. It appears that Edmund Burke’s quote in one of your movie reviews was inserted into the wrong article. It should have been used in the “Sin of Pride” editorial that cites Bush’s conviction as a problem. The quote, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing,” reveals that passivity is the true sin. Mickie Kittinger Westminster, Calif.

As a member of the united Methodist church, I appreciate your reference to George W. Bush’s affiliation with our denomination. His views and mine serve as an example of how two Christians can have different interpretations of the will of God. While I do agree with our president’s belief that Christians are called on to fight evil, I believe that Jesus clearly teaches us to not fight evil with evil. I believe Jesus would deal with Iraq by breaking bread, not drop-ping bombs. Duane DeBruler Suwannee, Ga.

We can leave it to god to judge whether George W. Bush’s much-promoted faith is genuine or just politically expedient, but I am regularly driven to my knees in prayer when I consider his big-talk, little-do compassion; his ravaging of our land for corporate profit; his looting of the federal Treasury for generations to come for the benefit of his rich friends, and his misguided foreign policy. As long as Bush is in office, heaven help us all. Steve Parsons Greeneville, Tenn.

What Martin E. Marty describes as George Bush’s “Sin of Pride” stems in fact from Bush’s having looked into the eyes of the family members of 9-11 victims and vowing he would take the steps necessary to keep such a tragedy from ever happening again. Nowhere in Marty’s article is there a condemnation of Saddam Hussein’s sins of torture and oppression or of his execution of dissidents. Moreover, Marty seems to suggest that the United States needs another catastrophic event to further humble it. While the United States certainly has its share of problems and sins, solely focusing on our failings in this context totally ignores the diabolical nature of the threats we face, namely an enemy intent on our destruction. Dale A. Kopas Washington Township, N.J.

Neither the arguments of the pope, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Christian leaders in this country, nor those of men like John Glenn and Norman Schwarzkopf, nor massive worldwide demonstrations against a war in Iraq can move the mind of one who believes he enjoys a personal relationship with God. Osama bin Laden is similarly blessed. Like Bush, he is fully convinced that his God guides him, speaks to him and blesses his decisions. May God save us from the tyranny of extreme religious fundamentalism. John Clague Gates Mills, Ohio

As a Christian I am saddened to see President Bush and much of the Republican Party attempt to advance a political agenda that is cloaked in a distorted populist image of Jesus Christ. Jesus never advocated economic incentives that favor the wealthy at the expense of the poor. Jesus also did not advocate war as a means of resolving disputes. He was the personification of nonviolence and peace, and he called for honesty and humility in one’s service to God. The Bush presidency is so far from this ideal that it makes me wonder how so many “Christians” can be so naive –about their own faith that they fail to see the gross deceptions of President Bush. While pandering to the Christian electorate to win votes, Bush offers only platitudes in place of genuine Christian love and service. We have come to a time in American politics where Jesus and God are routinely used for political advantage. This is the greatest sin of all. Walt Kramel Milwaukee, Wis.

Bush does not think he is doing God’s work. He thinks he is God. Louis D. Rice Livingston, Texas

Some 3,000 years ago king Solomon asked God for wisdom and “a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong,” and he was lauded as a great king. President Bush does the same thing and is roundly criticized. God help this country and President Bush. Jean Forster Danvers, Mass.

Your cover story on President Bush’s faith was interesting and enlightening, but it overlooked the most obvious contradiction in the faith Bush professes. While governor of Texas, Bush presided over 152 executions. You cannot be a Christian and be an advocate of the death penalty–the two are mutually exclusive. Greg Branch Saginaw, Mich.

It appears that George W. Bush has traded the numbing effects of liquor for those of the Lord. Times such as these require a clear-thinking leader, one who is not inebriated by Jack Daniels or by Jesus Christ. Gary Earle Santa Barbara, Calif.

In 2000, when the then Vice President Al Gore announced Joseph Lieberman as his vice presidential running mate, many expressed concern about Senator Lieberman’s strong identification with Judaism and that his frequent mention of God had no place in politics. Ironic, isn’t it, that President Bush continually addresses national and international audiences of different faiths with endless Christian references and imagery. Beth Hirschfield Chicago, Ill.

It’s reassuring to know that we have a leader who is unabashed in his belief in God and who has the courage to follow that belief. Your article makes it appear as if “God” is a dirty word and that the president’s frequent use of it is cause for concern. I would be much more concerned if the difficult decisions he must make were devoid of any moral considerations. Roger Borrello Plantation, Fla.

As a priest for more than 40 years, I have yet to encounter the God who counsels, with certitude, pre-emptive slaughter in the name of peace. If President Bush’s God is the real God, I’m not too sure I want to go where God is. William J. O’Malley, S.J. Bronx, N.Y.

I have many friends and loved ones in Kuwait anxiously awaiting to defend our country. Now with war imminent, I have never been more grateful that their future lies within the hands of George W. Bush and our Almighty God. Kathryn L. Taylor Richmond, Va.

Bush’s faith may have saved him, but his religious zeal is going to waste countless lives in a war with Iraq. What value does that kind of religion have? Nan Lewis Los Angeles, Calif.

President Bush seems to be rewriting the Gospel. What Jesus said was “Put your sword back in its place, for all who draw the sword will die by the sword” (Matt. 26:52). Let us take a holy risk and resolutely continue the weapons inspections. Jay Martin San Francisco, Calif.

As George Bush sincerely seeks the direction of the Providence of God, in the light of his Christian faith, I wish someone would give him this thought for his prayerful consideration. The crusading Richard the Lion-Hearted never came close to consideration for sainthood, and nobody would suggest that today. From that period of history, sainthood went to Francis of Assisi, who opposed those Crusades. George Paul Mocko Bishop emeritus, Delaware-Maryland Synod Lutheran Church in America Baltimore, Md.

It’s Not About the Oil

In “Blood, Oil and Iraq” (March 10), Michael Hirsh does an outstanding job of pointing out the common-sense rebuttals to the oil-conspiracy theory. Like Hirsh, I think that the United States could acquire Iraq’s oil just by swinging a deal rather than through a devastating and expensive war. I believe that President Bush knows that Saddam is a brutal tyrant and that there is increasing reason to believe that if left in place he will target the United States through funding and encouraging terrorism. Our president is trying to prevent this situation from occurring in the name of world peace alone. Nothing more, nothing less. Michael A. Chadwick Sequim, Wash.

Michael Hirsh dismisses the blood-for-oil accusation as illogical because the overall costs of the war “will far outweigh” the benefits of access to Iraq’s oil. His argument, however, is based on the naive view that Americans will equally share the burdens and benefits of a war. On the contrary, it is middle-class Americans whose hard-earned tax dollars will be paying for the war and the ballooning deficit, and it will overwhelmingly be our family members who will die fighting. Those standing to gain the most are Bush’s cronies in the oil industry. One need only look at the president’s recent tax-cut proposal for proof that burdening the middle class for the sake of big business is a price that Bush is more than willing to pay. Suzanne Watson Ephrata, Pa.

The Dreary World of the Temp

Brilliant, hilarious and so very true was Michael Rybicki’s insight in “Temporary Worker, Permanent Loser?” (My Turn, March 10). I have temped several times over the past few years and I wholeheartedly concur that the humbling experience of being a temp bites. It fascinates me how often “the fine folks running the temp agency” shade the truth, make ridiculous mistakes with directions and generally have a patronizing tone with us temps. William Chris Bagby Kansas City, Mo.

It sounds to me like Michael Rybicki should return to his staffing service and demand his money back for unsatisfactory service. Except that that service was provided at absolutely no cost to him, has given him ample opportunity to showcase his talents to many different companies, has allowed him to gain knowledge and experience in a variety of different settings, and has provided him income in a time of need. Mike Elliott Waco, Texas

Michael Rybicki’s essay clarifies the disconnected and heartless nature of our corporate-centered economic system, reminding us that for a vast number of people, the system fails. The practice of hiring “temp” employees, who are paid as low as possible, have no job security, benefits or vacation time to speak of, is a systemic and inevitable symptom of corporate-based capitalism in overdrive, where the measure of “financial health” has nothing to do with the well-being of the average citizen and everything to do with the profit-garnishing of the wealthy elite. Temps are a rapidly growing class of workers who are immediately vulnerable to fluctuations in the economy, and function, as Rybicki points out, to keep wages low and worker insecurity high, regardless of current market conditions. Bethania Palma Irvine, Calif.

As a former temporary employee who now owns a staffing company, I have a good understanding of the industry’s problems and benefits. It is important to understand that Michael Rybicki’s experience is not representative of the hundreds of employees we place on a weekly basis, most of whom are working toward permanent employment. My employees are respected and valued for the contribution they make to a company’s success, and my company works hard to assist them by providing job readiness and computer training and resume-writing assistance. We offer full benefits, including health insurance, holiday and vacation pay, and a 401(k) plan. It is true that our industry is not without flaws, but Rybicki’s article is inaccurate and misleading. Jeff McKeown Racine, Wis.

Early Preemie Intervention

“Preemies Grow Up” (March 10) hails the advances in early intervention that have greatly improved the odds for babies born prematurely. However, a disproportionate number of preemies are born to families who simply do not have the knowledge they need to obtain these services. As the executive director of a social-service agency that serves children with severe disabilities, I see children every day who were born prematurely and did not receive the right services early on. Very often, parents think their children will “grow out of” the difficulties that appear in infancy. In fact, early problems related to prematurity can turn into nightmares in early childhood. It is incumbent upon hospitals and clinics, especially those in rural or low-resourced areas, to educate parents about how and where to seek these services. Arlene Goldsmith New Alternatives for Children New York, N.Y.

So Long, Good Neighbor

I would like to add my “thank you” to the many I am sure you have received for your tribute to Fred Rogers (“Everybody’s Next-Door Neighbor,” March 10). His show helped me parent my three sons on topics ranging from bad dreams to expressing emotions constructively. I could trust him to offer my children 30 minutes of TV viewing without their being blindsided by some media-hyped inappropriate interlude. The inclusion of his tribute in the “Bush and God” issue offers the true picture of how a “man of God” conducts himself toward humanity. Debra Sue Bruce Ft. Collins, Colo.

An Authentic American Art Form

I hope your article “The Keys to the Future” (March 10) helps inform the public about and gets them interested in jazz, a true American art. Jazz is the melting pot of music and needs media like NEWSWEEK to help Americans appreciate what is good in their country. If only people would spend their dollars on live music or art and less time worrying about the rich man’s war, this world would be a better place to live. Steve Myerson Wayne, N.J.

title: “Mail Call Looking For Guidance In Turbulent Time” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-15” author: “Lauren Murray”