Patriot Act

Refer to Mr. Ludacer's literal repeat of his editorial concerning the Patriot Act and Major Johnston's volatile diatribe about our efforts in Iraq. It's a shame Highlands Today can't find something new to accept instead of simply allowing a repeat of an earlier editorial from Mr. Ludacer or the kind of attack mounted by the major.

It seems the major has an axe to grind with the military, apparently because he could not advance beyond the rank of major. Personally, I didn't get beyond the lower ranks of the enlisted men but I didn't and don't blame politics for that. 1 simply recognize that I did not apply myself to do any better and the major doesn't seem to be able to face that fact about himself. He chooses to pass the blame to politicians, for whom I often also have little love lost but they aren't the bullies standing in the way of personal development.

He chooses to advance his hatreds with a violent cacophony which seems to be the way some people express themselves when their thoughts have no substance. The major talks about traitors. Read your own letter, major, and even you should see the reason you went no farther than major.

Mr. Ludacer simply doesn't recognize that his attack on legislation that allows us to more closely follow an enemy's activity is an open door to the lack of liberal interest in protecting the U.S. He offers nothing as an alternative, he would leave us open to attacks that should be uncovered before they occur, not just overlooked by those who refuse to invade the "right" of a terrorist.

The Patriot Act is America's homeland barrier to terrorism. Our current operation has produced no instances of misuse on a U.S. citizen, although I would fully expect liberal individuals or groups to manufacture a problem and it amazes me that, to this date, no one has done so.

Dissent is necessary in a democracy, it is the balance needed to maintain itself. There is a difference between dissent and destroy, and that is too often difficult for the far left to see.

Donald W. Gallagher
Sebring