LETTER: Election of an amateur has been tragic

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What has happened to the United States, what we have stood for since World War I, the “war to end all wars,” has been eroded by the shortsighted speech from the Rose Garden on June 1, 2017.

Any student of history who has been moved by the dedication of our presidents from the time of Woodrow Wilson, who introduced the League of Nations, has seen the progress for peace.

Although we never signed for the league, it opened eyes and hearts so to prepare a United Nations with all its facets: health, education, human rights, international bank to be in place at the end of WWII.

The Marshal Plan, our own extension of help to war occupied-devastated nations, was not just a giveaway, but new, stable foundations to recover, regroup and prosper.

This comes back to us in trade, good will, a deterrent to war. Our newest devastation is global destruction.

There is a limited amount of air and clean water on this earth. Will we let money and profit rule our actions? Almost 200 nations have joined in this Paris Accord. Will they still continue to volunteer to limit the culprit factors?

My pride of country fills my heart that in all these historic groups, the U.S. has been the pioneer and brought along other leaders and other nations. Now someone else will lead. The decline and fall of the United States burst onto my TV screen when the president walked away from that proud position for good the U.S. has always stood for.

An amateur, one without knowledge or appreciation of history, should not be elected.

When the earth gets down to water wars and breathing rights, and we are cornered like an overpopulation of experimental mice, we see the tragedy we caused beginning that Thursday.

JEAN CLARK KALDAHL

Port Townsend