Protesters have responsibility to continue

To the editor:

Unlike the proposed war on Iraq, there is no doubt that we were fighting an imminent threat to our freedom in World War II. What was the precious freedom that those boys died for on Omaha Beach? It was the freedom of assembly, the freedom to speak one's mind and the freedom to dissent, the very lifeblood of a viable democracy.

Recently I have been reading the U.S. Constitution. I have noticed some interesting things. First, contrary to some current opinion, George Bush is not my commander in chief. He's the commander in chief of the armed forces. The Constitution states that those who govern do so "by the consent of the people." We are George Bush's boss, not the other way around. And we have a responsibility to stand up when we see him going astray. The ultimate authority is with the people. The Constitution is very clear about all this. It was a radical document in 1790. Perhaps it still is.

The protesters have looked deeply at the facts from many sources. We have come to the conclusion that the proposed war is both immoral and a grave mistake. Given the extreme seriousness of the issue, we feel we have a responsibility to continue protesting. I believe this is the greatest homage we can pay to the boys who died for this freedom. I am also certain the Founding Fathers would applaud our involvement and view us as courageous and patriotic citizens.

ROBERT POLACK JR.

Cape Girardeau