We’re Americans and darn glad about it. Since we don’t remember having had any say about where we would be born, our parentage, genes we would inherit, or time of birth, I guess we’ve just been lucky. But we’re also having a difficult time being proud of it.

People who prey on others especially children, the aged and infirm, the hapless and innocent, must be the lowest form of humanity.

Our County Sheriff Mark Brown just issued a warning about scam artists posing as collectors for humanitarian aid to the earthquake victims of Haiti, noting that, “This is a very disgusting trend that seems to occur far too often.” What sort of commentary about the ethics of our fellow humans is that?

The plight of people in Haiti has touched hearts all over the world. Is that something for opportunists to take advantage of? But one of our most respected business institutions is. Millions are making contributions to various Haiti relief funds and using their credit cards for the transaction. Guess who is skimming 3 percent of all that money? It’s been reported that Visa and other credit card companies were asked to forgo their transaction fees for contributions to the relief funds and were promptly ignored or denied. Remember when we had a national uprising because Mafia were skimming in gambling casinos? Credit card companies are even worse.

How proud of your fellow Americans and patriotic does that make you feel? It isn’t doing much for us. Thanks Sheriff Brown for your efforts and warnings, but the problem is pandemic and the pharmaceutical companies who are too busy ripping off Medicare haven’t come up with a cure yet.

Al and Barbara Williams

Oak Harbor