Freedom and democracy are spirit of America

Dear Editor:

I am writing because I was initially dismayed by Frank Glaub's comment in the article "Protestors join nationwide rally."

He states the people who participated in the "support our troops and bring them home" rally are not real Americans but are merely impersonating Americans. I was born in America, and so were the majority of the people at the rally. Many of those at the rally are war veterans who served in WWII and Vietnam.

We are all continuing the ideals of America by thinking for ourselves and taking an active part in the policies of our government. Yet you believe that we are not real Americans? What is your idea of a real American? Someone who agrees with you? Someone who just shuts up and accepts whatever the president tells them? Someone who is callous to the death of soldiers on ill-planned military excursions? Someone who does not care whether our government officials tell us the truth when trying to convince us to launch an aggressive attack on another country? Someone who supports the PATRIOT Act and believes Big Brother should be watching us to make sure we behave the way Big Brother wants us to behave?

If this is what you consider to be an American, then I will gladly renounce your particular narrow label while embracing the ideals of freedom and democracy, two things that are very much in the spirit of our country.

Joe Williams

junior, School of Science

Copyright 2009 - Daily Egyptian