George,

Although Mr. Holden may have a good point about my lack of intelligence and ignorance, he is incorrect in asserting that I believe dissent should disappear in wartime.

On the contrary, had I been more intelligent in writing the column that you partially excerpt, I would have more explicitly stated what I thought was strongly implied: I believe that during wartime, especially, dissent should be civil. Bashing the president is what should be avoided. Protests and differences are good things expressed respectfully, creatively, even humorously. I go on to criticize President Bush in the column for pounding or trashing French democracy and not being willing to live with the results of French and other democracies.

A call for civility and against bashing is not intended to be a criticism of dissent, which is critical to American democracy and to turning around misguided war policies. I believe that bashing a commander-in-chief is counterproductive.

Sincerely,

Bob Gibson (electronic mail, March 24, 2003)

Editor's Note: In his March 23rd column in The Daily Progress, Bob Gibson said, in part:

"... No matter what people think of American policy in Iraq, the debate is over on whether to invade or how and when to disarm Saddam Hussein.We are in, whether we like it or not. Bush is commanding troops in a war. Bashing any president during a war is perhaps the fastest and surest way to lower one's own IQ. Many disagree with the policy that took us to this war, but respect and support for the troops in a conflict outweighs all political considerations at the moment. Americans rarely choose to speak with one voice, which is part of our strength, but we can pray together. Expressing disagreement with government policy is every American's right and the American right's duty - except during war time. During war, civic and civil duty changes. Supporting the troops we all want to come home alive implies no bashing of their commander-in-chief. Protests and differences expressed respectfully, creatively, even humorously, speak louder than shouts ..." (Bob Gibson, The Daily Progress, March 23, 2003)

For more of Bob Gibson's column, see Two Voices.