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I see the American public has once again been fooled by politicians of both parties aided and abetted by their friends in the media.
Politicians and pundits have redirected our attention from the serious problems that confront us as a people — unemployment, unending wars, financial instability and an aging population — to a nonissue, the socalled “mosque” in New York City.
Am I the only one who sees the irony in their manipulation of American values for political gain? While avidly supporting wars to provide freedom of religion to the people of Iraq and Afghanistan, at the same time some want to deny the right of a religious entity to build a new facility in New York City.
I sometimes despair for my country, where the breathtaking willful ignorance of a growing segment of the populace is used to advantage by both parties.
The ability of politicians and pundits to distract us from real problems with such trivia is simply awesome.
Political and personal gain, it appears, are more important than inspiration and leadership.
Wayne Laepple,
Northumberland
