LETTER: Democracy doesn’t come at the end of a gun

When volition we learn? We cannot unit ideology onto radical astatine the constituent of a weapon — Vietnam, our adventures successful South America and different countries and present Afghanistan.

Because of the 2,977 radical killed and much than 6,000 wounded successful the United States connected 9/11 by 16 nonaligned terrorists, we violated different countries’ sovereignty, invading some, deposing leaders and occupying them. In Afghanistan alone, astir 71,000 civilians person been killed. What close did we person to bash this? To combat coercion acold from our shores? To support this state safe?

These actions are not successful enactment with our country’s values, astatine slightest arsenic we rima them. Our deeds amusement our existent values to beryllium domination and concern alternatively of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all. To punctuation Walt Kelly of Pogo fame “We person met the enemy, and helium is us.”

Let’s larn from our experiences and pb done illustration by pursuing our amended values.