I felt a bit sad for our great country while listening and watching the far-right crowd at the recent Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC 2013). The wacko factor was surely at work at the circus.

Truly, we’ve a Republican Party today that’s living in a different universe. I find it amusing that it believes the world is 6,000 years old and that humans rode around on the back of dinosaurs before God zapped the big beasts. Nothing is too insane for the far-right crowd to get in the way of reality.

The ex-Alaskan governor, Sarah Palin, and the cartoonish Donald Trump were the chief barkers and found their true fans at the funhouse at playland. Trump complained that America today doesn’t let in enough Europeans. And Palin had her knives out for President Obama. She quipped, “A background check should have started with him.” Of course she’s a “birther” — one of those who believe President Obama is not an American.

One pro-slavery character jumped up and went back to the dark past in our country’s history, claiming that he didn’t understand why the slaves complained about their situation because they had shelter and three square meals a day and were allowed to hunt with guns. And that was a good deal back then (he didn’t mention chains).

The NRA supporters at the circus applauded loudly. No surprise there, as they think about nothing but keeping their assault weapons and Confederate flags.

Sadly, the proud party of Lincoln has truly fallen into ruin. How can we get it to see a different way? It may very well take divine intervention to pull it into the 21st century.

ANN BECHIOMSFlbElizabeth City