Responding To The Myopic Optimist

To the Editor:

I wanted so badly to be delighted that the kind gentlewoman from Stamford  (Letter Hive, “The World —But not Newtown, Apparently — Is Full of Optimists,” September 5, 2008) had read my letters to The Bee. But then I realized that the kind lady had clearly not read my letters since she saw no traces of optimism in them.

Looking back on those missives, I note the following phrases: ”...and still be optimistic that this great country, as it always has, will use its brains, its innovative nature, and its empathy, to make things better.”  (Emphasis mine)

“I realized, as I do over and over, how lucky I am that my grandparents braved the new world — without money, without knowledge of the language, without sufficient education, to get me and my children (and my grandchildren) to this wonderful point in our lives.” (July 15, 2008) “...it is only in this country that our immigrant ancestors could have succeeded as they did and created the foundation for our success.”  (August 13, 2008)

Agreed, I did take the kindly Brendan Duffy to task for:

Seemingly making light of the many lives that have been lost in the Iraq war (3,990 and counting).

Endorsing a war that even members of the President’s party agrees was begun under false pretenses, a war that has been fought with more than $500 billion of borrowed money.

Not having sympathy for the many people who have been caught in the current economic squeeze.

The United States has been known for its optimism about the world and our position in it since we declared our independence. We will continue to get our energy for innovative and exciting progress in every aspect of our lives from our optimism.

Laura E. Lerman

55 Main Street, Newtown                                     September 10, 2008