To the editor:

I have read with amusement over the last several days the responses to my good friend and fellow veteran Matthew O’Connell. It appears that some of the respondents believe that Matt has unethically infiltrated the precious pages of your sacred J-W with his right-wing rhetoric.

First, let me say that I believe the J-W is a fair and balanced paper. I have read letters from liberals, peaceniks and outright America-haters. The first letter Matt responded to concerned Cal Thomas, whose columns appear in the Journal-World. One person wanted Thomas removed for having an opinion different than his own.

Secondly, let me state that I have known Matt for many years. This man spent 25 years in the military defending the rights and liberties some respondents have accused him of being against. I’m sure that while some out there bad-mouthed our military, our president and our country, Matt was standing front-line duty somewhere so that they could espouse their political beliefs.

Thirdly, Matt is a history major. For those of you who want to do battle with him on “the facts'” please get yours straight before trying to attack him. His words about Lincoln, Hitler and Stalin are correct, not politically correct. Matt doesn’t believe in revisionist history.

For those of you who accuse Matt of being mean, intolerant or un-American, I say, look in the mirror.

I hope the J-W will continue printing differing views — yours, mine and Matthew M. O’Connell’s.

Robert M. Tyler,

Ozawkie