The Crosses of Lafayette: Real Freedom

Today's Contra Costa Times has this thoughtful letter from Murray Bishop:

As a father whose son is an Army Ranger in his second Iraqi deployment, I'd like to add my point of view on the Lafayette cross controversy.

My son and I are on the opposite sides of the political issues involved with our invasion of Iraq. I consider it the worst foreign policy mistake in U.S. history; he sees it differently. However, let no one interpret my views as an attempt to undermine the support given to the soldier on the ground there.

Only another parent can appreciate the fear and anxiety you experience in having your child go to war where the possibility of their death is real.

However, it seems to me that those who wrap themselves in the American flag as true patriots of the American way of life are the first to attack the civil liberties that are the cornerstones of that way of life and to say that those who have a fundamental disagreement with government policy are less American. It's a shallow and flawed point of view.

Freedom can only be protected by those of us brave enough and concerned enough to exercise it. That's far more important than the size of a sign.

Murray Bishop

Martinez

As Sinclair Lewis famously said: "When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross."