Dear Editor, I feel the need to respond to Senator Cantor’s remarks regarding the Senate’s debate on whether or not to reprimand Senator Joe Wilson for his outburst during the President’s address to Congress last week. Cantor stated that he could not understand why Congress was even having a debate. He argued that a reprimand would not help pass new Health Care Reform, keep America Safer, or reduce the National Deficit. I must disagree with Senator Cantor. The BEHAVIOR demonstrated by Senator Joe Wilson is the CENTER of the problem that obstructs progress when Congress tries to get anything done. It is this base bantering that makes American citizens distrust Congress’s leadership. Therefore, this behavior should be discouraged. Unfortunately, the problem does not begin or end with our Congress. It is the extremist views, and the extent to which people will go to voice their side of a debate, that has resulted in uncivilized behavior. I am saddened by the hostile language, demeaning posters, visibility of weapons, and cruel slogans wielded by those who abuse our freedom of speech and freedom to bear arms. Above the fray is a man who employs the philosophy of Mahatma Ghandi to discourage this negative and destructive behavior. President Barack Obama eagerly forgives those who attack him, strives to find common ground with those who resort to abusive behavior, and is willing to risk his political career, and possibly his own safety, to help those who can’t fight the system alone. President Barack Obama has demonstrated compassion, class, intelligence, wisdom, and patience when others have demonstrated rudeness, cruelty, dishonesty, and abuse. I admire Barack Obama. May God bless and protect him. We know what happened to those whose example he follows. Sincerely, Janet Van der Dussen