I would venture to say that most everyone within the range of this newspaper and many others have an opinion about our president's visit to Europe and the meeting with some 20 nations, with side trips, criticizing his country for not doing enough or for causing the problems.

If he wanted to be more truthful he would have said that without our country's intervention, France, England, Hungary and several Mideast countries might today be speaking German.

How could he denigrate his country? Many "Public Speaking" writers have already joined the majority voices concerning the downslide our president is taking us on -- no, not us, but those who will follow, and we will hear their screams as they try to emerge from the hellhole they will find themselves in. Obama will be gone, leaving all of our problems but one -- to build his memorial library. ACORN will certainly contribute.

And then, there is Botswana and his stated concern that help will be given to improve it. Can anyone guess how much money has been poured into Africa's nations?

I believe that the only ones who profited were those who retired to another country to enjoy the millions sucked off the tops of our gifts. And yet we give because of our concern for humanity.

And now as I sit at my window enjoying my second cup of coffee, watching golf carts go by, I muse that I am not young anymore. Not middle age, not just older and certainly not sedentary, but so happy that I have lived my life and have enjoyed the values of this great country and only want those who follow to enjoy and be proud of our heritage.

Robert E. Luhrs

Pinehurst