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A vote to dissent is not unpatriotic 

Editor: 

It is shocking the number of calls for Congresswoman Barbara Lee’s proverbial head because of her vote against giving President Bush unlimited authority to fight the terrorists. Anyone can join a parade, but it takes a strong and principled person to vote her conscience in the face of a national call for unity.  

Her vote was not against finding and eradicating the terrorists but a lone cry that we should have a period of reflection, and thoughtfulness before engaging the full resources of the United States and its allies against an elusive enemy that is driven by an unflinching hatred for the American way of life.  

Historically, Barbara Lee has demonstrated an abiding commitment for protecting the most vulnerable members of the world populations.  

Her words and vote suggest that she is fearful that the rush for revenge without careful consideration will cause many more innocent people to be killed.  

She believes Congress should at least require the President to come forward with a plan before being given unbridled authority to fight a war where there are no identifiable geographical boundaries and where the enemy lives amongst us.  

Whether her concerns will manifest themselves remains to be seen but at least she had the courage to vote her convictions when many other similar thinking Congresspersons did not.  

John Burris 

Oakland civil right attorney