The main reason that groups like the Taliban and ISIS harbor such deep hatred of Americans is because for decades we have been forcing our views and concept of right and wrong on others ("Resolved to fight," Feb. 4).
If we would mind our own business and not be the global economic and military bully, people in other parts of the world wouldn't hate us as they do. Can you blame them? If their societal norms don't exactly fit our ideas of democracy or social justice, we punish them economically or send in our lavishly equipped and funded troops to force our ideals on them.
We may not like or agree with the way another country appoints its leaders, treats its women, cares for its children or deals with its neighbors. But it's none of our business. They are sovereign countries and by the very international laws that we hypocritically hold as sacred, we have no legal or moral right to interfere.
We're a big, rich and powerful bully. But in our supreme arrogance we are so convinced of our righteousness that we force our way of life on others, and then wonder why they hate us.
Alan Simkin