Readers Write: US must maintain strong military; Encouraged by fight for common ground; Media violence feeds gun violence
| London, Port Huron, Mich., and Washington, D.C.
US must maintain strong military
The Sept. 30 cover story, "America's new isolationism," says that a decade of war has left Americans "disillusioned and doubtful that military ventures are a solution to the world's problems."
The United States must, however, retain the means to use force when it can be justified in order to achieve a reasonable objective. In response to the terrorist attack in Nairobi, Kenya, on Sept. 21, US Special Forces launched separate raids to capture Al Qaeda leaders in Libya and Somalia. One raid (in Libya) was successful, while the other failed.
US politicians must not be naive about the challenges confronting democracies in the 21st century. An efficient and well-disciplined American military force will continue to play a vital role in maintaining safety and security at home and abroad.
Alistair Budd
London
Relieved and encouraged
I was thrilled to read former Sen. Olympia Snowe's Sept. 9 commentary, "Americans must mobilize for moderation," as the inaugural column of the Common Ground, Common Good feature.
I am so relieved to learn that someone who can make a difference within the political climate has come forward with concrete suggestions for those of us with no political clout. I have been so encouraged.
Jenella Smith Emelianov
Port Huron, Mich.
Media violence, gun violence
The placement – intentional or not – of two statistics next to each other in the Prime Numbers column in the Sept. 30 issue did not escape me: $800 million first-day worldwide sales of the video game Grand Theft Auto V and 85 Americans killed daily on average by guns over the past few years.
When will we finally understand the consequences of allowing violence to permeate our entertainment?
Christine Matthews
Washington, D.C.
