Divisive Words in a Time of War

I was driving on the 101 Freeway through Agoura Hills on March 28 when I noticed a large banner proclaiming “America Love it or Leave it” on the overpass. Ugly reminders of the divisive Vietnam War era returned to this Vietnam vet. I would sincerely like to ask those placing these banners to visit their local library and reread the U.S. Constitution. The United States became a great country precisely because of every citizen’s right to hold opposing opinions and to voice those opinions.

The message conveyed by “love it or leave it” is more in line with the thinking of Saddam Hussein’s regime than George Bush’s administration.

Gary Anderson

Thousand Oaks

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A letter (March 29) suggests that we crack down more severely on disorderly street protests to free up our police for anti-terror efforts. A more effective proposal would be to end the aggression against Iraq. That would eliminate most street protests altogether and would bring back our troops to engage in anti-terror efforts here at home, a federal concern if there ever was one. That in turn would free up our police to do what we pay them for: local crime prevention and law enforcement.

Ed Chillington

Lomita

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Can someone please explain why it is that those opposed to this unjust war direct their commentary toward the government and its policies of aggression, while those in favor of the conflict insist on taking potshots at the individual citizens involved in the peace movement?

I was appalled by the comments of Shelly Barbre in “Agreeing Only on Hope for the End” (March 28). She calls the peace activists cowards? How dare she. Last week, I marched alongside an Austrian Jew who escaped Hitler’s tyranny and came to the U.S. He then returned to Europe, fighting for our country in World War II. A brave man and a peace activist.

It takes ever more courage to stand in opposition to this war, at the risk of being branded pro-Hussein or anti-American. My grandfather fought in World War I, my father in Korea and my mother was a captain in the Marines. I support our troops and pray for their safety. I march for peace. What I find cowardly is that this administration hides behind the American public’s fear, anger and sadness stemming from the 9/11 attacks to push forward its agenda. Greed, arrogance and hypocrisy do not belong in the land of the free and home of the brave.

Mary Ann Gallo

Los Angeles

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Nobody likes the idea of war; however, antiwar protests at this time aren’t going to accomplish anything. Now that the war is raging, we should be supporting the courageous men and women of our armed forces, regardless of how we personally feel about the war itself. We owe them that.

Janet Kronenberg

Los Angeles