Letters - Letter to the Editor

National Review, Dec 31, 2002

--In Michael Potemra's review of Norman Podhoretz's new book ("Voices of the One God," Dec. 9), we learn that Mr. Podhoretz claims that Isaiah was not predicting the coming of Jesus.

But see Luke 4:17-21: "And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised." Jesus then closed the book and proclaimed: "Today, in your hearing, this scripture is fulfilled."

Whatever Isaiah might have known or not known, Jesus clearly had his own opinion on the matter.

George Shadroui

Memphis, Tenn.

--In "Sweet Georgia" (Dec. 9), John J. Miller (and Gene Ulm, whom he quotes) got the name of my county wrong. I am a Gwinnettian, not a Grinnellian. Why? Because I live in Gwinnett County, Ga., part of what Mr. Ulm called the GOP's "low-hanging fruit" ringing Atlanta. Gwinnettian is pronounced "Gwin-nee-shen," like "Martian," which is how many Atlantans perceive us. Now that we are almost on the map, please don't confuse us with the academicians of Iowa.

Cynthia Tanner

Duluth, Ga.

--When you complain about losing elections because a few votes went to Libertarians (The Week, Dec. 9) you sound like the Democrats complaining about Ralph Nader after the 2000 election. I vote Libertarian because their candidates are more closely aligned with my political views than are the Republicans. Until Republicans begin to return this government to the principles embodied in the Constitution, I will continue to vote Libertarian whenever I have the opportunity.

Erreca Story

Kahului, Hawaii

--Re your paragraph in The Week (Dec. 9) beginning "Election Day 2002 can be taken as marking the end of the Clinton Era": With due respect to George H. Nash, in 1998 I gave an address at Hillsdale College in which I said, "Everybody seems endlessly to be baffled by the popularity that in his deepest travails Clinton commanded. My God, man: For the public to have turned against Clinton would have required that the self-righteous generation of the 1960s repudiate their mirror image."

For a lot more in this vein, see my USA Today: The Stunning Incoherence of American Civilization. (Better yet, order it and read it.)

Reid Buckley

Camden, S.C.

--Every self-proclaimed humanitarian opposed to U.S. activity in the Middle East should read Jonah Goldberg's "Man Bites Dog" (Dec. 9). The argument that these tyrannical theocracies are peaceful, tolerant nations takes a big hit after one learns how man's best friend -- and a cornerstone of Western culture -- is treated. Roman Genn's hilarious illustration drove the message home.

Dennis J. Petersen

Watertown, Conn.