MAILBAG:

I watch the flames as if they could melt the TV.

Frantically, I search each channel for news of the fire where my mother and father live. This isn’t the first time; I always hope it will be the last. And as I reluctantly put out those flames on the screen, the phone rings. I know I have to answer. I am already late for work. I know who is calling.

My mother’s voice. Broken, shaken, almost vulnerable, I hear the words: “The sheriff is here, we have to evacuate. We’ll only call if we cannot return. Don’t worry about us.”

The line goes dead. No chance to say I love you, no time to tell her I will worry. I hang up the phone and I see three teardrops. They slowly trickle down from the cradle where the phone rests. The first tear, I think, is my mother’s. I am not sure because I really cannot remember her ever having tears. Strong willed, distant, years of fierce independence, she is fearless.

The second tear, I see a reflection. It’s my father picking peaches on the hottest part of the day. I see the family of wild turkeys meandering across my mother’s flower garden. The feral cat stretches out on the porch near the food my parents have put out since the day he first appeared. The blue birds are screeching angrily at the cat, so near to their hanging feeders.

I see a third tear. I think it might be mine. I look closely at the reflection of smoke and embers, and it is a little girl. She is waiting. She is waiting to be needed. Maybe she is waiting to hear the words “I have always loved you.” I wipe away the moisture of memories. That little girl is a grown woman, who will continue to wait patiently for a simple phone call, and the words “We’re home, we’re safe, you don’t have to worry.”

CHRISTIE CRIBBS

Newport Beach

Political correctness destroying country

As burning embers of 18 fires continue to ravage homes and threaten lives across Southern California, Gov. Schwarzenegger and President Bush declare a state of emergency with more than $1 billion in damages thus far. While this is being touted the worst firestorm in California history, it pales in comparison to a far greater firestorm threatening our entire nation.

The fire I am referring to is the extreme liberalism movement sweeping across America called “political correctness,” whose real name is “perdition” and whose purpose is to remove the living God and his word from humanity.

Good has become evil and evil has become good, and this widespread epidemic is being embraced and applauded by those whose conscience has been charred by its spread.

Schwarzenegger himself just signed a law (Senate Bill 777) which bans anything perceived as “negative” to homosexuals. “Mom and Dad” as well as “husband and wife” have effectively been banned from California schools under this bill.

With this signing, Schwarzenegger has blatantly attacked the God-ordained definition of a family and our traditional American values. The “open and affirming” homosexual political movement will continue to spread its corrupt agenda not only on our children but also in our workplace just as they have in our religious institutions.

And in the United States Senate and across the nation the blaze escalates over protecting godly values and the God-ordained “marriage” which is clearly defined as between a man and a woman. Destroy the family unit and you’ve destroyed community. Destroy community and you’ve destroyed a nation.

God help us to not play with matches.

RUSS NIEWIAROWSKI

Santa Ana Heights