Letter: United States must learn, grow greater

Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2001 | 8:26 a.m.

I find it incredible that letter writer Frank Chelli, or anyone else, could look at Muhammad Ali and his opposition to the Vietnam conflict and equate it to World War II, especially in this time of an attack against the American way of life.

I was, and still am, totally opposed to the Vietnam conflict. We, not them, were the aggressors in that mess. No Vietnamese person ever attacked the United States.

World War II and the World Trade Center attacks are totally different. We must, and we will, hunt down and destroy those who seek to attack the United States, the greatest nation that the world has ever seen.

People must realize that just because we are lucky to live in this great land, we are not always right in what we do. We must choose our battles wisely. This one was thrust upon us by those jealous of our way of life, not understanding that it is earned at a great price.

Freedom. The freedom to allow those we do not agree with to have their opinions, without worry of harm for their disagreement. The freedom to burn the flag, march in peace rallies, to believe in religions that the majority don't seem to like, to support causes that are not popular at the moment, and to vote as they believe. It is the freedom to think and do what we feel is right that makes us the great nation we are.

Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Let us hope we continue to learn and to grow even greater.

F. ALAN FARRIS