My mother passed away after a very slow and debilitating disease took her life. In her last days, our family had her fill out, with my brother’s help, her last five wishes. I did not want to read the words she wrote, in denial perhaps or until I needed to. After she passed, I knew it was time.

I read them. One asked, “What do you want people to say about you after you are gone?” Tearfully I read two words, “the truth.”

Her words resonate in my mind and life. Why are so many people afraid to speak the truth? It seems the news media in this country has put on rose-colored glasses to avoid it or possibly to avoid looking Americans in the eyes. I am outraged that the truth about why we went to war in Iraq had to be exposed by the British news in the Downing memo, and that I need to Google search Al Jazeera to receive actual coverage of the war.

On Air America radio the other evening Mike Malloy stated that more people voted for the American Idol television show than for the presidential election. Has apathy in America become the new commodity and the Republican administration the new beneficiary?

G.W.’s lies and greed have made more than America bleed. Americans should be ashamed.

Mary F. Petry

Greenbank