Regarding Ray Rasmussen’s letter, “We should not impose our will.” (News-Times, July 7.)

I’m not the biggest fan of the war in Iraq. I enjoy engaging in healthy debate about the subject.

I do not however, enjoy reading or hearing strong opinions that are dishonest or out of touch with logical equations. Rasmussen suggests that people who live in countries with terrorists and political oppression should decide for themselves how to live. Did he proofread what he wrote?! The very logic is absurd! By the nature of the beast, terrorism and political oppression do not allow for the freedom of choice! Who in their right mind would choose to live in a terrorist nation, or one that is politically oppressive?

Perhaps he meant what is a typical point for some anti-war people: it’s not our problem. Admit there are terrorists and oppression. But also admit that the people aren’t willfully choosing that type of system. So Saddam is responsible for the death of thousands, maybe millions. So their attempts at a stable government get screwed up constantly by terrorists wreaking their hate and havoc and death in the streets every day. That’s their problem, not ours. Is that what Rasmussen really meant to say?

It’s not an indefensible position. At least it’s honest. But a question that I’d hope readers of this letter would ask themselves is this: “Is there anything in the world more important than peace?” I can think of one thing at least: human dignity. Citizens of Iraq certainly aren’t granted this fundamental right in the condition of their nation. Whether or not America should do something about that or not is debatable.

Ellie Peck

Oak Harbor