Protesting war does not disrespect participants

Ed Blank’s First Person account of the POW/MIA vigil was an unvarnished, deeply moving piece (“The Annual POW/MIA Vigil: A Lesson for Righteous Militants,” Sept. 9). It reminds us of his skill and humanity, and why his voice is missed in local newspapers.

It is sad then, that he felt the need to veer into tossing brickbats at people who have protested U.S. involvement in Vietnam and later wars. When a war is based on lies, it becomes the worst of all crimes. The Tonkin Gulf Resolution and Saddam Hussein’s “weapons of mass destruction”were such lies.

The dead, missing, disabled veterans are the victims. Politicians who manipulated the facts are the real criminals. To hide from blame, they have become expert at getting military supporters and protesters to detest each other. Generally, both those groups desire a better, peaceful world, without needless conflict. Sometimes warfare is necessary, but we should not enter it while suppressing discussion of the need for it, or obscuring the truth.

We all mourn the losses of conflict, but questioning the leaders who initiate conflict does not disrespect the participants. Rather, it is an attempt to protect them from needless suffering and death. In a way, they and Mr. Blank should be on the same side. HOWARD SCHMITT

Green Tree

The decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program thus confronts us with a moral question: Do we, as a nation, still believe in our founding principle?

Reasonable men can differ over whether the Obama administration exercised the authority to initiate DACA wisely or constitutionally. But we must not differ on the moral aspect to the position now taken by the Trump administration.

Of the 800,000 or so “Dreamers,” only about 25 percent will be eligible for a two-year extension because their status expires before March 5. The 75 percent not eligible for a twoyear extension includes high school students, college students, graduate students, whitecollar professionals, blue-collar workers, even those who serve in our armed forces.

The administration has punted this conundrum to Congress. Sen. Pat Toomey and U.S. Reps. Tim Murphy and Keith Rothfus now have the moral imperative to offer the promise of the Declaration of Independence tothe “Dreamers.”

There is no middle ground. Either Messrs. Toomey, Murphy and Rothfus act morally or immorally. This is one of the moments when history will judge all of us — our elected officials, in particular.

ERIC K. FALK North Huntingdon

Only political correctness can take a crime and make it seem good.

Let’s call the “Dreamers” what they are: illegals who should not have been here without going through the proper channels.

I have a dream also. Deport all illegals and make them apply properly to get back into America. JOHN NEWHOUSE Shaler