<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1400" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: = #ffffff" bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV>Larry,</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I appreciate your engaging me and the list in intelligent = discussion, rather than childish name calling.  I also appreciate that you are = arguing what your heart apparently tells you is the right thing.  That is = your patriotic duty, as it is my patriotic duty to argue my point of = view.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>However, I must respectfully disagree with what you have = said.  In a nutshell, I understand you to have made the following points:</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Point 1:  You defended that our government, once = founded, was perfect the way it is, with whatever policies it might institute, = and so there is no room for discussion of any alternative course = that we might take.  If this is true, then why do we have elections?  = Why did our framers think it was necessary to have a "civil revolution" every 4 years?  Why did our framers feel it was important to write into our = Constitution a process by which the Constitution could be amended?  = Why did our framers feel it was important to have a system of checks and = balances, so that the Congress could pass new bills, but the president had to sign = them into law, but if he vetoed the bill, the Congress could override his veto = with a sufficient majority, but ultimately the Supreme Court could interpret = those laws and, if appropriate, repeal them?  Why did our framers = intentionally design a process by which our government could evolve and perhaps even = re-invent itself as needs arose?  Were they stupid?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Point 2:  You argued that those who dissent with the = government are unpatriotic and un-American, and that they are "enemies from = within."  But then why does our governmental process encourage debate?  Why = do we have free speech (or more accurately, why DID we have it)?  = Shouldn't those who protest the government be arrested and jailed as enemies of the = state?  What about our lawmakers?  Before any bill comes to a vote, it is debated *passionately* by Senators and Representatives from both = sides of the issue.  You would argue, I think, that one side is wrong and = that the other side is right.  A more reasoned and humble perspective = would be that people of good conscience can legitimately disagree on an issue and = that there is often no "absolute" right or wrong.  However, ultimately a = decision is made.  A vote is cast, and one side loses, thereby = officially becoming the "wrong" side.  What would you say of those dissenting lawmakers?  Would you say they are traitors?  Enemies from within?  If so, they should be arrested and jailed -- convicted and = never allowed to serve in public office again.  Yes, *that* would quash = dissent, wouldn't it?!  And what of the Supreme Court justices who = meticulously document their dissent with the government by writing = elaborate dissenting opinions?  Are they traitors?  Enemies of the state?  Or = does it depend on whether they are "right" or "wrong" by your way of thinking?  Can you think of any Supreme Court decision that = didn't go as you would have liked it?  Well, then the dissenting opinion, = defending *your* point of view, would be considered treasonous, and the justice = who wrote it should be thrown into jail.  Right?  Would that be fair, in = your view?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Beyond that, we have points of agreement and disagreement:</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Verdana>You wrote:</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Verdana>></FONT> <FONT face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=2>Patriots are also those = who stand and ring the bell of freedom for the oppressed in Iraq, and who ring the = bell of warning that a traitor is on the verge of being elected = president.</FONT> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Absolutely, and you are to be commended for that, if you truly = believe John Kerry is a traitor.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>And patriots are also the people like me who ring the alarm bell = when they feel an illegitimate president, never democratically elected, is possibly on the verge of another coup d'etat, further endangering = this country for the sake of personal gain.  That is my most sincere = belief, and that is why I take the time to argue with you over this issue.  = That is why I go ON RECORD with the odious Department of Fatherland Defense, and = that is why I risk being interrogated by scary men in dark suits, just like a friend = of mine was for making an off-color joke about Mr. Bush.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>You wrote:</DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Verdana>></FONT> <FONT face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=2>And it is equally = UNpatriotic to not speak up against those who are too shortsighted to see the wolf at = the door.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif" = size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial>Absolutely!  You and I are both doing the = right thing, here.  We both see danger, and we are both discussing it openly.  We simply don't agree on what the danger is.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial>I wrote:</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial>>>It is UNpatriotic to accuse a person of = being UNpatriotic or UN-American for doing whatever his heart of hearts = -- his deepest conscience -- tells him is the right thing to do.  It is UNpatriotic to accuse someone of being anti-American, just because = he doesn't conform to your point of view.  (How DARE = you?!)</FONT></DIV> <DIV></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Verdana>To which your responded</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Verdana>></FONT> <FONT face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=2>But is that not what = you're attempting to do now? I'll tell you how I "dare", sister. *My* heart of = hearts, *my* deepest conscience, tells me that a man who came back from Vietnam = and trashed his fellow soldiers with lies and half truths for his own = political ambitions is a traitor.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif" = size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=2>Then you are = not being unpatriotic, if you truly think Kerry was "trashing" his fellow = soldiers and being a "traitor."</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Verdana></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Verdana>However, if you consider young Mr. Kerry's = testimony with any depth, you would realize that his quarrel was not with the = soldiers who put their lives on the line for their country.  Indeed, he had and = still has the deepest respect for our soldiers.  No, his quarrel was with = the government that was exploiting these young men for economic reasons, = fighting a war inhumanely in an arena where it did not belong.  </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Verdana></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Verdana>Although Mr. Kerry has not made any statements = on the matter, to the best of my knowledge, I don't think he would be too = critical of Ms. England, who was front and center in the sexual humiliation/torture = of Iraqi prisoners.  She was following orders.  Rather, he would = criticize the chain of command that ordered her to do it.  Personally, I would = hope that our young people have the decency and common sense to defy orders when = they are wrong, even if that means going to prison, but realistically, most = soldiers don't think they have any choice in the matter.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Verdana></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=2>You have = levied many criticisms against Mr. Kerry for his past policies.  However, those = criticisms can be summarized by saying you did not agree with the = man.  I think you believe that any *true* American -- any *true* patriot -- = should agree with you, hook, line, and sinker.  Right?  Everyone else = is a traitor?  Do I understand you correctly?</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif" = size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Verdana><FONT face=Arial>Finally, you have = personally belittled Mr. Kerry at great length.  You will notice that I have largely = refrained from belittling Mr. Bush.  Is it because I respect him?  = Absolutely not.  Even though I detested Nixon, I thought he had one or two = good traits.  Even though I hated Reagan's policies, I found him rather "likable."  Even though I disagreed with George HW Bush (i.e. the = father), I respected him.  George W Bush is the first president in my lifetime for whom I cannot muster a single charitable word, except = to say that I like his parents.  However, I will not stoop to call him a = traitor or un-American.  He is a part of this political process, whether I = like it or not.  He has a right, and even a duty to run for office, even = though I pray we won't have to suffer through another 4 years under his = leadership.  I think the harm done internally to our system of government could = possibly be irreparable within our lifetimes and could even start us down a long = road towards revolution.  What government will our children and = grandchildren ultimately have?  We cannot assume that it will be a democracy or = that it will even be benevolent.  Our government has its problems, but it's = a pretty sturdy and benevolent one.  Let's hope it will = continue, and let's hope our citizens are wise enough to elect leaders who do not = use the Constitution as toilet paper.</FONT></FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Yours in hope and patriotism,</DIV> <DIV>Sarah</DIV> <DIV> </DIV></DIV></BODY></HTML>