Checking on news from the '70s

To the editor:I enjoy reading Alan Journet's letters. It's interesting to pick out the words he uses to describe those he disagrees with. His election interpretation comments were no different. His limb became a little shaky when he had to interject a couple of "mays" to conclude his position on Leo Strauss' influence on all those Republicans he labels extremists. And we certainly don't want anyone near Washington who would use power for their own purposes.

Then he threw me for a loop. He talks of getting our heads straight to return to the rational discourse of 30 years ago. Maybe he can clarify that in future offerings. I spent some time in Wikipedia and scanned the headlines from 1977 and 1978. It did snow in Miami, a deadly blizzard killed 90, and Athens had its worse storm ever -- so global cooling was rampant. We've apparently corrected that. A number of African nations were at war with each other, and Muslim terrorist activity was at fever pitch. Not a lot of progress there. Jimmy Carter was beginning to form his memorable legacy of malaise and rabid rabbit attacks. No, Mr. Journet, you've got me stumped. Don't know much about history.

RANDY DUNN, Oak Ridge