Our flag stands for our freedom Our flag is a symbol to the world, to the huddled masses yearning to breathe free.

June 14 is Flag Day. We love and take pride in our flag and whatit stands for.

It stands for freedom. The red stripes are a tribute to the bloodof patriots and pioneers. The white stripes symbolize the purity ofour founding principles. The stars in the field of blue represent thebright new constellation that was formed when America was organized.

On June 14, 1777, when America was not yet a year old, theCongress enacted the first Flag Day.

Now our Pledge of Allegiance is scrutinized because of two wordswhen we recite the words: "I pledge allegiance to the flag of theUnited States of America, and to the republic for which it stands;one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

There are many symbols of America, such as the Great Seal of theUnited States, with an eagle holding an olive branch, signifyingpeace, and holding 13 arrows, signifying our ability to wage war whennecessary.

Our flag is a symbol to the world, to the huddled masses yearningto breathe free. It is an ensign to all nations whenever and whereverit is unfurled and our armed forces bring freedom to other parts ofthe world.

Our flag stands for Americanism, and we also have theresponsibility to promote freedom throughout the world. God blessAmerica, our flag and our military men and women.

Shawn Harper, Manhattan

Give immigrants a break

As a state representative, I often hear from people in my districtand across the state who have heartbreaking and compelling personalstories. Particularly moving are the stories of undocumented studentswho were brought to the United States as young children. Take thecase of Diana. Diana's mother and father brought her into thiscountry when she was 5 from their home state of Michoacan, Mexico.Like many immigrants, Diana's parents came in search of betteropportunities for their children.

Diana learned English, got involved in her church and community,worked part time to help her family and stayed away from drugs andgangs. Diana graduated with a 4.4 grade point average out of apossible 4.0. She aspires to be an architect. Yet Diana is probablyone of our state's few outstanding students who will not be pursuinga four-year degree--not because of a lack of motivation or desire onher part. Diana does not have legal immigration status, and as aresult is not eligible for in-state tuition.

There are hundreds of students like Diana in our state. In-statetuition for undocumented students makes sense because it allowstalented students to continue their education and live up to theirfull potential. It is un-American to deny students who have stayedin school and excelled the opportunity to continue their education.

Opponents of in-state tuition for undocumented students would haveyou believe that immigrants will be crowding citizens out of publicuniversities on the taxpayers' dime. This is blatantly false. If thebill passes, and even if every newly eligible student applies, itwill result in less than a 1 percent increase in college applicants.Such an insignificant increase would not affect admissions standardsand would have a negligible impact on any student's chance to beadmitted. Furthermore, changes in these policies would not give thesestudents a "free-ride." They and their families are taxpayers andtherefore should be entitled to in-state tuition rates.

Our nation can only benefit from giving these young people thesupport and recognition they deserve. We cannot allow ill-informedvoices to rob Diana and others like her of an opportunity to make ourcountry better.

Rep. Edward Acevedo

(D-Chicago)

Whose rules of engagement?

When Israel civilians were getting blown up daily by a wave ofsuicide bombers, Colin Powell was quick to condemn the Israelimilitary for firing into a Red Crescent ambulance that ran an Israelicheckpoint. According to the March 30 Sun-Times news story, "Suicidebombing stiffens resolve of U.S. troops," the "taxi driver" suicidebombing that killed four U.S. soldiers has "prompted an immediateoverhaul of the rules of engagement. Iraqi vehicles will not beallowed to pass through [roadblocks] under any circumstances. . . .If, at the count of five, the vehicle has not turned around, we willengage it."

Mr. Powell, what if the vehicle is a Red Crescent ambulance?Welcome to the Middle East. Here, in order to survive, not justIsraelis but Americans, too, are sometimes forced to overhaul therules of engagement.

Harold Witkov, Downers Grove

Daley dishonors the name

There is so much that can be said about Mayor Daley's methods inclosing Meigs Field, it is difficult to be brief. However:

First, he has dishonored the Daley name. His father may havewielded power in an authoritarian manner but generally did thingsopenly, and his father wouldn't have reneged on an agreement with thegovernor.

Second, he acted out of petulance. The feds--Homeland Security,FAA, et al.--didn't give him all that he wanted as soon as he wantedit, so he bulldozed his way to getting his way. And, like a spoiledchild who doesn't know how to share, he destroyed his toy lest anyoneelse come along to play with it.

Finally, his impatience with the feds could serve the countrywell. Our armed forces aren't moving as quickly or gaining as much asthe commander in chief thought they would. The president mightconsider putting his friend, "Blitzkrieg Richie" (a k a the Rommel ofthe runway) in charge of taking out Saddam and taking over Baghdad.

Robert D. Manewith,

West Ridge

Gang-bangers park here

It doesn't surprise me that Mayor Daley closed Meigs Field andplans to turn the land into a public park. After all, almost everymajor neighborhood park in the city is controlled by gang-bangers anddope dealers. They're running out of new territory. I'm sure thehoods will welcome the virgin area the mayor will be offering them.

Ken Dietz, Elmhurst

Arnett has right to speak

Did Peter Arnett lose his right to free speech when he became aninterviewee on Iraqi television ["NBC fires Arnett; Pentagoninvestigates Geraldo," news story, April 1]? It seems to me that aslong as he was wearing the hat of an NBC correspondent, or the hat ofNational Geographic correspondent, then he was proscribed fromwriting or saying anything that would reflect adversely on thoseinstitutions or on the United States. Granted, what he did was stupidand in poor taste, but as soon as he became a guest on TV, he couldexercise his right to free speech.

I would think that the media people would be the first to defendhim on those grounds, but it does not appear that they wish to becomea subject of an Ashcroft investigation. Very scary.

Kenneth Pichon,

Melbourne, Fla.

Peace through victory

There are two distinct and separate "peace" movements in theUnited States.

The most vocal are the minority who advocate peace throughappeasement. They believe that by allowing Saddam Hussein to remainin power that they can achieve a peace of sorts, in which Saddamwould be allowed to continue to torture and oppress his people inpeace, assemble his weapons of mass destruction in peace, and spreadterror throughout the world in peace.

The real peace movement, however, is the patriotic majority whoadvocate peace through victory. They believe that the only way topeace is to destroy Saddam and his army, liberate Iraq, and rebuild ademocratic, free Iraq.

Fortunately for the United States, the peace through appeasementmovement is being ignored, and George W. Bush is leading the countryto real peace through victory.

Robert Graham, Naperville

Don't blame the teachers

As a member of an organized labor union, I find the Rev. MichaelPfleger's letter ["Put students first," April 3] offensive. He blamesthe teachers for the children's inability to read and therefore wouldlike to see teacher accountability as part of their contract with theBoard of Education.

His argument is flawed in that the problem with learning in thepublic school system is more complex than poor teaching wouldsuggest. Let him ask any educator how much time and support are givenfor teaching as opposed to the bureaucratic nonsense imposed uponteachers' instructional time by their individual administrations.Finally, the reverend wouldn't be so quick to fire so many unionemployees if they were paying tithes at his church. Solely blamingteachers for poor student performance is as ridiculous as blamingpastors for our continuous sins.

When talking about accountability, there is plenty of blame to goaround.

Benjamin F. Stroud, Oak Park

MY TWO CENTS

"The problem with learning in the public school system is morecomplex than poor teaching would suggest. Solely blaming teachers forpoor student performance is as ridiculous as blaming pastors for ourcontinuous sins." --Benjamin F. Stroud