I would just like to respond to a letter to the editor that was in The State News on Tuesday.

I think it is wrong to argue protesters don't understand peace ("Protesters don't understand peace," SN 3/18). These are people that, in my eyes, clearly understand it more then those individuals in favor of war.

Demonstrators are not among those "living in a fantasy world." How can peace and freedom be defended when we are marching straight into Baghdad with a quarter of a million troops? How can this be an act of peace when many innocent Iraqis will be killed?

Being anti-war does not make an individual any less pro-America. In my opinion, it makes them pro-peace and I do not think that pro-peace eliminates any hope of being pro-American.

I am pro-peace and pro-American because I do not want to see Americans killed in battle. I do not think there is anything but peace written all over demonstrators marching, rallying and lighting candles in hopes that one day diplomacy will work in this world.

David Dimitrie
zoology freshman