Protesters dishonor those who sacrificed their lives
Mary Ann Bullock
On March 20, I drove along East Sunshine past a small group of peace activists on one side of Sunshine holding up a piece of tarp with sheets of 8?-by-11-inch paper attached supposedly telling the stories of American soldiers killed in Iraq ("Wall bridges feelings of loss," March 21 News-Leader). Directly across the street were two 18-year-olds, Jason Highley holding up a sign reading "Terrorists are the enemy, not George W. Bush" and Matt Simpson was holding up another sign that said "Freedom's not free." Those two boys have learned more in 18 years than those across the street, such as Ed Janosik, have in 75 or 80 years.
Yes, we grieve for those who have given their lives, and also for their families. And yes, each of those who have given their lives deserve to be honored to the highest degree. Those brave men volunteered to do what they were doing when they lost their lives because they knew that if the terrorists are not stopped, a lot more Americans will lose their lives as a result. After they have fallen, to use their stories in that manner dishonors them rather than honors them, because protest demonstrations such as that only give encouragement to the terrorists.
I cannot tell you how proud I was of those two 18-year-old boys standing there by themselves and standing up for what they believe is right. They are part of the same generation that is over in Iraq now fighting terrorists on their own soil so we will be safe and those who want can stand alongside a street or road and protest. Those protesters should be thanking God for young people like Jason, Matt and all of those described in the stories on that tarp for their sacrifice instead of giving encouragement to the terrorists. If everyone in this country thought and acted like those protesters, in a very short time we would all be slaves of Muslim terrorists.
As for ending the war by defeating George W. Bush, it's your vote. You can re-elect George W. Bush and fight terrorists on their soil, or you can elect John Kerry and fight terrorism on our soil. But in either case, you are going to have to fight terrorists because remember, they attack us.
Mary Ann Bullock, Springfield, is the mother of an Air Force pilot.
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