1. United States
2. Iowa
3. Letter

Americans are being lied to. We are being told it’s “us” versus “them.” We are being told that times are so dire that we must choose ourselves over others. When we are convinced of this, those in power will surely create a world that becomes us versus them - so they can hold power, and we will not only allow them to do it, we will encourage them. We still live in a world that allows us to live with our neighbors, to love our neighbors, and to offer assistance to our neighbors when they are in need. This gives us a “soft power.” The power of respect, of honor. Soft power builds allies. When soft power is used with hard power, political scientist Joseph Nye Jr. called that “smart power.” You must insist that USAID be restored immediately.