How can a word like “liar,” which was uttered by a man without self control, cause such an uproar. A man whose passions ran away with him. Bad taste, especially for this individual who represents our government.

A person, one would think, should be able to keep his passions in check. It most certainly did not sit well with many Americans. However, he apologized to the president, and our president forgave him. End of story.

According to the letter writer on 9/16, the president lacks “proper” respect. I would say that is a nasty figment of the letter writer’s imagination. President Obama has shown over and over again, that he ALWAYS, and I want to repeat ALWAYS, has shown nothing but respect towards our country, and YES, also contrary to our preceding president, towards all countries, and image, even to Muslims.

It is high time this country makes friendly gestures towards other countries. Compare this to Bush, who saw an enemy behind every bush, and with his threatening and fear mongering behavior made many enemies, and the world began to hate us. Obama is working hard to change our image and knows, we can’t do that with threats, trade sanctions, (which also hurt us, without accomplishing much) and worse.

We are still a great country, but no longer the best. The world has grown up around us, to be also the best. Obama recognized it and acts accordingly.

It is high time to stop badmouthing our president. He was elected. Obviously the American people felt he was the best choice. Would you rather have the aging McCain and heaven forbid, Ms. Palin run our country? Obviously not, or the people would have voted for them.

So let us unite behind the president. Most of all let us stop this nasty bickering, name calling and acting like a bunch of imbeciles. Do we really have to stoop that low? It makes me ashamed to be an American, and I am sure not the only one who feels that way.

Let us work towards a united country. Do we really want to tear our country apart? That, I believe, is not what the American people want. I should hope they are too smart to chose that route.

Jutta Kurtak, Bellevue