To The Editor:

There is a Steppenwolf song by the name of Monster that I must have listened to (on their live album) hundreds of times growing up. These days it has been running through my head a lot.

It provides an overview of American history to that point, representing "America" as if a being, in and of itself, that gave us birth. The song comments on the underside of our various stages of growth and development as being contrary to the spirit of our origin. By 1969, a "monster on the loose" was essentially guiding our country, and it ends with urgent pleas for America to come rescue us from it.

To me this song is transcendental. There's always a monster watching for opportunities to seize this beautiful creation. We can't escape that fact, it being part and parcel of our great democracy. But we must always be mindful of it.

On this 250th birthday of these United States of America, I want to say that I believe we live in the greatest nation on this earth. We owe our greatness in large part to our lineage in being born of England where centuries of struggle had already established the foundational determination that power will rest with the will of the governed. But on this continent likewise, to the sweat and blood of those who secured our independence, and their successors who have fought generation after generation to maintain and foster it.

So, as John Kay said in his introduction to that song, " . . . despite the things that are wrong in our country, there are too many good things worth saving to let the whole thing go down the drain so, I think we should get together as much as we can and bring about change."

Happy 250th and many centuries more, because I believe that America will always prevail against the monster.

Randi Allen Kiely

Newtown