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Takes exception to critical letter

To the editor:
I would like to take exception to the letter to the editor in last weekís paper that said ìI do not want my children to read glorified versions of people breaking the law and then getting sympathy and recognition from the local paper.î I agree with the reader that we shouldnít give publicity to persons who break the law, but in the case of Anika Walz, she was practicing peaceful and non-violent civil disobedience.
Civil disobedience is part of our American history. Our country was founded using civil disobedience. Blacks first gained their freedom through the underground railroad and later civil rights as a result of civil disobedience. In fact, one of the key persons engaged in that civil disobedience, Martin Luther King, Jr., is now recognized with a national holiday and is considered a hero of that movement. The woman who wrote the article might be surprised to learn that it took many acts of civil disobedience, similar to Anikaís, to achieve the right of women to vote in this country.
She also might be surprised to learn that Major General Paul Eaton, the base commander at Ft. Benning described their protest and actions as ìAmerican democracy at work,î and went onto say that, ìIt was America at its finest.î
So really, quite the opposite, Anikaís actions are both newsworthy and something we should be teaching our children. We Americans should cherish the right to non-violent and peaceful protests against any oppression in our society. In fact, that is what makes us free and that is what justifies not only civil disobedience, but also our military that fights for freedom.
It is possible that the woman thought Anika was protesting against American soldiers stationed there. She was not. She was protesting against our governmentís training of soldiers from Latin America that in many cases went on to violate the human rights of their own citizens that included raping nuns and murdering innocent people. We all need to learn about what is going on at the School of the Americas and we need to thank the newspaper for playing that role in our society.
Rick Olseen
Harris

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