Keith Burgess-Jackson, J.D., Ph.D.

Here.

See here.

To the Editor:

Re “Peace Within the Texts” (column, Nov. 17):

David Brooks writes: “The secular substitutes for religion—nationalism, racism and political ideology—have all led to disaster.”

So it appears that, if I am not religious, I must be a nationalist, a racist, and/or a political ideologue. Am I the only secularist who is deeply offended by this implication?

The true secular substitute for religion is reason. If that is not enough to get us through this current terrorism crisis, then we might as well say goodbye to civilization.

S. T. JOSHI

Seattle

The writer is the editor of “Atheism: A Reader.”

Note from KBJ: Has it ever occurred to the letter writer that religion is based on reason? May I suggest a work in philosophy of religion?

Here.

Here.

Bryce Harper of the Washington Nationals is the National League Most Valuable Player. Josh Donaldson of the Toronto Blue Jays is the American League Most Valuable Player.

Addendum: Katherine and I had lunch at Pappadeaux this afternoon. Directly in front of me, 20 feet away, were Texas Rangers general manager Jon Daniels, Ranger manager Jeff Banister, Ranger bench coach Steve Beuchele, and an unidentified fourth man. Perhaps they were celebrating Banister's Manager of the Year award.

Addendum 2: Here are the American League vote totals. Adrian Beltre of the Texas Rangers, who should have won the award, finished seventh.

To the Editor:

Re “Envisioning How the Global Powers Can Smash a Brutal Enemy” (front page, Nov. 18):

Finally, after so many articles in this paper about how Islam is a peaceful religion that does not justify jihadi terrorism, this one highlights the discussions that are beginning to take place about religious reformation within the Muslim world.

“Nothing short of a sustained effort among Muslims to offer an alternative to extremist versions of the religion is needed, religious leaders say,” you write.

And you quote Maajid Nawaz, a former recruiter for a radical Islamist group, as saying of radical Islam: “The statement that this has nothing to do with Islam is disingenuous. We need to have a candid conversation about this and recognize that there is a correlation between scripture and this.”

Yes. And coupled with that there needs to be a candid discussion within the Muslim community about secular Western democratic principles of freedom of speech; the right to protest; and the right to question one’s own belief system without fear of being punished, whipped, stoned, labeled a heretic or killed.

ISIS must be destroyed. But the fact that candid discussions on Islamic reformation may now be coming to the forefront is good news indeed. It is the only way forward.

ELLEN SHIRE

New York

Asia (1982). I was in law school when this song came out. It still moves me.

Dallas Keuchel of the Houston Astros is the American League Cy Young Award winner for 2015. Jake Arrieta of the Chicago Cubs is the National League Cy Young Award winner. Both won at least 20 games. Seven-Inning Felix, who did not win 20 games, finished seventh in the AL voting.

One of my longtime blog readers, Jim, sent a link to one of his short stories.