"Utter Contempt Toward the United States by the French Political Establishment"

Concerning the funeral of America's 40th president, most of the letters to the editor in the Paris-based International Herald Tribune were anti-Reagan and/or anti-Bush, but one of them hit the nail on the head.

Honoring Reagan

Mikhail Gorbachev, a former enemy of the United States, came from Russia to pay his respects at President Ronald Reagan's funeral, while America's "friend," President Jacques Chirac of France, who was already on Sea Island, Georgia, attending the Group of Eight summit meeting, refused to attend the ceremonies.

This snub comes from a nation that only days ago pledged unending gratitude for the American lives lost in the liberation of France. This slight goes beyond not liking President George W. Bush, or even not liking President Ronald Reagan. This is utter contempt toward the United States by the French political establishment.

Anthony Murdocca, Shiremanstown, Pennsylvania

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