He’s exercising his right to free will

Published 9:00 pm Sunday, August 13, 2006

In regard to the reader who was provoked by the recent actions of Lt. Ehren Watada to call the Lieutenant a “coward,” who “lacks … moral courage,” I would answer that Lt. Watada has made it absolutely clear that he is willing to be judged by a jury of his peers and to pay whatever penalty is found to be appropriate. In no way was his action dictatorial, neither was it an act of political grandstanding and posturing, the likes of which we see so much lately in our public sphere, especially in regard to the Iraq war.

Lt. Watada is exercising a God-given right to use his free will according to the dictates of his conscience and within the laws of this land. No one can take that right away from anyone in this country – not legally. It is one thing to disagree with the stand that he has taken. It is another to question his right to engage in civil disobedience and to slur his character. I applaud Lt. Watada’s courage to disobey orders that would cause him to participate in a war that is considered by many, myself included, to be illegal and immoral.

Mary-Alice Strom

Marysville