For the last eight years I have carried the following clipping in my wallet from the January 2009 New York Times describing Barack Obama’s first church service as president:

“For the first time, the main sermon was delivered by a woman, the Rev. Sharon E. Watkins, general minister and president of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). She related an oft-told Cherokee tale about a grandfather who explains to his grandson that within every person are two wolves fighting — one the wolf of anger, resentment, and fear, the other of compassion, hope, and love. The grandson asks which wolf wins, and the grandfather answers, ‘The one you feed.’ ’’

I think this story is quite appropriate for our United States of America today.

John A. Fiske

Weston