DEAR EDITOR:
I am writing to express my discontent and disappointment for the
anti-American protesters that we have to deal with not only here,
but worldwide.
DEAR EDITOR:
I am writing to express my discontent and disappointment for the anti-American protesters that we have to deal with not only here, but worldwide. Every Friday for the last six months I have had to put up with the disappointing sight of the anti-American protesters on the corner of Fourth and San Benito streets in Hollister. I am not speaking out against their First Amendment right, freedom of speech, but I am speaking out against their total disrespect for that right. In this great country of ours it is our constitutional right to say what we feel and to stage peaceful protests. However, it is also their moral, ethical, and patriotic DUTY, given to them at birth by being born in this country to support our country, president and elected leadership no matter what.
Although I may not agree with everything our elected leadership does or stands for on a daily basis, when it comes to world crisis, and the upkeep of world peace, I am the first to stand in line behind them.
Every Friday when I drive by them I proudly honk my horn to the pro-American activists on the other side of the street. The most disturbing fact about these protests, is the fact they are protesting against our soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen.
Those brave men and women are those we need to be standing behind every step of the way. If they do not agree with the president, fine – if they do not agree with our elected leadership, fine. But what do all of these protests do to the morale of our troops? They are the ones out there putting their lives on the line everyday to ensure our freedom.
These individuals are protesting against the EXACT thing that has given them that right, WARS FOUGHT AND WON.
From the Revolutionary War to Operation Iraqi Freedom, this great country has seen every aspect of war, what war means, and what war stands for. This war is not about oil, U.S. supremacy, or the U.S. flexing its muscles. It is a war to rid the world of evil as to ensure that these protesters who have no regard for what this country was built on are able to continue to make America and the rest of the world look bad. Not only the right to protest, but every other right given to us by our Constitution. Which, by the way could only be written AFTER WINNING A WAR.
As a former member of our Armed Services, where I served proudly for more than years, I saw the first Gulf War, Somalia, Angola, etc. I am well aware of all of the sacrifices that our brave men and women take every day to defend this great country of ours.
It is with great honor, dignity and respect that I say to all of our men and women fighting now, and to all of our men and women who have fought in the past to make this country what it is today – MAY GOD BLESS AMERICA, AND OUR MILITARY.
Bernie Rivers, Hollister
Submitted Monday, March 24 to ed****@****ic.com