[Peace-discuss] letter to editor June 21, 2007

[Jan & Durl Kruse]

> Dissent can be high form of patriotism
>
> Thursday June 21, 2007
>
> A recent letter to the News-Gazette from Ernest McClurg of Urbana was  
> titled, "All must share cost of preserving freedom."
>
> The letter lists his complaints and opposition to those who "protest"  
> (question) wars in which they have not fought. He is tired of those  
> who "complain" about society and, as he says, not contributed. He  
> seems to question those who advocate peace and are unwilling to kill  
> or be killed for freedom.
>
> Interesting concepts. It sounds as if McClurg thinks preserving our  
> way of life thus requires blind obedience to unquestioned war  
> (violence) and military service (being willing to kill or be killed)  
> to be the only ways of contributing and loving one's country and of  
> sacrificing here at home and abroad. He ends by stating his family  
> tradition of risking life for country and asks, "What has your family  
> done?"
>
> I am honored to belong to a family and to count as close friends those  
> who were conscientious objectors during war as well as human rights  
> workers following war – those who were brave enough to stand in  
> opposition to violence and do so without blind obedience to it.  
> Protesting a war based on lies and refusing to participate in the  
> evils of the spiral of violence are the actions and beliefs of those I  
> honor. Their examples show the way to truly preserve freedom, show  
> vigilance and make a meaningful sacrifice.
>
> Their lives are examples of alternatives to war and violence that  
> honors life – all life.
>
> JAN KRUSE
>
> Urbana
>  Find this article at:
>
> http://www.news-gazette.com/news/opinions/letters/2007/06/21/ 
> dissent_can_be_high__form_of_patriotism
>

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