Very recently, the EPOCH TIMES NEWSPAPER, a national publication of Falung Gong (AKA Falun Dafa), published a letter of mine in the reader comments of the paper's OPINION SECTION. The letter concerned the nation and people of Finland, subsequent to an article a previous edition had featured on that nation.

Given that most of my writing these days is rather light-hearted and dismissible, this particular letter was particularly meaningful to me, since I had had occasion to spend several weeks in Finland in the mid-90s as a guest of their National Defense Institute and consider that visit to be a peak moment in my life.

The Finns are an amazing people and it is sad that more Americans are not acquainted with their cultural character, "Sisu nature" and achievements.

The EPOCH TIMES, by the way, is in my opinion one of the last remaining high-water marks in American news media and stresses the classic values that America was founded upon. It is also dedicated to exposing the malevolent dark side of the contemporary Communist Chinese Government (CCP, et al). I heartily recommend it to everyone for its promotion of family values, exemplary moral behavior and ethical conduct in one's life.

As any writer knows, kudos and acknowledgement of one's work are typically a rare, and therefore highly valued return on the scribbler's efforts. Given the large national circulation of EPOCH TIMES, and the fact that only three letters from readers are selected for publication in each issue of the paper's OPINION section, having one's comments selected is in my opinion a somewhat noteworthy accomplishment. Especially appearing in their opinion section, which offers readers some of the best and most carefully researched journalism (including columns and essays by many eminent individuals, such as academician and social critic Victor Davis Hanson) in our nation.

The quality of EPOCH TIMES journalism is among the best in all American media today, so I feel honored to be selected to air my own comment on matters of contemporary importance in its pages.