n response to the March 19 and March 20 mail calls:
Correct me if I am wrong but the last I heard it was our duty as Americans to question our leaders and our government. So it truly confuses me that so many people are offended by the peaceful protesting happening on campus. It is our right as Americans to voice our opinions.
So to everyone asking where are the patriots, they are right there in front of you exercising their American rights. Doing their duty in the face of animosity and judgment by people who seem to have forgotten what America is all about. After all why are we going over there to Iraq?
If it isn’t just about the oil and it is about giving the Iraqi people the same freedoms we have such as free speech then why are you whining about free speech being exercised here?
As to the allegations that the protesters are not supporting the troops….I can only speak for myself. No, I don’t like the way things are being handled with the war on Iraq. However, would I hold that against our troops? NEVER!!
I totally support our troops! I have nothing but the greatest respect for our troops and I feel it would be a terrible shame to lose even one of their lives because of Saddam Hussein. I pray that the sacrifice they will make during this war will be worth it. That remains to be seen.
What we all need to remember is that the protests are against the war not our troops. To our troops: May God be with you and bring you home safe and sound. God Bless America.
Jennifer Parks
Class of 2004
Ms. McGraw stated that war protests are a slap in the face to our armed forces. However, I would argue that instead, comments such as McGraw’s are much more offensive to these men and women. Members of our armed forces have and will die in the name of freedom. It is insulting to suggest that we discourage this very freedom in our own nation.
Perhaps those who are taking the time to voice their opinions about the war should “Shut up and go home,” as Ms. McGraw suggested. This sentiment does sound a bit familiar. I do remember hearing a lot about a nation recently where the people do not have the freedom to say anything in opposition to their government.
It is vital that we take advantage of our freedom to voice our opinions, regardless of if they are for or against our president, for this is not the point. If freedom is worth dying for overseas, then it is certainly worth supporting within our own country.
Kimberly Harris
Class of 2004