Editor:

I would like a chance to respond to Christian Hatley's letter that was published in the Wildcat March 4. I am happy to say that the supposedly racist Constitution is in place and enforced to allow opinions like his to be heard. However, that is the only thing positive I have to offer this person. It is sickening for me to think that someone who lives in this country and obviously benefits from an education at a state supported university, and exercises his right to freedom of speech, hates this country. He states that "the place that I live in is full of ignorance, stupidity, and pain." Well, I am inclined to agree with the first two counts of that description.

Where is the logic in stating that the U.S. is not a great country because we have a Dr. Martin Luther King Holiday, and the name Malcolm X is recognizable? So what? The federal holidays of the United States are in place to honor people and their ideals, not as a consolation for some injustice. I have two grandfathers who served in World War II, and I am proud of them on Veteran's Day, not because it is a consolation for losing Vietnam or something stupid.

As for Mr. Hatley's comment about the success of the U.S. at the expense of pain and suffering of other people, who is he talking about? England maybe? I'll tell you whose pain and suffering is responsible for the greatness of this country, Mr. Hatley, mine and the hundreds of thousands of other veterans of the Armed Forces. Yes, I am a veteran of the Air Force. My family has had a member of every generation in uniform since the U.S. was still an English colony. All of the veterans have served, fought for, bled for and sometimes died for your right to criticize them publicly. I am proud of my service and I will always remember my friends in arms who have died for it. I won't tell you that this country is beautiful, great, or even better than any other country on Earth. You don't care. I suggest this: try Cuba. I'm sure they don't have any dumb holidays that you have to put up with, and the only name that is notorious there is Fidel. If that is too tropical, try any country on the African continent. I have no idea about how they live there, but I'm sure you will find their social programs to your liking. What I'm saying is, you're welcome, and DON'T LET THE DOOR HIT YOU IN THE ASS ON THE WAY OUT!

C.S Slade
electrical engineering sophomore