A few months ago, I believe before the mid-term elections, the editor stated as to how the “letters” section would be adverse to printing items that were political in nature. It seems that policy has been lightened, at least for the last several issues. Realizing that as with any news reporting, the prerogative to print any story or correspondence lies with the editor.

My subject today has what I believe is only a small part of politics associated with it. You may infer what is or isn’t deemed a political opinion. The war in Vietnam officially lasted 19 years plus 180 days. American casualties totaled 58,000. The Iraq/Afghanistan war lasted 20 years and resulted in the loss of 7,820 American service members ans contractors. That adds up to 40 years of war and about 66,000 American deaths.

Let us look at the threat we face today and the toll it exacts on American lives. The enemy is illicit drugs with fentanyl being the drug du jour. The killer is a powerful weapon supplied by the evil organizations to the impressionable and naive younger adults in our country. Compare the lives lost in 40 years of war to the toll of 100,000 American lives that fentanyl has killed in just one year.

The horrific toll is, I believe, due to numerous factors affecting our society. The first is the source of the drug. I assert that it is well known that the supply of this drug comes from across our southern border and that the source of the source of the ingredients of the drug comes from China. Both nations supporting activity are involved in inflicting great damage to our country.

The second factor includes the users of these drugs. A large number of users (and deaths) are people as young as pre-teens up to young adults. There are many reasons why these groups are so affected. The country closed its education system for over two long years, a time when adolescents needed education. They were supposed to learn about our country’s laws, history, opportunities, rights and wrongs.

MARK SMITH

Chinook