LETTERS: IT'S GOOD TO REREAD DECLARATION

To the editor:

Your Perspectives page in the July 5 edition was one of the best for caring readers that I've ever seen. It has been over a quarter of a century since I've seen the Declaration of Independence, which is the foundation of our country in the 1700s and today. Everyone should be required to read it every few years, for it is what America was founded on and must be continued despite our politicians.

And with all the hoopla that has filled our newspapers, magazines and TV since Clinton went to China, reading the article by Chinese writer Xiong Lei should make our future relationship with China more understandable. Communist China will probably be absolutely changes as time goes on, for they are a very different people than us today. But many Chinese have the hopes we had in the 1700s when our differing groups got together and we split with England, which ruled us as hard as the present Communist Chinese hierarchy does on its people.

We need to remember our gallant past and hope the Chinese people get together, as we did in the 1770s. Many Chinese groups are hoping and trying to do the same thing now.

I've worked and written for several newspapers after getting university journalism degree, and I've read hundreds more. But the Missourian is continuing to come around as one of the very best for intelligent people to read and absorb anywhere in this country. I don't always agree with all your thinking, but you give me the absolutely necessary facts to generate good opinions, which is the basic thing good newspapers have always been expected to do. And it is the basic thing we Americans must do.

CHARLES E. STIVER

Cape Girardeau