I am neither a Democrat nor Republican. I am, however, an American. With that in mind, I would like to give a slightly different view on the presidential election.

As a newly married couple, my wife and I watched this election as the next president will make decisions that will affect our marriage. As we watched the news coverage, we were as amazed as the rest of the country. I am now ashamed, rather than in awe of the situation.

While this election didn’t really present candidates whom any American could really get behind, it exposed some sick truths about our country. In the first, we affirmed that television is more interested in being first rather than being right. It sickens me to think that the very people whose job it is to deliver an objective and accurate account of the news could contribute to the ambiguity of the current mess.

Little League has better sportsmanship than either of the two political parties. Why is it that we stress good sportsmanship and rules with our children, but yet both of your parties can pout and cry “no fair”? I hope neither party presumes to concentrate on family values after this.

I am most disgusted by the legal garbage. When our forefathers drew up the rules, they did not intend for this nonsense to go on. Throughout the past 10 years, this country has gone to the lawyers. Yet, even in the last election,

I remarked to my friends and family on how I was so glad that at least one part of America still belonged to the people; the right to vote. In every election, there will be a certain amount of votes everywhere who are discarded due to the voter’s failure to follow instructions. Why is it that we are only now taking exception to it? Matt Stillwagon Hermon