America's veterans have always been anti-fascism

To the Editor:

At the Murphys Cemetery, American flags are placed at each veteran's grave on Memorial Day and removed after Veteran's Day. As a part-time pinch hitter for the caretaker, I occasionally assist with the placement and removal of all those hundreds of flags as I did this past weekend. All of those veterans were patriotic soldiers who fought fascist authoritarian tyrants in defense of the values of democracy.

Fascism and authoritarianism define leaders like Hitler and Mussolini. They rise to power by denying their opposition opportunities to speak in a free manner in public and in the press, by sowing hate, confusion and dissatisfaction and undermining democratic processes. It is now clear to most Americans that one of the two major political parties in our own country has abandoned belief in democracy. Must we recap?

Democracy in America insists that all are equal, that liberty and justice is for all and that every qualified voter find it easy to register, vote and have their vote fairly counted. If you still selfidentify as a Republican, knowing in your heart that your party is actively working to suppress voters who are less likely to vote for their candidates, knowing that your party's politicians no longer come to Washington prepared to negotiate and compromise in good-faith understanding that compromises must be at least a little more strongly influenced by the majority, then you cannot define yourself as a supporter of American democracy.

You may have the right in America to vote in a fair election for a candidate advocating authoritarian rule, but you have no right to support cheating to install authoritarian rule in America. Good Americans (and we are a strong majority) will unite and we won't just say no… It will be hell no!

Bob Wetzel

Murphys