Never in my 71 years have I felt such sadness and shame. While being a citizen of our amazing country — with its big heart for needy people, here and globally, which makes me honored to be an American — my own heart is breaking. It’s broken, sad and shamed. 

President Eisenhower warned us with some of his final words: “Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed.”

Our president called for a $415 billion increase in our defense spending (a total of over $1.2 trillion) with a $73 billion decrease in spending for education, shelter assistance and other programs to protect our most vulnerable neighbors. How many meals, warm shelters, well-paid teachers, up-to-date schools, affordable homes and apartments could be built for our neighbors? 

Recently, he declared a “whole civilization will die tonight” unless his demands were met. A whole civilization! His defense secretary called our Constitution “stupid” to say only Congress can wage war. He prayed for “overwhelming violence” and “no mercy” for our enemies. 

Finally, complicity via silence, from leaders of both parties. Where are their moral voices and outrage? The president should know that war is not a video game. It’s mangled bodies, childless mothers and fathers, it’s orphans. War is hell on Earth.

Roy Smoot
Kennebunk