We're not forsaken

Editor: Murder everywhere. In shopping malls, offices, churches, schools. Why? Our history may shed some light. Wasn't the U.S. founded on violence and as it grew violence remained a vital part of our growth?

Europeans came to a world inhabitant by natives. As the white man took land, natives defended themselves. The natives were finally defeated and placed on reservations or were killed. Once the U.S. was formed we moved, with a big stick, westward. Mexico lost half of their land when we perpetrated the Mexican War. To take what they wanted, and for some to protect themselves, guns were helpful for cowboys, cattlemen and others. Television programs and Hollywood have shown violent episodes personifying the gun.

There is the matter of parental involvement. Do parents allow their children to watch violent movies on TV? Some parents don't know what their children watch.

The question whether the gun or people kill has not been settled. Will it ever be solved? With a history of wars and the big stick policy how can we ever solve this nagging problem.

Some parents have a hard time teaching their children the difference between right and wrong. Today young people, looking for recognition and a chance to show their manliness, turn to gangs. To some, the commandment "thou shall not kill" means very little. Maybe a little religion in the public schools wouldn't hurt. We may not be able to teach religion but we could teach about religion. Have some of us forsaken God? I do not think God has forsaken us. There is hope!

We claim to the world that we are a peaceful nation, as we try to spread democracy and also try to have them adopt our form of government. Actually we have a long way to go. In order for others to even consider our form of government some of our people have to practice what we preach. Where do we start? And when?

History is full of nations trying to spread their form of government. Sound familiar?

Simon Lakritz

Hanford

(Feb. 8, 2008)