Letters to the Editor

To the editor,

Having lived in three developing countries for 17 years, I met very fine Americans as well as arrogant, and ignorant Americans. Representatives from the U.S. Embassy, USAID, Peace Corp, U.S. Military, UNICEf and UNESCO and missionaries are among those I encountered. Many stayed briefly, never getting to know the culture.

Not fitting into any of those categories gave me special insight–into others and myself. Most Americans, including me, travel with American glasses, and don’t often see what is happening right before our eyes. For instance, in Sierra Leone, I saw women working the fields, and thought for two years, isn’t that quaint. They are helping their husbands, –no, they were the farmers. But Americans with good intentions didn’t realize that women do most of the farming, and hence gave tractors, fertilizers, etc. to the men. Naturally, this led to great confusion. Further, because other nationals may live in huts with no indoor plumbing, some Americans think they are primitive and lack intelligence. Not true.

When war drums were beating towards invading Afghanistan twenty years ago, I wrote our 5th Congressional Representative George Nethercutt, warning him that this venture would be fruitless. He replied thanking me for supporting his ramp-up to war. I only wish I had saved both letters.

Now we see the huge loss of lives, treasure and reputation in Afghanistan. For the future, let’s learn from our mistakes–not repeat history. Let’s practice humility and be culturally aware. Simply ask questions, listen and honor human rights.

Nancy Street

Cheney, Wash.

To the editor,

Nancy Pelosi recently called the House of Representatives back from summer vacation, not to address the crisis from the mess that has been created in America’s hasty, ill thought-out departure from Afghanistan but rather to rush through a proposal for a massive spending bill that will “remake America.” Pelosi said before the house began voting on 8/24 that “A national budget should be a statement on our national values.” Thoughtful Americans see what our national values have become under this democratic leadership.

Through socialist indoctrination, identity politics and seven months of a very weak Biden administration, we have lost credibility at home and abroad. We see the mistakes that President Biden has made in his hasty disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan playing out daily through the news media. We have seen masses of humanity unimpeded and overrunning our wide-open southern border as well as the destructive rioting in major cities with Democrat leaders touting policies to defunded police.

We are currently being led by a prideful, stubborn, apparently incompetent administration and, unfortunately, a democratic majority in both the House and the Senate that, through fear and chaos, are shutting down a free and prosperous America. President Biden says this massive 3.5 trillion-dollar spending bill is a “bring America Back bill”. Many of us believe it is a “bring American to the brink of destruction” bill. Call your legislators and let your voice be heard.

Susan Bell,

Dayton, Wash.