Habitat World Online

Readers Respond to Habitat World

We appreciate hearing what's on the hearts and minds of you, the readers. At times during the last year, we have asked for your input on various topics, and we're grateful for your response. Many times, you respond simply because you wish either to applaud some feature of the magazine or to dispute a notion we have put forth as it relates to poverty, substandard housing or Habitat for Humanity. In any case, we welcome your feedback.

Here are a few recent letters. We hope you will be interested, as we are, in what your fellow readers are thinking...and saying. Keep those letters coming.

Harrisonburg, Va
"Please pass a reader's great thanks to everyone who was behind including the excerpt from Barbara Ehrenreich's book, and also the letters from readers, and the affiliate responses, regarding what cars in pictures suggest about the homeowners' priorities. ("Notes from the Field," June/July 2002)

"Ms. Ehrenreich's bottom-line budgeting makes the problem of housing when you have a low-income job very clear. For some reason, my mind is not engaged when I read that 5 million live in poverty; but reading along with Ms. Ehrenreich as she wondered whether she could work the 11-hour-a-day job for five days a week so she could afford a motel room while saving for a security deposit, I could see the problem and imagine me in it.

"The letters about the cars made clear how for some a good car is essential, despite its cost and chunk out of the budget. But the letters did other things as well. They made me feel as though the act of reading this magazine put me in a community. It was like being on a good affiliate's board as its members question each other about whether the planned action will meet the group's parallel goals of helping others and being good stewards of the resources entrusted to us. I am as grateful that those readers took the time to write their concerns as I am that you asked for affiliate responses and printed them. And the exchange reminded me that our best chance of understanding some problems, the complicated ones with causes and effects outside our view, is probably as a group, respectfully raising questions. A very satisfying read."

via e-mail to Habitat World
"I was previously a contributor to your organization as I applaud what Mr. Carter does and wish more people in power would follow his lead.

"However, your constant emphasis on faith/religion as I just found so overtly in your magazine in my mail (August/September 2002) is utterly medieval.

"Regardless of which imaginary friend religious people follow, it makes no sense to a large portion of educated, urban, successful people on earth in 2002--the very people likely to donate most.

"The implication that religious people are kind or kinder than secular is not only backward thinking, it is very erroneous in my experience--and I've lived on four continents.

"My advice is to rethink your marketing--those billions of us on earth who have progressed past organized religion and its 'my God is best' idiocy will never contribute money to organizations that ram God down our throats.

"I don't mean any disrespect, but trust me, you are alienating a large, moneyed group of people."

Tulsa, Okla
"Greetings! Congratulations on your August/September 2002 edition of Habitat World. I just love the way it was interspersed with scriptures.

"I've read many of your fine editions, but felt compelled to write you about this one. The inclusion of scripture brings this edition to LIFE, for it is the living word of God."

Cupertino, Calif
"I am deeply offended by the heavy emphasis on religion in the latest copy of [Habitat World]. Faith does not build buildings, and God is not essential to altruism. Your shift in this direction seems to mirror a nationwide drive to inject religion into politics... .

"I greatly respect the Carters and their support of Habitat and of many other worthy organizations. But you risk my continuing support."

Write us at: Habitat for Humanity International, 121 Habitat St., Americus, GA 31709 or by e-mail at: habitatworld@hfhi.org.