The right at 18 to vote and smoke

Over half of the 58,000 American casualties in the Vietnam War were in the 18-20 age group that is now not allowed to buy cigarettes, alcohol. My three-quarters-of-a-decade Army experience encompassed 1965-1966 in Vietnam, where the majority that got drafted were in this age group. And by their participation in this action, I feel they have paid for equal rights and should not have to obey the "parental" government. And they now, have the ability to make their own value judgments.

Using the same theorem, I was a firm advocate of granting the 18-year-old the right to vote. Seemed odd to me why our government which sent them over there, was not in any way indebted to this age group, as they had no official right to vote and select this government. Now, the school killing in Florida seems to have alerted the young they have this right. And they can register their displeasure with the government's continuing to parent their entrance into adulthood by voting to eliminate them.

Gary Max Peavler

Elk Grove Village