To the editor:
I am writing in support of the letter from Jim Walsh (Item, Jan. 6), and to repeat and emphasize his conclusion. The attempted overthrow of the American democratic republic — the putsch — must be investigated honestly and understood clearly. Only then can we redouble our efforts to move forward.
Indeed, it is not too early to anticipate that the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6 Attack on the United States Capitol will come to that very conclusion. Such a conclusion will likely continue to be both controversial and divisive.
We need to have confidence, faith if you will, that our judicial system will continue to function fairly, as it has so far done better than anywhere else in the world.
It does not function perfectly, mind you, and successful democracy requires the constant effort to be vigilant and to improve.
It is testimony to our good fortune as Americans that putsch is such an unfamiliar word. In its native Swiss German, putsch originally meant “knock” or “thrust.” German and English speakers now use it to refer to the kind of government overthrow also known as a coup d’état or coup.
My initial motivation to write was to suggest a more familiar synonym, but I do not find one.
On a different subject, I also wish to support the letter from Edward Landry (Jan. 7) praising The Item for publishing unpopular letters, out of respect for the First Amendment guarantee of the right to freedom of speech.
Those who find such letters distasteful, or just plain wrong, are free to respond. It is more effective than canceling your subscription, in my opinion.
Ed Myskowski
Lynnfield
