To The Reader’s Forum:

It seems fitting that I should write this on unity day. It is very sad to note that the current politics are threatening to split our country apart. People with opposing views can’t talk to each other any more. I have friends who have distanced themselves from me, and while civil, no longer seem to want to do things together. Some people I know are so filled with hate that they call me names, which adds nothing positive to the conversation. They say I’m liberal, which I admit to, and a socialist — not so much, and a pinko communist — not at all. On the other hand, I have a very good friend of many years, who, when I told him I was a Democrat, said: “Oh geez, I’m about 10 points to the right of Attila The Hun.” We still get along fine, and email each other regularly, though, sadly, he lives in Arizona, and my traveling days are probably over. We have a president who is promoting violence, and political divisions instead of trying to bring us together. That’s very sad.

Speaking of hate, I recently wrote a letter to this column specifying why I didn’t like Donald Trump. The headline writer used that word, and I got called out by several people, including my wife. I don’t hate anybody, and I plead not guilty.

By the way, a letter appeared in this morning’s paper claiming that I lied in my criticism of the president. The writer should know that I speak only the truth, and state only the facts.

Samuel C. Alessi

Jamestown