We are writing in response to the editorial cartoon by Ohman in the Sept. 25, 1989 issue of The Daily Collegian. This comic is inappropriate and distasteful.

Though Ohman's point that the drug war in South America is a serious political and social issue in our society is well taken, he made his point in a way that was inappropriate.

America's role in Vietnam was something completely different from the current problems in South America. Vietnam comparisons crop up inevitably when any sort of possible military showdown concerning America is even remotely possible. It came up when there were problems in El Salvador, Nicaragua, Libya, Panama, Iran and Lebanon. Was the Grenada Invasion comparable to Vietnam? The Columbian drug war has entailed less military involvement from the U.S. than did Grenada.

How then do proposals and superficial increases in troops in Columbia equal twelve years of combat costing 58,132 American lives and causing complete upheaval in American society during the 1960's? Has Columbia earned such distinction? Hardly. The comparison is insulting to those whose lives were forever changed by the Vietnam Conflict (i.e., every American who lived during or after the conflict).

Ohman should not have fallen prey to the temptation to call every conflict a Vietnam. Only Vietnam was a Vietnam.