I AM writing in response to M. Naughton's letter regarding the pugnacious American nation.

This flag-waving nation is presently displaying its national flag in a manner that he will not see in England.

Most cars, shops homes etc display the flag as a show of patriotism, holding together as a nation that has built itself on the ingenuity of the immigrant. The United States responded to Britain in 1941 with food stuffs etc in the form of cod liver oil, powdered eggs, orange juice and such when Britain needed it. It supplied badly needed aircraft, ships, ammunition and the like. Not once has the the USA ever asked the British government for the money it gave to Britain in 1941 to 1945 to fight the Second World War.

Not once has the USA asked Russia for the money it spent on the famines and massive food shortages that have occurred in Russia, in spite of 'glorious communism'.

Not once has the USA asked for money from the nations it helped, such as India, Japan, and other countries when earthquake and massive floods have occurred as well as famines.

The USA is a land of plenty as far as food and a willingness to help is concerned. What help does the USA receive from other nations when it gets in trouble such as the massive flooding of the Mississippi, the massive forest fires of Washington and Oregon that burned for more than two months and require thousands of volunteer fire fighters and volunteer National Guard (Like the British Territorial Army)? No one country has willingly offered any help to the USA in the form of people, money, equipment, technology or food, or assistance in its time of trouble.

The terrorists killed without remorse approximately 5,000 people in almost the blink of an eye and left families fatherless and motherless. In the World Trade Centre, on the upper levels above the impact area, both men and women had a choice to make in less than a few seconds.

The choice was to die by fire, to die by jumping almost 1,000 feet, or to wait until the buildings collapsed. Whatever their choice was, the outcome was to be the same. Another 120 people also had a choice to make, and that was to try and overpower the airliner terrorists and die in the attempt, or sit tight and die doing just that. What would your choice be?

As M. Naughton is talking about numbers and countries, remember who struck first in the blow that the brought the USA into the Second World War. But for the USA, M Naughton might be living under a German Government of Nazis.

Remember that in Korea it was the North Koreans that invaded South Korea, and it was also Britain and the Commonwealth countries (including South Africa) and the USA that went to help the South Koreans. Please remember also who struck the first blow in this war, not the pugnacious USA, but the sneaky bin Laden. At least Hitler did not resort to the form of terrorism that was seen on September 11.

Now that there is a cry to take the stand against international terrorism, the first country to pledge its support was The United Kingdom. It would seem, however, that not everyone supports the actions of the British Government.

Whatever M. Naugton thinks of the USA, just be thankful that it is around.

David Pye

Cole Drive

Meadville

Pennsylvania

USA