To the editor:

I unexpectedly awoke at 2:30 a.m. Sunday morning. Strangely, I began to think of my life, my family and America’s current political division.

Now wide awake, I grabbed my smartphone and began listing what I had been taught 70 years ago by my parents, teachers and the good people of southwest Minnesota. I was taught the following:

My country and my family are everything.

Living in America is a blessing.

Be kind and respectful to all.

Policemen and soldiers are our friends.

Work brings dignity.

Without laws and boundaries, we have only chaos and crime.

You can have anything you want, but you must work for it.

Most personal problems are self inflicted.

Capitalism brings a better life for everyone.

If you borrow money, you must pay it back.

Freedom is never free.

Growing government creates dependency.

Always trust in the Lord.

I felt much better that I could still recall what I had learned so long ago. I hugged my beautiful wife of 50 years, who was still soundly sleeping.

I thought of how people and America, in general, had blessed my life and quickly fell back asleep.

John Coulter

Tracy