To the editor:

Thank you for supporting the Patriot Act in the April 24 Saturday Column. At the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce annual meeting April 23, Gen. Richard Myers, chairman of the Joints Chiefs, observed, “We are a nation at war, but today is unlike World War II, when our whole nation sacrificed and rationed to support the effort.”

The war on terror can be metaphorically likened to Jayhawk basketball. Away games are tough. We play on someone else’s turf. But winning away is critical so the opponent fears challenging us at home. However, it is the home game we care about most. We absolutely must win at home because we want no repeats of 9-11.

Could we win a home game in Allen Fieldhouse if the Jayhawks were restricted to playing with one hand tied behind their backs and referees could only call fouls against the home team? In essence, the City Commission’s renunciation of the Patriot Act does that.

The Patriot Act evens the playing field a little. We are playing for keeps against terrorists who follow no rules. A bipartisan Congress overwhelmingly passed the Patriot Act. Certainly we must be vigilant to protect our civil liberties but not the liberties of terrorists who would eliminate ours.

Winning at home 51 to 49 is OK in basketball. But against terrorism, Lawrence should support both our home and away teams. We must win at home 100 to 0. After all, the lives of America’s sons and daughters and our freedoms depend on it.

Retired Maj. Gen. Greg Gardner,

Lawrence