In "Letters to the Editor" (9/3/98) a 15-year-old says he is not proud to be an American because of the United States bombing of two middle east sites which killed innocent people. He said that retaliation by the terrorists would be OK because of what we did to them, and it would get us into a war, unfortunately.

Retaliation would be OK!...mmm...for his information, this country has been at war with these people ever since the Twin Towers bombing in lower Manhattan a few years ago. I recall at least one death (an innocent American) and many injuries. Are we supposed to just sit back and be "sitting ducks" for these people, watching the slaughter of our citizens and the demolition of our properties? I think not. The only thing these people understand is violence so we must make the appropriate responses or else the consequences to this country will be dire indeed. In regard to the above mentioned sites that we bombed, our intelligence people say these were the right targets as verified also by some of Osma bin Laden's lackeys.

I think this young man should try to gain more perspective (even though he "knows what goes on"), read the history of our country...(yes, we've made terrible mistakes), and think things through before "shooting from the hip" by making such shocking and despicable statements.