I appreciate Lt. Vandewater’s contribution (“The uniform objection rebuttal,” Oct. 14) to the dialogue pertaining to the proprieties involved in the current demonstrations for peace in Ames.

I recognize his patriotism though our perceptions of the matter are different. I need to clarify several points, however.

First, I maintain that the demonstration on Oct. 7 at the U.S. Post Office was, indeed, a patriotic event with a patriotic theme and that those of us who are opposed to a unilateral, pre-emptive war in Iraq are patriotic citizens.

Second, my putatively anachronistic attire (including parts of an obsolete military uniform) was intended to call attention to the anachronistic and extremely perilous actions of President Bush who campaigned on a platform of peace and consensus and now is divisively trying to plunge the United States into an unjustified war. I did not say my actions were incorrect nor do I apologize for them.

Third, I question whether my fellow senior citizens and our young student friends are really speaking out against a “popular” issue.

We are criticizing our president, and our toadying Congress who are more afraid of the upcoming elections than the imminent danger of Iraq, in opposing the will of the majority of the American people, the advice of our foreign allies, and the legal and moral structure of the United Nations and international law. The popular issue we are supporting is PEACE.

David M. Gradwohl

Professor Emeritus

Anthropology