The Recorder seems to pride itself on maintaining a chorus of negative commentators and essayists. Their theme is steady and consistent: The many shortcomings of America, its form of government and free/open market economy. According to those embittered old men, America is a racist, bigoted cauldron of greedy and mean-spirited white men bent on holding others back while they gather all the riches. The role of hard work and personal sacrifice is seldom mentioned in those diatribes. These unhappy writers never praise, only criticize and belittle. I wonder if they ever give pause and think about how lucky they are to be able to criticize without impunity, knowing that their homes won’t be broken into at night and family members not dragged out for interrogation and beatings. I find it hard to respect those folks when I know how tough people have it in other countries.

Brad Brigham

Colrain

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