I am a 78-year-old veteran with 27 years of active duty. I am an independent voter but my attitude and value systems are mostly attuned to the Democratic ideology. I strongly feel that this country has a long way to go before we realize the freedoms we so loudly espouse. U.S. history, for me, is a big case of; we talk the talk but don’t walk the walk.

There has been a lack of freedom since the beginning of our history. Our Constitution and Bill of Rights were written by well-meaning men who because of their religion and education didn’t truly realize that black people were human beings. Many, including at a least one president, fathered children from their female slaves.

Various religious sects have disavowed one another from the beginning.

Catholics were feared and mistreated until John Kennedy was elected. We cheated the Native Americans and many Mexicans out of their land. The only people who realized the American dream, until about 60 years ago, were white Protestant males.

This is a great country and I love it, but it is not the one I really wish for.

We need to get religion out of politics. Religious faith has, and still is, killing more people than most serious epidemics.

We need to start, here and around the world, an educational system that teaches the “big bang” and evolution are real. When mankind accepts the fact that the supernatural start of this universe and mankind is not the God of the Torah, the Koran, the Bible, or the Book of Mormon, we may be on the way to peace.

Larry Kluth, Mesa