When I was a kid in the 50s, all the dads in the neighborhood had served in “the war” and now were back from “the war” and working in the factories, coaching Little League, fishing for trout.

We watched Victory at Sea on our black-and-white tv.

We got toy soldiers for Christmas.

When it was my generation's time to go to our war, I said I didn’t want to go.

Dad said, “Your country, right or wrong.”

I got lucky and didn’t have to go. But I had always wanted to be a good soldier, so I took off to become a writer, to discover, I supposed, what all the killing was for.

Now that dad is 98 and entering another level of care, I want to tell him, “No, you were wrong.”

Probably if I told him that, somebody in the family would get all pissed at me for being so insensitive at a time like this. But I think the ol’ man would understand and be glad to hear me say it. He’s still a Roosevelt Democrat and a union man. He was sure that his country was headed in the right direction, but then he was not so sure.

It’s an election year.

I can still say “you’re wrong.” And I can thank dad and all the other dads who served in “the war” for that.

Maybe, someday soon, their war will be taught in high school history classes as “The Last World War.”

Maybe things are simmering down and not up. Appearances can be deceiving.

Our fingers almost touch at the Bering Sea.

Just one small step…

Leibniz said whatever is possible demands to exist.

And wouldn't that be a wonderful parting gift.

Abby Knowlton

Sante Fe, N.M.

Abby Knowlton

Dear Westphalia:

I would like to respond to your ace reporter's column last week about Venezuela. If you are able to interview Francisco Rodríguez, could you please ask him what concrete proof does he have to justify his claim that Maduro was not democratically elected? I have heard many interviews with Dr. Rodriguez in which he repeats the US propaganda without providing any evidence.

Thank you!

Abby Knowlton

(The Editor Replies: We've reached out to Dr. Rodriguez by email, requesting an interview, but have not yet received a reply. We, too, have seen him on big time podcasts and national news networks. Of course, we're just a little outfit and he probably doesn't have time. Our ace reporter has been struggling to decipher his book, "The Collapse of Venezuela." It's full of incomprehensible equations. If there's proof in there of a rigged election, the proof is hiding in a bowl of pudding.)