Peace Marchers Send a Message of Restraint

I am certain there are many well-intentioned people among the peace activists (Sept. 30). But I wonder how many of them were aware that as they marched in Washington against a “racist war,” the U.S. sent shipments of food to Afghanistan? The slogans this tiny minority are using are out of date, the rhetoric hair-triggered. Who are the racists here? Islamic fanatics want to see American men, women and children dead.

The last time I looked, our government had launched not a war but a global police hunt. This is not about Vietnam. This is a battle against murder and mayhem, whether it be in America or Europe or the Middle East. Suicidal fanatics came to these shores and took advantage of all our blessed freedoms in order to annihilate us. Those honorable souls parading for peace and justice might want to consider how far they would get if they were marching for the same principles in the streets of Kabul.

Tom Puckett

Thousand Oaks

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Thank you for the impressive photo on Sunday of the peace march in Washington, depicting demonstrators as they sent an eloquent message of restraint to President Bush. Here in Northern California I was among the thousands of people marching for peace on the same day in San Francisco. I am terrified by the Bush administration’s call for war. For America to take indiscriminate aim at countries in the Middle East is a destabilizing, deplorable act that we, a rational people living in a nuclear age, cannot risk taking. Those associated with the terrorist acts of Sept. 11 should be brought to justice and tried in a court of law.

Marcia Stieger

Fairfax, Calif.

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I had a good laugh reading about an antiwar protest group on Sunday being led by Aztec-clad dancers. Maybe the protesters should read some history books before choosing their pacifist symbols.

Steve Benson

Huntington Beach

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It seems ironic that there is an antiwar movement today. As a Vietnam war protester of the ‘60s, I can hardly see the comparison between the two. Vietnam was an internal conflict that we got involved with. The scenario of Sept. 11 is quite different. We were attacked! I support whatever it takes for us to defeat this enemy. The antiwar protesters are way off base.

Pedro Baez

Harbor City

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The protesters call for “no more war” and for the saving of innocent people. Does any American want war? None that I know. However, a war was brought to our shores. Doing nothing will only lead to more dead Americans. Doing nothing will embolden those who have elected to be our enemies to strike again. Doing nothing is unjust and not an option. Who wants to hurt innocent Afghan people? If the U.S. didn’t care who was hurt in a retaliatory raid, we could have leveled that country two weeks ago. The Bush administration has shown remarkable restraint in the use of our forces and deserves great credit for that restraint.

Tim Hodge

Simi Valley

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I find it appalling that in America, the land of the free, those of us who have dissenting opinions from the majority are often subject to outrageous allegations, many of which go unchallenged. As a proud American citizen, I resent the notion that I should not question my government’s actions. Dissent is a fundamental right we have in America. I resent the attempt of self-appointed patriots to censor me and others who believe that war is not the answer to this crisis.

Rahul K. Sivaprasad

Playa del Rey