Diverse opinions give government strength

I am what is referred to as a "senior citizen," fortunate enough to have been born in The United States in 1944. I was taught that we have a great form of government, with a constitution and three separate but equal branches of government. That we elect people who are supposed to govern this great country of ours. Rather than fighting about who has hurt feelings, they should truly be advancing legislation. This also means the need to compromise, whether you or I like it or not.

This also means that these separate branches are not someone else's "my Army," "my judicial system" or "my government." Those institutions belong to the citizens of the United States of America.

However, the president has the right to appoint justices to the Supreme Court, and while the Senate stalled one justice under the Obama administration, that does not justify stalling another now. The Senate can question and has the right to reject a candidate that they feel is not acceptable but the court will and should be filled.

My real reason for this letter is that in reading letters to the editor, I am saddened by the labeling of "right" or "left." We, as Americans, have the right and the need to disagree but with civility and without hatred. By now if we truly believe in our greatness, it should be because of our diversity and the true strength that we have proven to the world. Not the fear of what the next day may bring.

I urge all of you to stand up, believe in this country's ability to excel, not to hide in shadows. I also urge everyone to encourage our government to read and act on the Constitution as separate but equal branches.

Richard C. Sipple

Schaumburg