Honor the Troops but Question the Alamo

Mitchell Gaswirth’s April 8 commentary “Remember the Alamo” captured many of my emotions about this war. I openly admit that I hate the Bush administration for what it is doing economically, environmentally and diplomatically -- and truly the worst is this war. But my heart goes out to the young people who have dutifully gone off because they have made the commitment to do so. I hope when they return they are treated better than those who returned from Vietnam. I hope they come back to a country that can provide them with the services, jobs, lives and respect they fought for and deserve. But this administration is more likely to cut veterans benefits to subsidize more tax cuts for the wealthy, and it sickens me.

Norma Arbisser

Los Angeles

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Thank you for printing the commentary by Gaswirth. How nice to read a rational, intelligent piece after all the vitriol we have been subjected to on your editorial pages recently.

Dorothy Tucker

Thousand Oaks

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Americans continue to support nonessential wars based on such poor historical claims as Gaswirth’s. The Alamo had little to do with freedom fighters and more to do with expansion into what was then part of Mexico. Similarly, the Rough Riders were part of an expedition that led Cuba from the imperialist control of Spain to that of U.S.-backed dictatorships.

These had nothing to do with defending America, nor were the soldiers fighting for American liberties, since neither was in danger. Gaswirth praises the nobility of soldiers past and present; he should also lament that they have died over centuries for profits and conquest.

Richard Baker

Beverly Hills