Clinton Kirby's letter, "We Shouldn't Be At War," July 24, lambasting B.J. Mathias for "extolling the virtues of war and warriors in these pages," reeks of the obvious terror inflicted upon the writer by the terrorist enemy, a terrorist goal achieved in his case for which they can be proud.

If anyone sees Clinton Kirby, tell him that "war is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things."

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Tell Kirby that "the decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feelings which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse."

Also, explain to Kirby that "the person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself."

Folks sort of like B.J. Mathias , please tell Kirby.

John Stuart Mill, noted philosopher, arrived at this answer in 1865.

Armond "Si" Simmons

Pell City, Ala.

Originally published July 28, 2006

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