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To the Editor:

“Shocking,” would be a simple yet apt description of the events that transpired in Israel early October. As Americans, even though we have been involved in various conflicts for the last 20 years or so, we have generally been immune to just scenes of brutality and destruction. We live a sheltered life whereas most of the world does not. Rampant corruption, totalitarian governments, and stateless societies where basic needs are barely achieved are sad to say more of a norm outside of “developed,” countries. There are other ideas of governing a society than what we have become accustomed to in the western world. Many of the groups named above do not plan to adopt our ways and resent us for our norms. Our distance and oceans have helped insulate us in the past though today there is a high number of unchecked persons coming into our country.  Some of this has been at the willing hands of our government, some with NGOs declaring that they are assisting immigrants in their attempt for a better life. This is not to argue for or against immigration but to share a word of caution and an effort to provoke us to think and speak up to our representatives before we wake up here to something “shocking.”

Jonathan Varnell

Native of Southampton County