Dear Editor:

In 1950, when North Korea invaded South Korea, the U.S. president (a Democrat) sent U.S. troops to fight the Communist invaders. In the ’60s, John Kennedy and his successor Lyndon Johnson (both Democrats) and later Richard Nixon (a Republican) sent U.S. troops to South Vietnam to “prevent the spread of Communism in Southeast Asia.” Additionally, throughout much of the 20th century there were countless chronicles of our nation’s refutation of communism: by congressional liberals in the 1930s, by Truman’s 1947 dismissal of thousands in government deemed to be disloyal, by the conviction of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, by Reagan’s famous admonition, “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall,” etc.

Now to my point. On the front page of the Daily News recently, there was an article about the various STAR students from each of the area high schools. While I applaud the achievements of the students, my concern is about the poster displayed on the wall in a Troup High classroom that is clearly visible in the photograph. The poster appears to be a student’s tribute to Karl Marx, complete with hand-drawn multicolored hearts. What kind of curriculum would inspire a student to so lovingly depict hearts on a poster about Karl Marx, which is obviously approved of by the teacher by virtue of being displayed on the wall. Were students taught that Communists were (are) members of a godless political party, “social reformers” (community organizers?), adherents to a system that is undemocratic, totalitarian and suppresses personal liberty? Very un-American, I’d say, definitely not deserving of multicolored hearts.

Should high schoolers be taught about Marx and Marxism? Sure. Leninism and Stalinism? Sure. These philosophies are best taught as failed social experiments, especially when compared to our representative republic. That should inspire students to draw multicolored hearts on posters for George Washington, Thomas Paine, etc., not Comrade Marx.

I have no children in school, private or public, so my concern is only as a citizen of a great nation, founded on the principles of democratic rule, fueled by the engine of capitalism and reliant on the providential hand of almighty God.

I hope parents will monitor what their children are being taught and counter it with truth when necessary.

Bob Myhand

Lincoln Street, LaGrange