It happens during this season every year. Politicians, clergy, pundits and numerous others praise our brave soldiers and sailors serving abroad in support of our security and freedoms. But, invariably, they neglect to mention the non-military segments of our government also serving our interests abroad — diplomats, development workers, humanitarian experts, intelligence agents and others.
Employees in the latter group are often under much more strain and danger than military careerists. This is especially true of development and humanitarian staff who are on the ground in difficult countries for much longer stretches of time than the average soldier.
I served in both and, like so many others, was in much more persistent danger running development programs in the Middle East and Africa than I was in military operations.
Raymond Malley
Hanover
The writer served in the Air Force and as a senior foreign service officer with the Department of State and the Agency for International Development.
The closing of Stern’s Quality Produce is a huge loss to the international community in the Upper Valley. Stern’s stocked items that you can only find in neighborhood stores in the heart of Boston, such as Indian bitter melon, gai lan and cactus lobes. I could buy my tofu in the big, six-cube box.
A word to Judy Stern, and she could get anything on the next truck. She was a one-woman welcoming committee. She would talk to anyone about her kids’ accomplishments and listen to your stories. I arrived in the early 1990s, when I was usually the only non-white person everywhere I went — except at Stern’s. People didn’t know what to say to me. Judy Stern saw me as another mom, and it meant a lot to me. I understand why she needed to retire, but I will miss her so much. I am one of her many customers who would like to say thank you and best wishes for a well-earned rest.
Rosalind Lee
Hanover
Deliberately ignorant, unwilling or unable to learn, with no sense of history, no grasp of what makes America great, suspicious of immigrants and frightened to death of the browning of America, disdainful of the rule of law and the American free press, fond of bullying, name-calling and violence.
Sound familiar? Am I describing the current occupant of the White House or his supporters, in government and out? Would the choice be easier if I had added to the description “world-class liar, self-deluding, self-promoting greedy thief, obstructer of justice, witness tamperer and appeaser of our country’s enemies”? It would be easier still if I added “next chief executive to be impeached by the House of Representatives and convicted in the U.S. Senate.”
Robert Roudebush
North Haverhill
I am responding to the letter from Alice Morrison and Stan Phaneuf (“Nelson Was Quite Accurate,” Dec. 22). Just for the record, I despise President Donald Trump and wish him to be gone as soon as possible by any legal means. However, I dislike Steve Nelson for many of the same reasons. In particular, both he and Trump seem totally convinced of the righteousness of their own viewpoints.
Editorials, opinion pieces and letters to the editor that do nothing but bash the other side are not getting us any closer to the healing that this nation so desperately needs. I am tired of it all. When compromise, cooperation and mutual understanding begin to sell newspapers, maybe we’ll start to get somewhere.
Peter Magoon
Enfield
Even though a picture might be worth a thousand words, I know the Valley News has a 350-word limit for letters to the editor, so I’ll keep this note briefer than it should be.
Every day, the photographers working at the Valley News capture striking images of our community in all its forms. The newspaper’s regular illustrator is also a member of this skilled troupe. His Dec. 23 image of a child pondering holiday cards evokes and brings to life the best of the holiday season — a time of family connections and quite moments.
Though I feel compelled to list each person’s name here and cite other examples of specific work, there is not enough space.
Instead, I send this tip of the hat to all: Your captivating images, crafted from so many fleeting instances of time, trials and triumphs, honor the writing of your colleagues — and, to a piece, portray a story worth absorbing.
Thank you for showing us our local world.
Allan Reetz
Meriden