Colombian Upheavals

* Your Dec. 30 article about the assassination of a prominent peace negotiator referred to Colombia’s 36-year conflict, beginning in the mid-’60s. I lived and worked in Colombia during that period as a Peace Corps volunteer and my memories were of hope and promise for Colombia’s future. Those were the best years of my life: The countryside was so beautiful, and the people I knew were as kind and gracious as anybody could be. I learned to love Colombia.

Now, my heart aches as I ponder the political and social upheavals that nation has endured since then. What hurts even more is the knowledge that my own country’s appetite for Colombian cocaine played a major role in bringing Colombia to the brink of destruction. We poisoned Colombia with our drug money, and we will never be able to undo the harm that we caused.

DAVID E. THOMAS

Montebello