We're all supposed to know something about our government and history. However, many of us take our rights for granted. Consequently, when some readers of The Ann Arbor News, I among them, write letters to the editor in order to express our opinions, we have been favored with missives telling us that we are idiots, morons, atheists, anti-Americans, cowards, Communists and socialists. I have been accused several times of hating America, and that I ought to live in Iraq or Europe or (gasp) Canada if I don't like it here.
One person has called me gutless, even though he/she chooses not to sign his/her letters. There is also no return address. I'm gutless?
I love my country. I pay my taxes, obey the laws and always vote. However I believe that if my government is doing something wrong, I have both the right and the obligation to say something about it. Citizenship is serious business. Carl Schurz, a Union hero of the Civil War, said, "Our country, right or wrong. When right, to be kept right. When wrong, to be set right." I am remiss if I say nothing when my government errs. Anyone who believes that protest is wrong in itself is a poor citizen. Let us not forget that this country was founded on protest.
"Anonymous" has broken no laws, and is entitled to his/her opinions. The police said they would like to keep a file, nevertheless, in case any laws are broken in the future. That's fine, as long as "Anonymous" and I are still entitled to express our opinions. We're Americans.
Donna J. Angle, Ypsilanti