I refer to the letter by Elsie Tu (South China Morning Post, March 30) in which she says I am a Western idealist (Post, March 26) who views the world 'through rose-tinted spectacles'.
In fact, I am a reluctant realist peering 'through a glass darkly' and I see a world entering a period of its history even more dangerous than the one that preceded it.
In a previous letter (Post, February 5) Ms Tu implied that Americans are a nation of Forrest Gumps 'duped by sound bites'.
Similarly J. Garner (Post, April 3) seems to be anti-anybody's military (but particularly the US's), anytime, anywhere.
I believe their utopian view of a world without war is an unattainable dream. Such a world has never existed and I doubt that it ever will, human nature being what it is.
War is not an aberration. It is the constant backdrop to the lives of millions of people today and affects everybody, directly or indirectly.
The United Nations has failed to prevent about 180 wars since its foundation. There are about 30 wars going on today.