U.S. World Role

Newt Gingrich and those who support him have a warped and potentially dangerous view of America’s role in the world (Commentary, Jan. 27). In his article, the Speaker of the House of Representatives rhapsodizes about “America leading the world.” He extols our value system which he claims is emulated everywhere (God help us!), and applauds our “worldwide dominance.”

What Gingrich fails to acknowledge is that most countries simply don’t go along with the idea that there is a single “No. 1” nation above all others. At best, leaders in Beijing, Tokyo, Moscow and Paris, to mention only four, might shake their collective heads in bemused dismay that one country thinks it is more enlightened than all the rest. In parliaments everywhere the debate is heated about such issues as increasing violence in the United States, rampant materialism, the continuing decline of public education, lack of spiritual values and the like. This, combined with an easy willingness to dispatch troops to this or that trouble spot, causes more than a few frayed nerves abroad. Better, Newt, to set a positive example of democracy at home.

EDMONDE A. HADDAD

Port Hueneme

Sir Isaac Newton’s gravitational theory ushered humanity into a new world. Welcome to this Newt G world. Is this a real change or is it like a mere conversion to the metric system--the same powers and forces, only expressed in Newt’s terms. Will there be any real change? How is it going to affect us? Time will tell.

CHANDRAN C. TULSI

Rancho Cucamonga