In response to Arnold Tein of Chapel Hill, N.C. (Readers Write, Aug. 15), regarding Sen. Mitchell’s alleged anti-Israeli statements; I need to say that the Aug. 5 conference did not stir anti-Israeli, anti-Kurd or anti-Turk sentiment. It, in fact, stirred pro-American sentiment. By American, I’m sure all races and ethnic groups are included. Is that not the whole gist of America?

Americans come in all shapes and sizes. Some are disabled, some are unemployed, some are homeless, some are wealthy, some are blue-collar workers, most are taxpayers. The only real importance is that as Americans, their needs should come first. America would not exist without her people.

I’ll gladly pay taxes to re-educate a displaced worker or house a homeless family, but I begrudge my tax money being used to buy inconsistent foreign friendship. It’s tiring to hear individual ethnic groups personalizing every statement made by a politician. Ethnic groups make America interesting but Americans make her great. Joyce Martin Franklin