In a recent column, Matt K. Lewis states that “Germany is rearming, which — if you’ve read even a single history book published after 1945 — might make you a bit uneasy” (“Trump squanders century’s worth of U.S. power in days,” Star-Advertiser, Insight, March 9).

Since the inception of its constitution in 1949, West Germany (and since 1990, reunified Germany) has been a strong democracy. My country is the most loyal ally the USA could ask for. Yes, we had our differences, but the channels of communication stayed open and we always found common ground.

We have always been thankful to the USA for its help after 1945: from the Marshall Plan to President George H.W. Bush’s steadfast support for reunification. My country would not be where it is today if it had not been for the USA.

Please stop insinuating that the Deutsche Reich of 1933-1945 is comparable to the Germany of 2025. We have learned from our terrible mistakes.

Sabine Haarmann

Makiki

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