Letter: Think in terms of ‘us’ rather than just ‘me’

Editor:

Are you from the “me” nation or the “us” nation? I often hear and read negative comments aimed at “people.” People should, people nowadays, some people, people this, people that. Aren’t we all people?

Often it’s more about their own righteousness than other people’s idiocy. I hold that most people are reasonable and use common sense. It is a miserable minority who can be a nuisance to the majority of fellow humans.

People are not “they.” People are “us.” We are in this together. Nobody can be right and good all the time. Everybody is somebody else’s idiot at some time or another.

Spite, envy, hate, unforgiveness, retaliation all eat their own heart. It’s like taking poison and believing that the other guy will die. When someone offends you, forgive them and give them the benefit of doubt, and forget about it. Carrying a grudge will drag you down and won’t harm the offender.

Some like to point to their rights. But sometimes their rights conflict with mine. Then what? Just try to be nice. It’s easier.

Adam Weaver
Richmond Township

Military-industrial complex is at root of our problems
Editor:
Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, let’s be honest and admit that the real winner in these disastrous failed wars is the military-industrial complex President Dwight Eisenhower warned us about in the early 1960s. We prop up corrupt governments in the guise of nation building while defense contractors get richer and richer. While we certainly need a strong military, there must be a line between defending our country and profiteering from endless unwinnable wars.
American workers’ hard earned tax dollars are helping to pay for a $700 billion-plus defense department budget. The Defense Department has become too powerful to be audited. As long as the money keeps flowing into the military-industrial complex, we can count on more wars. Is Pakistan next, as that country really does have weapons of mass destruction? Or perhaps Somalia to do some nation building.
Voters do have a voice. They can insist on knowing how much campaign money their legislators receive from defense contractors and vote accordingly. The close ties between elected politicians, defense contractors, and the Defense Department are in need of long overdue serious oversight.
Jeanette Winkler
Ruscombmanor Township

Source: Berkshire mont