LETTERS: LABELS MISREPRESENT AMERICAN VALUES

To the editor:

The childhood rebuke, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me," was not believable in my youth. It is still not believable as an adult. Many battles are won or lost in the war of wards. Importantly, one must be accurate when labeling the ideas and thoughts of others.

While reading the May 15 Associated Press article, "Anti-government cry reaches Congress," I became aware of the conflict in attaching labels to ideas. Many groups espousing supposed anti-government sentiments are also labeled fringe and extremists by others in today's media.

A few of the beliefs deemed radical include the supremacy of the U.S. Constitution, including the right to bear arms, free enterprise and a government designed only for the purpose of protecting innocent citizens from evil so each citizen is then free to pursue life, liberty and happiness.

I find it ironic that in past years those who lived and died to protect these God-given principles were praised and revered as true Americans. How far has this nation fallen that now, without public outrage, we allow these ideas to be called anti-government, fringe and extreme?

These very ideas were the foundation set forth by our Founding Fathers who paved the way for this nation's abundant freedom and prosperity, which we continue to reap today. Do we have the courage to defend these patriotic ideas despite today's intimidating labels? Or will we allow more holes to be kicked into our great republic's foundation, further weakening the greatest nation on Earth? I pray not.

RITA LaVANCHY

Jackson