Those who would criticize Bonnie Cook (Letters, March 29) for advocating violence against Jeremy Steinsiek for protesting against the war in Iraq need to remember that Ms. Cook has a strong historical precedent for doing so.

Ms. Cook respects the First Amendment the way George W. Bush respects the U.S. election laws. If the Constitution and the Bill of Rights get in your way, ignore them and knock anyone down who tries to stop you.

But be sure to get a big flag and wave it hard. Shout your support for the troops and praise our commander-in-chief, who shows his support for the troops by sending a budget to Congress that cuts $127 million out of impact aid to their children’s schools, and $14 billion out of veterans’ programs, so that those who survive the war can keep right on sacrificing after they come home.

Only a man who would go to court to stop 170,000 votes from being counted so that he could be elected would have that kind of gall. What I don’t understand is how a free people can continue to swallow Bush’s violations of law and reason, not to mention transgression after transgression against human decency.

I don’t understand a woman like Ms. Cook who praises a man for physically attacking someone who has the courage to say, “This is wrong.” Then says of the attacker, “We need more people like him.”

The historical precedent Ms. Cook is following was set after another dissenter was beaten and spat upon and dragged before a magistrate for saying publicly that people in high places were abusing their power. Although the magistrate found this protester not guilty, the very people whose rights he was defending shouted, “Crucify him!”

Ann Adams

Oak Harbor