LETTERS.

Your Last Chance to Vote!

There's still time to vote in Scholastic's Student Election 2000-but hurry!

1. You can vote online at Upfront Online. Go to nytimes.com/upfront land click on the "VOTE" button.

2. You can fax in a ballot to: Scholastic Student Vote/Upfront [phone]

But do it now Voting ends October 18.

Have a say in Election 2000! We'll publish the results in the November 13 issue of The New York Times Upfront, and let your voice be heard.

ONLINE SURVEY

Should the U.S. Build a Missile Defense?

Here's how you voted on the question posed in the September 4 issue.

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God in the Campaign

In criticizing Governor George W. Bush (Opinion, 1/17/00), Times columnist Maureen Dowd wrote, "Genuinely religious people are humbled by religion and are guided by it on the inside. They don't need to wear Jesus as a designer label." I took this comment personally.

In the Bible, we are told to spread the word of God to all persons. When someone says that Jesus Christ is their favorite philosopher, they are doing just that. It does not mean they are wearing Jesus as a designer label. Why is it that every time candidates give a religious answer to a question, they are persecuted? Why is it that everything a candidate does is considered a political ploy? Candidates are entitled to their religious views, just like you and me.

DANIEL E. BARRETT Harpursville, N.Y.

Is Being Gay a Sin?

Clinton Hurd's letter ("Adam and Steve," 9/4/00) stating that homosexuality is wrong and "gays are the sinners" was highly offensive. Homosexuality has always been part of our culture. Many of my good friends are homo- or bisexual, and neither I nor anyone else has ever had a problem with this. Adam and Eve, Adam and Steve--does it really matter?

ALEXANDRA GENUNG West Seneca, N.Y.

To say that being gay is a sin is to blame people for the way they were born. And using a revered text to prove your discriminatory point is appalling. Every word in the Bible is not to be taken literally; otherwise we would all still be performing animal sacrifices.

GABE SCHEFFLER Berkeley, Calif.

Spears Britney

In just about every UPFRONT magazine I open, there she is, Britney Spears. The fact that she can't sing, is totally fake and plastic, and she doesn't write any of "her" songs does not make her a good role model.

JAMIE EVERETT Okemos, Mich.

Outa Site

Yours is a way cool Web site! I love the way it doesn't look cluttered and it has a cool design. It's very easy to navigate, and I like the stories. Keep it up!

ROBERT D. GOLDSTEIN New York, N.Y.

A Serious Cartoon

In response to everyone who found the 4/10/00 cartoon ridiculing the National Rifle Association offensive and distasteful, the cartoonist did have a point. The NRA's position on gun control is absurd.

SARAH BAYER Chicago, Ill.

Appraising Hazing

Mild hazing ("Violent Rites," 4/24/00) that doesn't hurt anyone really might help bond a team, as long as people don't get hurt physically. But violent hazing should be illegal.

WACEY MEYER Ekalaka, Mont.

WRITE US

Send your letters to The New York Times Upfront, Scholastic Inc., 555 Broadway, New York, NY 10012-3999, or send e-mail to [e-mail]. In order to be considered for publication, letters must include the writer's name, address, and phone number. We reserve the right to edit letters for length. We regret that we cannot personally answer every letter we receive, but we do read them all.