Dissent Protects Democracy (Just Like Troops)

An inspiring letter to the editor in today's Minneapolis Star-Tribune:

What he's fighting for

As a U.S. Marine currently deployed to Iraq, I would like to respectfully disagree with a fellow Minnesotan who stated that people who protest the war hurt troops' morale ("Letters from readers," Aug. 26).

Public debate and discussion are vital to the health of a democracy. It is a good thing when I see Americans exercising their right of freedom of speech.

Seeing people exercise freedoms that many in other countries don't have is something that we all should be thankful for -- whether you agree with what is being said or not. Semper Fidelis!

James Haugerud,
Camp Blue Diamond,
Ar Ramadi, Iraq.