&letterheadPatriotic displays

TO THE EDITOR: Love truth and justice? Read on, friend of liberty.

During this year's Independence Day parade in Plattsburgh, members of North Country Democracy for America (including Veterans for Peace) treated parade attendees to a rare parade display of vitally important patriotic dissent and free speech, calling for the impeachment of Bush and Cheney and an end to America's deadly expensive quagmire, the criminal war of aggression with Iraq. That lovely July day, we were enthusiastically cheered and repeatedly thanked by appreciative spectators.

Since our patriotic display of independence, letters have appeared here expressing the writers' (who claim to speak for "many others") displeasure at our messages. What were these offending examples of free speech? The largest were two banners, "Evil succeeds when good men do nothing" (Is that you?) and "Bring the troops home now" on one side, and "Impeach Bush and Cheney now!" on the other. Smaller ones said, "Wage peace, Bush lies!", "No war on Iran" and "Silence equals consent" (translation, if you know something is wrong, and do nothing, you also are to blame).

There was also the interesting conversation starter "Impeach Bu-(insert swastika here)H!" sign, and a special appearance by the Statue of Liberty (my wife) waving an upside down Adbusters flag (corporate logos where the stars normally are). One sign that was definitely not there, as alleged by "dismayed" Girl Scout mom Karen Brown, was "Hate Bush!" (For the record, "Like Bush? You suck!" was also a no-show).

See for yourself. Those signs are on display each Thursday from 4 to 5:30 p.m., at our Trinity Park rallies. (Please join us.) Friends of liberty, please show your support by joining our weekly protest and writing letters to the editor. If not now, when? If not us, who?

Karen, you don't teach your children to hate. Don't teach them to lie.

Bill Provost

North Country Democracy for America

Plattsburgh

&letterhead80 competed in tennis fete

TO THE EDITOR: The North Country Tennis Association (NCTA) recently completed its summer tournament season with its doubles format at the PHS courts. Approximately 80 players competed in the two events ranging in age from 16 to early 70s.

Congratulations to all the winners and thanks to all who participated, especially those who came from far away as Malone and Canton.

At the risk of leaving anyone out, I'd like to thank the following people for their assistance in the many and varied tasks it requires to hold the tournaments :

Joe Staves (AD at PHS), Rose Kelley, Bob Garrow, Larry Kudrle, Charlie Racette, Lori Wetzel, Vaughan Brown, Ron Garrow, Claire Cutaiar, Ed Baker, Jon Curie, George Stackpole, Thierry Bonnabesse and all who helped dry the courts after the rains.