Letter: Leading dissent against war is act of patriotism

Friday, July 23, 2004 | 5 a.m.

WEEKEND EDITION

July 24 - 25, 2004

If a president is leading his nation down the highway to hell, the guy on the curb shouting: "Yeah! Way to go" is no patriot. The patriot is the guy in the street imploring the crowd to force the president to change course.

The Vietnam War was authorized on an incident that had been reported falsely (sound familiar?). American casualties were 58,000 killed, 369,000 wounded. Half of these casualties occurred after it was obvious the war was unwinnable. Lyndon Johnson was determined to "stay the course" and not be the first American president to lose a war. More troops didn't bring victory, just more casualties.

John Kerry enlisted in the Navy and served with distinction in Vietnam. After his discharge he joined with other returned veterans in an effort to stop the useless sacrifice of our troops in a senseless war. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney, who are using this activity to smear Kerry as unpatriotic, themselves didn't have any guts during the Vietnam War. But they sure have lots of gall now.

VERNON BOSTICK