Editor,

The question that begs to be asked of Mr. Dorich, Mr. Simic, and Mr. Pravica, "What does any of this have to do with Tonga?"

Having first hand experience during my time in the U.S. military, I will say that there is more than enough blame to go around in the Balkans region.

As you can see from their letters, the hatred is long and bitter.

These folks (Serbs, Croats, Bosnians, and Albanians) have been killing each other in the name of god and revenge long before America was a country.

The assassinations and war crimes have been committed many times by all sides.

The problem with the mentality of people in the region is that they won't let go of the past. It is what defines them.

I don't hear anybody defending what the Axis Powers did during WWII.

But your three writers are quick to personally attack others with an opinion that differs from their worldly view.

The great thing about being an American is that you don't have to drag around the hate and bitterness baggage from the past 500 years.

The British once burnt down the White House but you don't see American rednecks running around trying to ethnically cleanse America of the British.

My advice to these gentlemen and others in the Balkans is to get over the past; work things out in the court of law and try to make something positive of the future.

It is interesting that the Matangi Tonga has such a diverse readership.

How about a regional discussion of the four hundred years that Samoa was occupied by Tonga?

Oh, I am sorry; we got over that a few years ago.

Merry Christmas,

Joe Smith

utahpalangi [at] msn [dot] com

Editor's note

This will be the last letter that we will be posting on the issues of World Wars and the wars in the Balkans.