Dear Editor:

America, in my view, is the most stable country on planet Earth. I guess more than a few of us are not so sure.

Our recent national election has some Americans bent out of shape. I have reflected on this for the last week or two and it occurs to me that the government under which we live is less than 300 years old. The men and a very few women who put it all together did a darn good job. I find it interesting that some countries around the globe are still experiencing civil unrest after more than 2,000 years. Why have they not got it straight yet? I do not have the answer. My 93-year-old head is having enough of a problem with day-to-day matters.

I have a dim memory of the election of Calvin Coolidge and New England excitement because of his Vermont roots and equally dim thoughts of FDR after he was elected to his third term — the Oval Office was to be transformed into our Throne room. A fellow named Al Smith (I think) was in the running around 1930. Al was a Roman Catholic and the word was circulating that the Pope had plans to set up another desk alongside Al’s. I read an article in the local Pittsburgh paper about “Give ‘em hell Harry” and his encounter with General Douglas MacArthur during the Korean War.

Throughout our brief history, I know there are similar situations recorded, but again, although I had some excellent history teachers, my aging memory bank is only firing on maybe five cylinders.

Another thought has to do with election debates. During my high school days, I joined the debating club where I learned the difference between a debate and a shouting match. I’m sure you, the reader, gets my drift.

God Bless America

Walter Scott

Sprucewold and Pittsburgh