Letters to the editor

We should be proud SMU might be Bush library site
You did a pretty fair job reporting where the George Bush Presidential Library issue is at this point (“UM group opposes Bush library at SMU,” Jan. 26).
You gave the address for the naysayers but did not give a place for those in favor of the library to express their opinions.
I am not a graduate of Southern Methodist University but am of the University of Texas at Austin.
I have been a Methodist for more than 50 years, have served on and chaired many committees in our church, and support it with my presence and my money.
I have always been proud of George W. Bush being a United Methodist the whole time he was our governor and while he has been our president.
I may not always agree with his decisions, but I feel he gives a lot of thought to his religious convictions as he makes one difficult decision after another.
We ought to be proud that Southern Methodist University is in the running for the Bush Presidential Library.
As to the naysayers, I am glad that they are perfect and always abide by United Methodist principles as they see them. There always seems to be discussion about what these principles should be, doesn’t there?
W.H. Bauer Jr.
Port Lavaca
How can Jim Winkler keep speaking for UMC?
In your Jan. 26 issue there was a short article about a certain Jim Winkler, who opposes sending more troops to Iraq (“Agency executive opposes sending more troops to Iraq,” Jan. 26.)
This strange person is head of the Capitol Hill-based General Board of Church and Society.
In the July/August issue of Good News, Mr. Winkler is quoted as saying “impeach President Bush.” He reportedly made that remark at a “Washington, D.C., Ecumenical Advocacy Days” rally for liberal religious activists.
Mr. Winkler is quoted further as saying, “Despite the president’s insistence he was placed in the office by God for this moment, there is nothing Christian in his response to Sept. 11. … Even if it turned out that Iraq did have weapons of mass destruction and could be found culpable for the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the problems could have been resolved without war.”
The article goes on to say: “He (Mr. Winkler) also mocked the administration’s claim that immediate U.S. withdrawal would have chaotic results.” He sarcastically asked, “When was the last time they were right?”
How can this man keep speaking for the Methodist church? It is about time our church leaders took a look at Mr. Winkler.
H.K. “Onno” Rahlfs
Fredericksburg