Tom Cooke, ("Questioning politicians is better memorial than blind patriotism" SN 6/2) feel free to ask questions, stand on a street corner and preach, rant and rave all you want. That is your right and your liberty; that is what that flag is all about. That is what the men and women remembered on Memorial Day were fighting for. But don't, don't take away from those remembered on Memorial Day by using the day as a platform to promote your political agenda.

It is one day to remember the men and women, the soldiers, not the politics. Don't take away from their bravery and their sacrifice because you personally don't agree with the reasons why they died. Memorial Day is about the dead - not the living - and if you really believe you would be free to write your article without at least some of their sacrifices, you are wrong. So when you think of Memorial Day, having your barbecue on your day off work, it's not too much to ask you to remember instead of debate. You live here enjoying the freedoms you do - they died protecting that freedom. They died because they believed in something you don't understand, but maybe one day a year we can put aside our differences and be glad that these people went to fight and, if nothing else, be thankful you don't have to.

Stephanie Zarb
political theory senior