To the editor:

Why is it when folks have disagreements concerning love of country or flags that they use inflammatory statements like "love it or leave it?" Basically if you don't agree with me then get the heck out!

Narrow thinking and greed is the main cause of this nation's problems. This lady who wrote in last week is just not educated on the the way this country works politically. We have the right to disagree, we have a right to do nothing (which is what more of us do). This is called a democracy - freedom to express a different view or idea without being hauled off in the middle of the night and never seen again.

Some people root for the wars and say let's go kick their butt, and "we" should send in more troops, etc. It makes them feel safe if we are out there killing people. Wars start when governments disagree or decide that they have something that we need. "When old men talk, young men die."

How quick they are to spend the lives of others to fight these no-win wars. Well, I have been to war. It is not a good thing. I have earned my right to protest the wholesale slaughter of the human race. So the next time you say "let's go get 'em," think about what your saying.

I see a lot of the old-timers wearing hats and old uniforms of their old military units and acting proud and maybe they should. They had the guts to go.

But the truth is many of them were drafted and hated every minute they were in the service.

So if you're going to have blind loyalty to government, you need to check your brain at the door. Please don't confuse love of country with love of government. I vote fix it!

Jerry Stewart, Lebanon