I WAS somewhat surprised by Mr L Spiteri's letter regarding America's involvement in the Second World War.

Wasn't the mood of American people, in 1939 that it was a European war, and they should stay out of it? Wasn't it called "Isolationism?"

In 1940 when Britain stood alone, wasn't it President Roosevelt who sold the American people on the idea that the United States could not stand on the sidelines. He asked that if a neighbour's house is on fire, and threatens your home, would you not at least lend a hosepipe?

Didn't "Lease Lend" - began with 50 old destroyers to help defend our convoys, and rifles to defend our shores - lead the American people, step by irrevocable step, out of isolationism, until they were plunged into the abyss of global war, by the attack on Pearl Harbour, in December 1941?

Yes, you can be annoyed by the "Hollywoodisation" of the Second World War, but that is entertainment.

The fact remains that America provided much of the arms, the means, and the men, to rekindle the light of freedom across the world.

As regards America ruling the world, that's just hogwash. They've made mistakes, but on the whole their involvement in the affairs of the world has been, I suggest, much more beneficial under their constitution, as it was under our own Bill of Rights (1689).

Parliament chose to remove our right to bear arms, and the option of inflicting the death penalty upon those who murder. One could suggest that as a result of Parliament's decisions, only criminals bear arms in Britain, while our "murderers" have the freedom to murder again, after serving some "time".

N TAYLOR.

Solent Road, Worcester.