Mrs. Dahlstrom should stop assuming that everyone opposing this war has never spent a minute in uniform in defense of this country! I spent more than four years of my life as a member of the U.S. Army in defense of my country! How dare she impugn my patriotism just because I have the gall to oppose this war!

It’s great that her son was so able to help innocent Iraqi men, women and children — something he could also have done as part of a civilian mercy effort.

I want Mrs. Dahlstrom to stop taking away, from me and others in opposition to the war, our “freedom� to speak freely. While we retain the “right� to free speech, she and other pro-war advocates, going as far back as Desert Storm in 1991, have taken away our “freedom to speak freely, by saying our opposition to these wars is showing dishonor, or disrespect, for U.S. troops. I’m sick and tired of it!

Mrs. Dahlstrom can love her son dearly and feel justifiably proud of the work he’s done in the military.

But she should stop showing dishonor and impugning the patriotism of those who don’t happen to agree with her, many of whom have “paid their dues� in uniform, as well!

— Bob Jackson, Simi Valley