To the editor: I would like to thank the

To the editor:

I would like to thank the organizers and participants of the pot-luck supper for our Soviet visitors at the Washington Fire Hall last Thursday night. Efforts such as these contribute much to the understanding between the people of both nations toward the goal of real peace in the future. There could be no worse consequence of U.S./Soviet rivalry than a full-scale war culminating in a nuclear exchange.

However, there was one short speech, delivered to our Soviet guests, given by one of our county’s most talented artists, that I am compelled to totally disagree with. While her opinion is shared by a small number of American leftists, I believe that there is another message that our Soviet guests need to understand clearly. No doubt the people of our two nations have much in common as human beings, but the differences between us are great.

The United States of America does not have the perfect political system, but unlike the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, we are free to change it through the democratic system we have inherited from our nation’s founders. Our freedom has been preserved through the sacrifices of men and women who fought to defend it throughout our history. As Americans, we do not owe any nation an apology for our actions in the world (especially the Soviets)!

The talented young artist was correct in stating that the Soviets were devastated by World War II. It is true that they have been invaded, at one time or another, by all of their neighboring countries, including a foray by U.S. forces at the end of World War I. However, the Soviet Union does not have an exclusive understanding of the horror and waste of war. Without the efforts and sacrifices of the U.S. during World War II, it is doubtful at best the the Soviet Union would have been able to resist the Nazi war ma