Rediscovering faith in his fellow man

I am encouraged by reading so many letters that reflect a so-called "right-wing" point of view.

But lately, letters like Rebekah Towers' "Lack of parenting source of problem," which extolled personal responsibility, and "Poor leadership endangers us all," by William Parrot, which cited genuine political, leadership and personal courage, both from the July 25 Fence Post, have restored my wounded faith in my fellow man.

I think it re-affirms what my father said to me when growing up: "Yes, son, you are going to find all kinds of differences in the people you will come in contact with during your lifetime, but I think, deep in their hearts, you will find we are all pretty much the same!"

I knew what he meant. Being a World War II veteran, he certainly knew what evil was, yet he instinctively knew that men can be manipulated by unscrupulous men who are experts at brainwashing in getting their self-serving bidding done.

The affected become victims themselves while perpetuating the harmful rhetoric. The egomaniacal are so good at what they do that they have convinced the rest of the world that the people being led are really only victims of their environment, the culture that they find themselves in or the U.S.

Being a Vietnam-era veteran myself and surviving 63 years on this planet, I believe I, too, know what evil is. And I believe, as my father did, that when all the unnatural, inhuman and egomaniacal variables are stripped away, and the voice of reason prevails, deep down in our heart of hearts, we are all very much the same.

But we are also willing to do or say just about anything that we "think" will give us peace of mind. So please keep those positive letters coming, reinforcing the voice of reason.

Dick Rehwaldt

Algonquin