Mr. Wrong
Muslim countries regularly insist on the extreme that women are forbidden to reveal feminine charms in public. In short, women can do no right.
In the U.S. we see the opposite extreme, where women are permitted to flaunt their sexuality with seductive clothing as well as sexually suggestive behaviors. Yet men are condemned if they respond to these baitings by women, unless the response is by that particular man the woman is fishing for. In short, men can do no right.
And so we have caustic cartoons like the Nov. 25 This Modern World. And the ongoing scapegoating of men continues.
Richard Rathmann, Andrew Glickman, Madison Men's Organization
The Bible tells me so
Regarding Kenneth Burns' reply to Gideon Katzan ("Lost in Translation," Letters, 11/25/11): In supporting his question "Really? God says killing children should be associated with happiness...?", Burns notes that the Bible is considered the word of God. Yes, we Christians do consider the Bible the word of God, but we are not so absurd as to think that every saying in the Bible is God's truth. When the serpent told Eve that she "would surely not die" if she ate the fruit, does Mr. Burns suppose that God agreed with that?
This is the trouble that arises when someone who can read but does not believe tries to read the Bible. You may understand the words, but you don't understand the message.
Warren Brown, Menasha
Kenneth Burns replies: Brown misquotes me. In my review of the film Higher Ground (11/11/11), I wrote: "Really? God says killing children could be associated with happiness...?" I was recalling a lesson my priest taught about Psalm 137:9, to the effect that Christians should take troubling Bible passages seriously. I didn't claim that the verse, which is quoted in the film, represents God's truth. I asked a question about a difficult scripture.
Who said I don't believe? I've written about my faith journey in these pages.
