Peace achieved through victoryIt’s about time someone should stand up and rally the majority, who still believe that this war — in fact any war that we undertake — is worth winning. We’re the United States of America, and even for whatever faults that people want to bring up and decry, it’s still the greatest country in the world. We’ve got the best equipped, best trained military in the world. And as we’ve learned through history, especially in Vietnam, Korea and WWII, peace comes through victory, complete and unconditional, NOT from deciding to cut and run.
Will RayJunior, Communication
Don’t compare Confederate flag to NazisThe only ignorant thing about the Confederate flag is that is was associated with Mike Freenor’s article [“Stop flying symbols of racism,” March 21]. It is nice to know that Mr. Freenor did absolutely no research for this article before he began writing it. I find it incredibly disrespectful and overdramatic for him to compare people who fly the Confederate flag to Nazis. I have many friends and acquaintances of different races and ethnicities, none of whom has ever had a problem with my display of the flag. If Mr. Freenor would like to start being an unbiased journalist, I know that I or any other person who displays the flag would be happy to talk to him about why we really do it.
Abbey L. KatesSenior, Animal Science
Flying Confederate flag is not racistThe column “Stop flying symbols of racism” is absurd. By following your line of thinking, the Christian flag and the American flag should also not be displayed in public places. Why is this? It is because the KKK also uses these symbols in its rallies. Along the lines of the author’s thinking, one would have to attack the American and Christian flags as well. They are displayed along with the Confederate flag when the KKK has its rallies. The “Rebel” flag was a battle flag, nothing more. It did not mean slavery or hatred against blacks, Jews or anyone not Caucasian. I believe that most people today who have a Rebel flag are not racist, they are remembering the history and heritage of the South. Your quote, “Heritage, not hate, is merely revisionist handwriting.” Do you honestly believe that? Or is it that Southern people are trying to regain respect for their flag. If you ban the flying of the Rebel flag, ban also the American flag. The same atrocities that happened under the Rebel flag have also happened under the American flag. When someone flies the Rebel flag, it is honoring the Confederate dead and remembering the ideals that they fought for. I am a Son of Confederate Veterans; I do fly that flag to honor my heritage and my family that served in that war. I am not racist in any way. Flying that flag is remembering the fallen and honoring their valor in combat.
Zack ChambersSophomore, Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management
Stop burying conservative truthsIt has been both encouraging and discouraging to be reading your paper in the last few days. As a member of the community, I was glad to see a strong conservative voice shedding the light of truth on liberal defeatists and liars on Tuesday in Christine DiPietro’s column [“Create success in Iraq, despite opposition”]. We should support the troops and their mission, no questions asked. To not do so not only demoralizes them, but creates the possibility of allowing terrorism to grow all over the world. On Wednesday, a liberal bias shot out of your front page, as we were forced to view the actions of a radical, violent group who supports what amounts to anti-capitalist, harmful, communistic ideology. To them I ask, in the words of Sean Hannity: “Is it that you hate this president or that you hate America?” Here’s hoping that in the future your paper will not bury conservative truths while giving top-billing to militant liberals. Whoop it up, guys. Our enemies will show those kinds of pictures to our troops and demoralize them, or empower their own cause.
Ed Van HammerslyCary, N.C.
Burroughs’ letter about basketball misinformedIn response to Bryan Burroughs’ forum submission regarding walk-ons for the basketball team. Bryan, in defending the walk-ons you said that it was wrong to say that we only have “six or seven competent” players, and that Bryan Nieman and Dennis Horner were very valuable to the team this year. The problem with this is that Dennis Horner is not a walk-on, but a scholarship player (true freshman) and our sixth man. Therefore he is considered in the “six or seven.” Bryan Nieman is our second player off the bench, or the seventh man. Either you cannot count or know nothing of N.C. State basketball. Since you seemingly thought Horner was a walk-on, I’m going to assume the latter, and on that note completely disregard any argument you have involving this year’s basketball team, because you clearly have no idea what you’re talking about. Perhaps the worst informed letter to the campus forum I’ve read to date.
Jason SimonJunior, Civil Engineering