
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, February 17, 1991                   TAG: 9102180332
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: C/2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

UNWILLING TO GIVE LIVES IN UNJUST WAR OVER OIL

I HAVE READ recent letters condemning the peace marchers as unpatriotic and not supporting the troops. I find these opinions arrogant and naive. My husband and I joined 250,000 peace activists in Washington, D.C., Jan. 26. We didn't burn flags; we carried them. I feel very strongly that it is possible to support our troops but not the policy that put them there.

My only child is now serving in Saudi Arabia. My husband recently retired from the Air Force. Why must it take a war and tragic loss of life for Americans to unite with this show of patriotism?

I wonder if the true meaning of patriotism has been lost. Where is military support when there is no war? How about a decent wage for the soldiers? Let's provide quality health care for our veterans. Any military person can attest to the anti-military feeling in cities with military installations. How many pro-war people voted in the last election? I feel many Americans have lost the ability to think for themselves.

Neither Kuwait nor Saudia Arabia is democratic. They are oppressive countries violating basic human rights. Why should our military be up for hire? As a recent CBS news report showed, many Kuwaitis are not even willing to defend their own country. They are too busy in the discos of Egypt.

The Reagan and Bush administrations were repeatedly warned about the atrocities Saddam Hussein inflicted upon the Iranians and his own people. Instead of imposing sanctions,the United States provided loans and farm credits to the point where Iraq was just behind Israel and Egypt as our largest recipient of foreign aid.

I'm as patriotic as anyone and fully supportive of the troops. However, I am not willing to sacrifice my son or any other lives for an unjust war over oil. I'm wondering how much support there will be when the ground invasion starts and the slaughter of our troops begins. But, of course, by then it will be much too late.

KATHRYN L. BROWN

CHRISTIANSBURG

by CNB