Anti-Child U.S.

* Reading your July 11 article, “Kids Are People Too, Papers Decide,” confirms our family’s observation that America is relentlessly anti-child in spite of protestations otherwise. From Texans howling for the execution of children under 18 to the L.A. Unified School District’s shocking decline over the last 30 years to the state’s increased tuition at its universities, in many ways America vilifies, ignores or abuses its youth. This is so obviously a disadvantage to our country that it is difficult to understand. We will depend on the education and good health of all of our children, rich and poor alike.

As overseas residents in many countries, we have been amazed at the extent to which many other nations take care of children by making sure they don’t grow up in poverty and violence. Once while we were living in Kuwait, the local health clinic sent out a nurse looking for us to have our child vaccinated. In many other ways European, Asian and even African countries look after children to the best of their ability. As the world’s richest and most powerful nation, America has a lot to learn about ensuring that its children can compete and succeed in the future.

CHRIS WILLIG

Agoura Hills