Columnist John Buell (BDN, April 8) refers contemptuously to “self-designated patriots” who forget that “dissent” in war is vital -and so on, ad nauseam. Like many other self-designated (and misnamed) “liberals,” he twists reality to promote politics.

Few Americans would block mere dissent at any time. But when someone actively hampers the conduct of a real war in which young Americans are in danger of being killed or maimed on terrible battlefields; or when someone gives aid or comfort to the enemy who is trying to kill or maim these young relatives and friends of ours, that is not mere dissent. Most Americans recognize this. They are not quite so stupid as Buell thinks.

Buell should visit Cuba to see how dissent is being handled by one of the idols of the liberals. It can get a dissenter jail for life, and Cuba is not even at war.

Oliver Holmes

Eastport