To the editor:

“I must study politics and war, that our sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. Our sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history and naval architecture, navigation, commerce and agriculture in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry and porcelain,” wrote John Adams to his wife.

You could quibble about this in detail, but he sets a vision that led my grandfather to serve in the War to End Wars. My father served in the crusade in Europe. The outcome was supposed to be an end to the scourge of war.

Certainly we owe a debt to those who have served, and the material in the paper is a fine reminder.

But what is wrong with us now that we seem hopelessly committed to a war system, a war economy and the continued deaths and wounding of our young people?

Wear your poppy, visit the cemetery or the war memorials. But also open your hearts to peace and take a small step to ending war. A friend says, “Anything is infinitely more than nothing.” I renewed my membership in the United Nations Association of the United States.