Letter to the editor: 'Tale of Two Americas'

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times … .” So begins Charles Dickens’ novel “A Tale of Two Cities.”

As I write, I’m saddened knowing a former president is near death. Acknowledged by friend and foe as being kind and decent, he became a role model for post-presidential behavior. Then we have a former president undeserving of having his name associated with decency and who evades accountability for alleged criminal activities.

We have a courageous president visiting a war-torn country, absent U.S. troops, encouraging its people with our promise of continuing support in their struggle against a dictator guilty of committing crimes against humanity. We also have political opponents sniping at him for doing so.

A U.S. House speaker retires with grace and dignity while her successor to that high office shields a newly elected congressman who lied his way to victory.

A congresswoman fights off an elevator assault, followed by recorded death threats, only to have people mock her and repeat untrue stories about her.

With increasing public support for commonsense gun laws, a legislative proposal is made to dignify the AR-15 war weapon as our national gun.

Locally, there is the story of a “welcome to Armstrong County” billboard being removed for laughable reasons after just six days. Meanwhile, a Westmoreland County billboard messaging that an internationally respected health expert lied about covid and that “death shots” were real remained in place for six weeks.

A nonfiction “Tale of Two Americas” is being written every day. Not easy reading.

Glenn R. Plummer

Unity