LETTERS

Timely Giving

[Regarding "Being There," by Jim Rice, March 2008], I met Brother Andrew when I was a recent "Jesus Freak" convert in 1971.1 have seldom been impressed by a popular Christian author as I was by him. He was a normal person with a sense of humor. A few years later my wife and I sent him some money for his ministry. We were shocked when he sent back a personal note thanking us. He explained that our donation came on the same day he had met an Eastern Bloc couple who needed money. We have never experienced such a thing in our giving to well-known Christian figures. Chris Anderson

York, Pennsylvania

Real Change

Jim Wallis' "The Politics of Change" (March 2008) so effectively probed the possibility of real political change given the "vast array of powerful forces that will do everything possible to prevent real change."

This analysis stood in contrast to EJ. Dionne Jr.'s article in the same issue, which asked, "Is It Still a Wonderful Life?" His seemingly sanguine conclusion is that Americans are at heart so noble (like George Bailey) that if we come together around a "new democratic solidarity" and embrace George Bailey's politics, we would transform the nation. Dionne offers oppressed Poland as an example of how a coalition weakened the grip of Soviet domination. That illustration is irrelevant in that in Poland everyone knew who the enemy was. In our case, a "vast array of powerful forces" pose as protectors and providers who assure us that we have never had it so good and that with them we are secure, yet all the while they resist meaningful change.

Wallis is right when he says that "the change must go deeper than politics" and that "unless change goes deeper, politics won't really change." Every one of the presidential candidates isoffering to do the same old thing, only better. Deep and real change is not on their agenda.

Wayne North

Harrisonburg, Virginia

Defense Strategies

Jim Wallis' article "A Call to Repentance" (January 2008) speaks directly and powerfully to an issue that is incredibly important for American Christians to come to terms with. I would also like to add a concrete example of the fact that "generous leadership to combat poverty and disease, for example, might be a more effective way to make friends in the world."

Several years ago our church sponsored a mission trip to Costa Rica. Eighteen people went to a small village to teach children and paint buildings. We slept on a concrete floor and visited the sick. These people were clearly moved that Caucasians from the richest country in the world would come to their impoverished village and do this work. We made many friends and certainly helped all of us to be more secure in the world.

This trip wasn't unusual as mission trips go, but what we often forget to look at are the economics of these ventures. This trip cost us $14,000. What if we used our current average defense budget to sponsor such service trips? $450 billion pays for 32 million trips. This is enough for millions of Americans to visit every country on earth thousands of times every year.

Imagine what such an outpouring of service, compassion, and mutual understanding would do for our world. This would buy security for all.

Daniel Wolpert

Crookston, Minnesota

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