Disagreement is not disrespect for armed forces

To the editor:

It is important that people question the government. Disagreeing with the way the U.S. government is using the men and women in the armed forces is not an attempt to disrespect them. If the editors of this paper would read their own articles, they would see that the Southeast Missouri Coalition for Peace and Justice supports our troops but disagrees with government policy. This was seen in quotes by members, and it is in our mission statement.

I have a sister in the U.S. Navy, a father who is a retired Air Force captain and a grandfather who served on the USS Iowa during World War II.

The mission statement of the Southeast Coalition for Peace and Justice is to never degrade military personnel. Voicing our concerns about a war and voicing our concerns about government policy is democracy at its best. We won't be hushed up and blindly go along with the government just because someone wants to put a spin on our words and make this personal.

TARA MILLER

Cape Girardeau