The right to protest must never be curbed

Since the United States' misguided invasion of Iraq in 2003, much ado has been made about the need to support our troops stationed there, in nearby Afghanistan, and in other places in the world where they have been sent in harm's way. Bumper stickers and letters to the editor continuously encourage us to do this. It is inconceivable to me that anyone could not support them. But the right to peacefully protest must never be given up, or even diminished, for any reason, be it “national security,” religious intolerance or or any other such murky rationalization. Peaceful protest does not equal either disloyalty or unpatriotic behavior, as long as it doesn't encourage violence. Our right to protest, purchased at great cost in American lives, while occasionally annoying or even downright disgusting, must remain fundamental. The same must be said for the rights of a free press to keep citizens informed about all events going on, particularly those that may tend to reflect poorly on whichever party or people are in power. I have no doubt that, given the opportunity, our president, vice president, secretary of state and secretary of defense would leap at any opportunity to curb or joyfully eliminate the rights of the people to know and understand what is being done in their name. Wanting to know the truth and exposing lies and liars should always be legal behavior. To those who say you should “love America or leave it,” I can only reply that you don't speak for me. I have not given anyone my consent to give away any of the rights that I and every American should be willing to die for to protect, for now and for every generation to come. Those who fear the truth generally feel frightened because it would expose them or deprive them of their simplistic/nonthinking slogans. James Kinsell, Port Republic - Published in the Atlantic City Press, October 13, 2006