Freedom of speech always goes first

Recently, I've felt letters in The Acorn about America were inappropriate. This changed given my asking "If opinions about our nation are not to be expressed in a community paper, then where?" So, please pass the soapbox.

America has a learning disability. Many citizens are caught up in their own travails worrying about their tomorrow, not the nation's future. When it comes to paying attention to an administration that disregards the Declaration of Independence and Constitution, ridicules our legal system, damages our global influence and prestige, and sends Americans to die in vain, many tune out and lose themselves in the perils of Paris, the drama of Diana and pseudo-reality TV.

Barbara Erickson recently pondered, "Our country has been stolen from us, or did we just hand it over?" Sadly, we allowed what happened and continue to do so.

Some 40 years ago, engaged in a senseless conflict and with an administration believing itself above the law, our society- congressmen, religious leaders, cultural icons and everyday citizens- exhibited a growing passion with demonstrations of dissent and other expressions of discontent via our media, music, etc.

Since then, we're numbed-up, dumbdowned, emotionally manipulated and willfully divided by stereotypes, labels, ethnicity, religious beliefs and class. "Leaders" are dysfunctional, incompetent, mean-spirited and possibly "evil." Other "officials" are blind goose-steppers. A large segment of "we the people" are sheep being led to an ultimate slaughter. The "string-pullers," irrespective of nationality, ethnicity and political, religious or corporate affiliation, are making a load of money keeping us that way.

Patricia Ahmad recently wrote in an Acorn letter, "Let's speak out to prevent another war." Sorry, Patricia, that "another war" is pretty much a done deal, and the only questions left relate to damage control. Hopefully, when it's time to answer those questions, America will have lost its arrogance and ignorance and regained its passion for "liberty and justice for all" while respecting global cultural and religious differences. Perhaps we will have legalized the 12 million illegal immigrants so they can be drafted to fight for us! Dan Gersten Agoura Hills