There is a phrase used over and over throughout history, "United we stand, divided we fall." It seems interesting that this phrase has significant meaning today.

We have our elected officials who don't seem to care about anything, especially our country, as long as the "party" comes out looking good. These officials don't seem to be listening to their constituents and are also ignoring how the public feels about the way they are doing their job.

The rest of the country is the same. We classify ourselves as African-American, Japanese-American, Chinese-American, Puerto Rican-American, Italian-American, Arab-American, Native-American and on and on.

How many of these people were actually born in the country they are claiming. Most were born in America. I don't begrudge any of these people from claiming their heritage, but we are all "Americans." At this time in our history, this country is so fractured I don't know we manage to function. Again, "United we stand, divided we fall."

JERRY KUNKEL, Kennewick