<return address withheld>
February 21, 1990

Helmut Kohl, Federal Chancellor
6700 Ludwigshafen/Rhein
Marbacher Strasse 11
Federal Republic of Germany

Dear Mr. Chancellor:

It is with great interest that I watch and have watched the events of the past few months unfolding before my eyes in Europe. Since I saw you at the last Economic Summit a year or so ago, I have followed your career with great interest.

I trust your judgement on this Germany-reunification deal, but I request humbly that you exorcise caution in the establishment of the new one-for-all, all-for-one German Republic. I don’t personally blame you for what happened in the Second World War (you know: Hitler), and it is because I know you are concerned with putting those bad memories behind us that you will do what is best for the world.

Please, maintain a constitutional, capitalistic form of government! Remember the Weimar Republic! Democracy crumbled under the hefty weight of impassioned dictatorship. And while you remember Auschwitz, I’ll remember Dresden (that’s fair, isn’t it? and certainly humbling!). The past is over; let us not repeat it.

Again, be careful with your dealings with the East German leader. Remember, he is still a socialist! Please, if you would do me the honor, send me a photograph of yourself so that I may remember this great period of transition.

Faithfully,

Phil Saunders