Lynn Rudmin Chong: Recent letter criticizing party reminds of line from poem

To The Daily Sun,

Jim Mayotte's new letter makes me critical, again, of his blanket denigrating of all Democrats. But I go to the end of his letter telling his service to our country. Thanks to Jim, townsman, for that. There, they probably have it right. Wrong, though, that as a Democrat I hate my country. I am justifiably critical of Donald J. Trump. His breaking down our democracy's structure is horrifying. Unacceptable.

Here's to poet Robert Lowell and his poem, "Verdun," about the 1916 World War I battle. I find a line that is loving of those of that sad past and to be considered by us in their future. About the young men who died there (700,000 total casualties, both sides), Lowell says, "Their medals and rosettes have kept in bloom / they stay young, only living makes us age." Now our young feel angst for our country's future. If we won't continue as a country of laws and with a Constitution that promises all a chance at work leading to security, then our young justifiably are scared. We let them down. For instance, ICE disappeared people known to classmates, known as friends, known as neighbors, known as coworkers. Scary.

"Only living makes us age." How we end up can be a far cry from how we started. Scars, challenges, loves, serendipity, talents, striving all shape us. But our country's structure must give, at its best, steadily good support for optimum opportunities for all.

Lynn Rudmin Chong

Sanbornton