Winston-Salem Journal LTE TU 03/06/12

Franklin Graham serves

The Journal's Feb. 27 reprint of the Charlotte Observer editorial criticizing Franklin Graham for "intolerance" ("Franklin Graham's troubling words,") is another illustration of how much the definition of tolerance has been broadened. No longer is it simply respect for another's beliefs, but everyone is expected to accept those beliefs as truth and even to promote those beliefs. The Lord Jesus Christ proclaimed, "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through me" (John 14:6). Would you call him "intolerant"?

Franklin Graham founded Samaritan's Purse. That organization, supported by Christians, provides millions of dollars in supplies and volunteers throughout the world, as well as to storm-ravaged areas in the United States. Many different faiths, including Islam, are predominant in the countries it serves. Samaritan's Purse has drilled dozens of wells in drought-stricken areas of Africa. The Christmas "shoe-box ministry" reaches millions of children around the world every year. That is part of what Christians (saved sinners, Ephesians 2: 8-9) do in love and gratitude to our savior. Yet it is Christian beliefs and practices that are criticized and restricted — not Islam, the Eastern religions, humanism or atheism.

Franklin Graham is following in the steps of his father, helping people who are suffering and promoting the biblical worldview. The apostle Paul expressed it well in Romans 1:16: "I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is in the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes."

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CHARLES H. KING JR.

Winston-Salem

Teachers' hands tied

Well, here we go again: Another teacher in hot water because of an altercation with a student ("Teacher faces assault charge," March 1). The mean old teacher picking on a little student — I don't think so. Has it ever occurred to anyone that the pressure these teachers are under is incredible? If they so much as look at a student wrong they could be accused of almost anything; and we think they should be perfect. I propose that the cause is our liberal society, which has tied the hands of school authorities because we think that little Johnny and Susie need to be allowed to express themselves.

When I was in school, if you were caught running or chewing gum you would get a paddling. Believe me, I got my share, and it never hurt my self-esteem one bit. We need to stop tying the hands of our teachers and administrators and let them take back control of our schools. Will we ever wake up and see things are getting worse?

The teacher shouldn't have pushed the desk against the student, but I bet if they (the students) didn't think they could get away with anything, it wouldn't have happened. Our children are not always in the right, and sometimes they need to be punished.

Oh yeah, a simple cellphone jammer in each class would solve the problem with students and phones in class. I will buy the first one.

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DUANE EVANS

Pfafftown

Where the Journal stands

The paper editorialized recently that "Our position on the political spectrum is, we believe, where most people are — in the middle, guided not by party rhetoric but by reason and common sense" ("Growing unaffiliated numbers healthy," Feb. 27). This statement was apparently meant to disassociate the paper from any particular political position.

But this statement is itself not logical. There is no accepted standard against which the level of "reason and common sense" in discussing public matters can be judged. "Reason and common sense" is much like beauty — it is in the eye of the beholder. Everyone, no matter where he is positioned on the political spectrum, believes his point of view is supported by reason and common sense. The tea-party people believe it, the socialists, the liberals, the conservatives, the extremists. No one would say, "My position is guided by party rhetoric and not by reason and common sense." And so, logically, no one can validly claim exclusive rights to "reason and common sense."

The Journal is, as you claim, in the middle of the political spectrum. But the middle is vast, and it has a midpoint. Everyone to the left of the midpoint tends to be more or less liberal, and everyone to the right tends to be more or less conservative. The Journal is somewhat liberal. In contrast, The Wall Street Journal is somewhat conservative. Neither are extremists. Both are on the political spectrum, and both share the middle of it, as do the people who share their viewpoints.

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HERBERT OSMON

Winston-Salem