Fear of government hardly a paranoia
On Jan. 17, Richard Cohen calls the Americans that fear their government paranoid. Well, after World War I in 1932, when the veterans that were promised a bonus camped out on the White House lawn wanting their bonus, the government responded. The president told the military to clear the lawn.
The officers that did the job were none other than Dwight Eisenhower, Douglas MacArthur and George Patton. When they were done two veterans and one infant were dead.
In 1970 at a demonstration by students at Kent State University the National Guard fired 67 rounds at the students, killing four and wounding nine, of which one has permanent paralysis. Several students were bayoneted.
In 1992 at Ruby Ridge, Idaho the U.S. Marshals Service and FBI killed Randy Weavers' son Sammy and blew his wife's face off while she held their 10 month old child in her arms. She had no charges against her.
In 1994 at Waco Texas at the Branch Davidians compound the government killed 76 men, women and children. No one went to jail. And now the Patriot Act that gives the government new powers in violation of the Constitution is plenty to fear.
If you, Mr. Cohen, call the killing of Americans by the government a paranoia, I think the people have a right to fear their government. Just think what they would do if the people were not armed. Look at the countries that have disarmed their citizens, but that's another story.
Robert Chmela
Elgin
