Letter: Premise of guest column on nationalism is folly

I read with interest Mr. Johnson’s wholly progressive guest column, “Nationalism is the final idolatry,” (TCH, May 1). I didn’t know whether to sing “I want to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony ...” or perhaps throw up a little.

I’m very happy that he feels that he is a citizen of the world, but there are millions of folks who don’t feel like him. I spent 13 months in Vietnam (including the Tet offensive in 1968), four tours in Iraq for 43 months and two tours for 19 months in Afghanistan, and I think Mr. Johnson has led a life of protected innocence.

I’ve taught numerous Arabs and Afghans how to conduct business with the U.S. government, but that doesn’t lead me to believe that we should renounce borders. While in Iraq, I had 82 Iraqis killed working on construction projects that were to improve the infrastructure of Iraq. Their crime was simply to provide for their families. Those people who believe in a one world caliphate do not see life as those poor Iraqi construction workers.

I think Mr. Johnson’s premise is folly, as well as this selection by the TCH editorial board.

This story was originally published May 13, 2016 at 3:08 AM with the headline "Letter: Premise of guest column on nationalism is folly."