The unrelenting rancor lodged by every editorial writer and news commentator against Bill Clinton does nothing to improve the conditions in our country and it certainly isn’t helping the president deal with the heavy load of problems he inherited. Ridicule seems to be the popular scenario…

President Clinton should be commended for confronting two very inflammatory issues which have divided our nation: homosexuals in the military and abortion. By taking the bull by the horns, there is some degree of possibility that the heat will be diffused and reason will be allowed to prevail. Neither those issues nor the deficit will go away by themselves.

Clinton was not in office during the “everything is rosy” approach. Taxes is another difficult subject for a president to confront, yet the deficit must be paid down. Since none of the recipients of federal funds, and that includes every man, woman and child, in the United States, either directly or indirectly, have offered to give up their benefits to help reduce the deficit, taxes must be raised.

During the Memorial Day tribute to the Vietnam veterans, I was moved by the display of compassion by the speakers and admired Clinton’s courage. By the same token, I was ashamed when the angry few took the occasion to vent frustration and direct it at the president. Is this the kinder and gentler nation we like to epitomize? Our president needs our respect and encouragement. It shouldn’t take a bloody war to elevate our leader to the role of hero. Barbara Burr Chamberlain Whiting