To the editor:

This is in response to William Skepnek’s letter on Nov. 19. He states his planning of a trip to Europe is “beclouded with shame.” That he projects “feeling the shame of being recognized as an American.” And that he is “ashamed of being American, ashamed of my country.” I assume he is ashamed because his party lost an election and that Donald Trump won. Many on the left refer to “our democracy,” but wasn’t the election democracy in action whether you liked the outcome or not?

I was an Army Ranger and commanded a rifle company in Vietnam. I saw men killed and wounded and was crushingly disappointed when, despite the blood, sweat and tears expended, we pulled out in humiliation. But I was still proud to be an American. There have been many other disappointments such as our disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan. But despite my disapproval with this and other failings of the current administration, I was still proud to be an American.

After my military service I became a professor of history at the college level. I am well aware of our nation’s warts and low points. But our positive contributions far outweigh our failings. I have my own reservations about Trump but that does not mean that the U.S. is headed for fascism or that Trump is a Nazi like Skepnek implies. Skepnek’s party lost an election. I am sorry that makes him ashamed to be an American. But I am proud to be one.

Larry Burke,

Lawrence