I am writing this letter in response to Eric Hiatt’s letter to the editor, “Screw America,” published in the Oct. 12 Daily. It is clearly all right to let people know what you think or how you feel. But sometimes I just wonder what kind of stuff these people are on to make them think the way they do.

Hiatt doesn’t know what he is talking about.

I am one of those soldiers whose skull he’d “like to crush.” I spent four years of my life defending these freedoms that he’s taking for granted, the ones he despises, the one that he uses to write this pathetic letter!

I spent time walking the fence line in Cuba and patrolling the streets of Somalia, knowing all along that there was a freak on the other side staring down the cross hairs of a scope, waiting for the chance to take care of me. Why did I do this? Not because I wanted to,but because I was told to. I was defending the beliefs of America – making a better place for little piss ants like him to play in. You try doing that Hiatt, and I guarantee that nice little diaper of yours will need changing.

Yes, maybe there have been a few instances where American soldiers conduct was unbecoming of the title. And don’t get me wrong, I don’t think it’s right or excusable. But you try going days without sleep, months without a real shower or trying to remember how long you’ve been eating these meals you wouldn’t feed a dog.

To top it off, some guy on the other side is just waiting for you to stick your head up so he can make it look like a jack o’ lantern. Try this for a while and see what tricks your mind plays on you.

If he hates this country so much why is he still here? Is he afraid to venture outside mommy and daddy’s umbrella? If he ever decides to leave, I’d help! America truly is the beautiful.

Finally, in regards to “the 4 million people America blew away,” what about the thousands and thousands of people who were killed at Pearl Harbor? What about the children who grew up fatherless or motherless because of this? Tell them “Screw America,” or walk down the Vietnam Wall saying that. You might not make it to the other side.

Dave Audino

Freshman

Construction Engineering