One of our country's strengths is that citizens are free to demonstrate minority opinions.

  Thus, when protestors held a peace rally last Saturday on the steps of the DuPage County Courthouse and followed that up with a march against the bombing of Afghanistan, they were exercising their constitutional right as United States citizens to peacefully assemble in order to disagree with their government.

  We agree wholeheartedly with their expression of their views, for their freedom to assemble comes from the First Amendment to the Constitution, the same amendment which gives us the right to publish this newspaper.

  Yet at this point we are compelled to say to the protestors, you seem to be sincere but you are misguided.

  We are in this war against terrorism because of vicious, unprovoked attacks on our soil resulting in the mass murder of thousands of innocent Americans, as well as visitors to our shores from other lands.

  Our foe has articulated a desire to kill as many Americans as he can.

  The peaceful negotiation that you desire hasn't worked with the Taliban and there is absolutely no reason to believe that these terrorists will respond to an olive branch.

  To not respond in the manner in which we did would be to give in, sit on our hands and allow terrorists to attack our country at will.

  Is this what you would have preferred?

11/16/01