Over the course of our country’s history, the idea of every voice being heard has been an ideal goal. It’s great.

Pro-slavery supporters in the pre-Civil War era were able to fight for it. On the opposite page, blacks, under forces that often brutalized them, fought and still battle for civil rights. Women continue to fight for equality in the work place to earn as much respect and income as their male counterparts. Very public demonstrations and protests against the war in Vietnam in the 1960s and ’70s changed the way national leaders contemplate potential wars.

In all cases, people of different colors, sexes, religions and ages have been able to protest toward goals of social justice or equality no matter how high on the socioeconomic or educational ladders they might be.

These great movements of our country’s history are due to Americans taking advantage of their right to speak their minds. U.S. history would no doubt be very different if unchecked politicians in the last 216 years were holding all of the cards.

However, Joe Eaton seems to think that today’s protesters against the impending war on Iraq are unpatriotic or anti-American. In his column “‘Utopia’ not achievable,” published Jan. 27, Eaton further placed a blanket aspersion, in saying that every protester had to be stupid, dense and, worst of all, ignorant.

At a protest held Jan. 28 outside of the Federal Building on Lake Street, I was able to discuss what these “utopia-seeking, out-of-touch-with-reality anti-Americans” really believe.

Sure, I will grant that there were some in the crowd who had a more radical view, but that was not the majority. Most people at the event — senior citizens, baby-boomers, college and high school students, religious observers and working classes of varying ages — wanted simple answers to why this war is impending on us.

Why are there troops waiting to take Iraq now when more focus is needed at home?

Saddam is a bad man. No one in the crowd denied that. I also sensed an elevated sense of realism or sensitivity about our country’s security since Sept. 11.

Until that monumental day, our generation had no real event that proved the United States was anything but invincible.

Contrary to what some observers might believe, nobody at this protest is sympathizing with the men who carried out those attacks. After all, these protesters don’t want death to occur here, just as they don’t want killing to occur in Iraq. President Bush has not shown the nation, nor the rest of the world, why getting Saddam helps us make amends for Sept. 11, or how a war would prevent another. It’s as simple as that for many protesters.

Eaton certainly has done his homework, and I would not call him ignorant. He just stands on the other side from me. Protesters, at least, have played a role in making their voices heard, just like Eaton has.

Demonstrators know the situation, factually and historically, usually better than others do. Honestly, ask yourself,”How much does the common 18- to 24-year-old know about current events outside of movies, television, music and sports?”

It seems that the demonstrators are much more aware than the typical college-aged citizen.

There is a reason that demonstrators gave up an opportunity to stay inside on a cold January afternoon.

They are educated and feel strong enough to stand in public and know what they are saying. It is not because they are out of touch with reality.

It is because they know that true patriots speak out when they believe their country is going down the wrong path.