I do enjoy reading the paper and seeing such understanding and compassion for those who are speaking out against the war.

I have been accused of being a communist as a result of a letter I wrote, and now Mr. Brandt’s letter quotes a petty officer as saying protesters are all communists and should go to hell. Such subtlety.

As I am neither an anti-war activist nor a communist, I wish to clarify my original point. The point is that according to the U.S. Constitution and the beliefs and ideals of this country, those who protest the war have the right to do so.

The hypocrisy of those who cloak themselves in patriotism and defend the war with the claim that we are over there for freedom and democracy appalls me.

To deny those who do not agree with us the freedom of speech cheapens that very ideal. Being American does not mean one has to support and rally ‘round the flag in defense of every action of our government.

Does Mr. Brandt not find it ironic that we are fighting a former ally, someone we supported and armed for years?

To believe in a cause and to speak out against what one believes is wrong is not “silly.” It is adhering to a belief, an ideal regardless of what others are saying and doing.

While I do not agree with every act and statement of those who protest the war, I defend their right to say what they will.

As to Mr. Drendel’s letter on the same page, gee, unconventional expression of ideas, humm, I guess we should just forget: Martin Luther King, Dorothy Day, the Amish and Ghandi. Or maybe they were just silly.

Matthew Sorenson

Graduate assistant

Nursing