At 83 I often reflect on life and history. With age my reflections become more introspective and humanitarian. What troubles me most are my reflections that were offensive to others.

Wishing I could go back and undo thoughtless actions but fully realizing that impossibility.

The articles I write to inform and educate deal with the economy, politics, medicine, government overreach, and corruption. I try to document facts and avoid opinions as these topics offer much room for controversy.

We are ingrained with respect and trust for authority figures. It is a bridge hard to cross when we disagree with teachers, doctors, police or political leaders. Too often authority figures are agenda driven or self serving.

I am a 21-year Navy veteran and I have the greatest respect for all service members but I fully realize military actions are often the tip of the spear to achieve ill conceived political objectives.

With time passing and the reveal of history and self, I chose to follow Christ over Hitler and Gandhi over the Bushes, Obama, Biden and Trump to achieve peace and compromise when conflicting ideologies collide.

Christ provided a blueprint for peace even at the peril of our own life.

World leaders squander trillions of dollars and millions of lives on war. War is the heartbeat that motivates corrupt politicians as they seek to control individuals and nations.

I tire of endless wars wasting resources and life. I support Constitutional principles and the rule of law but let us abandon plundering, regime change and nation building because politicians fail to compromise.

I challenge readers to digest the need for incessant wars as our resources and children are sacrificed on the battlefield because politicians fail to make peace and compromise.

Wars are always the last resort ... wars of choice are never a choice.

Terry Watto

Lehighton