The hate-filled tone in the letter "Protesting disrespects soldiers who are fighting" (April 1) represents precisely the mentality that has raised
the anxiety-inducing and war-perpetuating "terror level" to high: Don't like what the protesters are saying? Shut them up. Don't like a regime? Take them out.

Instead of creating a rational dialogue through which individuals might learn from one another, attitudes and actions like those of the author (and U.S. foreign policy) escalate a situation in a way that invites more violence, more hatred, more misunderstanding.

We stand on the corner of College Avenue and Allen Street not to invoke disgust, rancor and aggressive hatred but to prevent it by encouraging productive and good-faith dialogue among people holding various opinions. Those who accuse us of being unpatriotic and unsupportive of the troops seem to forget that we want this open and democratic dialogue in order to keep the troops alive, in order to respect all life. Instead of yelling at us, come talk to us. This is the heart of my peace movement.