I am truly disappointed in the way some recent State News letters to the editor have portrayed anti-war sentiments. Why must pro-war students constantly label anti-war students as "unpatriotic"? This image is blatantly false and is applied undeservingly.

The idea is quite simple: Loving one's country has nothing at all to do with agreeing with its decisions. Anti-war protesters do not hate the United States - they care about it so much, in fact, that they actively try to help it by supporting what they think would help our country the most. They want the United States to succeed in solving problems that arise. How they believe America should do this is nothing more than opinion.

When U.S. congress members have a difference of opinion on a topic, one does not argue that one side is trying to help whereas the other is trying to prevent improvement. Both sides are "patriotic" and try to improve their country. The only difference is in the approach to a problem.

I am ashamed every time I read a letter flinging the "anti-patriot" label around. Such a view represents to me someone who will not consider the flip side of the very argument he or she supports. No one can fully understand their stance on an issue without seriously considering its antithesis.

Labeling anti-war opinions as "unpatriotic" is not an argument; on the contrary, it discredits that opinion and, in the end, resolves nothing.

Adrian Pichurko
pre-med freshman