Policeman's Family Lays Down The Law on Protests
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News-Mirror Photo/Christine Myers
Bourbon resident Todd McIntyre is showing his support of his country, President, and his son Ben, by proudly displaying a poster with a picture of Ben in his front yard. |
By Christine Myers
BOURBON � As Americans, we are privileged with many freedoms. One of the most often-used freedoms is the freedom of speech. Many Amer-icans practice their freedom of speech daily, others only when provoked.
The war with Iraq has become a freedom of speech flashpoint. Many people are protesting the war, in varying degrees of activism. In fact, war protests are making headlines everywhere.
What about those who support the country, President Bush, the war?
Bourbon resident Todd McIntyre is showing his support of his country, President, and his son Ben, by proudly displaying a poster with a picture of Ben in his front yard. Ben, an Army National Guard soldier and Bourbon policeman, was activated in January.
Since Ben has been gone, the McIntyres have been very fortunate to hear from Ben regularly. Ben has been stationed in camps where he has had access to the internet as well as phones, although the waiting lines have been long.
A letter from Ben was also received this week.
For the McIntyres, it�s been very encouraging to have so much communication with Ben.
� (Last Wednesday) Ben called and talked to his mom,� Todd said. �The day before that he called and talked to his wife (Shawna).�
Because of the frequent contact, the McIntyres know Ben is �alive and well.�
He is at a camp in Kuwait guarding a nearby airport. He splits 12-hour shifts in a watchtower.
According to Todd, Ben�s first comment after his arrival in Kuwait on Valentine�s Day was, �There is nothing but sand here and a whole lot of people.�
Todd and the rest of the McIntyres do their fair share of worrying about Ben and the situation on the American homefront, but they haven�t let it dictate their daily lives Fully aware of the heightened security alert, due to the war, Todd encouraged his wife, Jamie, and youngest son, Todd D., to keep their plans for spring break.
The mother-son duo are vacationing in Florida, where Jamie�s mother lives.
�I refuse to let terrorists dictate what we are doing,� Todd said. �I don�t think everybody should hole up. I know people who have died fighting for our freedom.�
Another issue that concerns Todd is the protesting against the war, particularly because of the young and old who are risking their lives for our freedoms. The protesting also interrupts the routine flow of daily life.
�The protesting bothers me more than the terrorist threat,� he said.
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