YES, THIS IS AMERICA

There is a lot of room to debate the government's action (or inaction)
in the Elian Gonzalez case that may have contributed to the situation
escalating. But I have been sickened to hear the critics of Janet Reno
point to the picture of the agent seizing Elian at gunpoint and whine,
"This is not America!"

What country do these critics live in? These agents were executing a
lawful warrant approved by a neutral magistrate. Every day, across our
country and even in cities like Topeka, police officers are called
upon to execute warrants, often with force. The only difference
between Elian's seizure and the thousands of other forceful warrant
executions was that Elian's relatives had an AP photographer standing
by to record the moment and that Elian is a sympathetic figure,
whereas persons accused of crimes are not.

Law enforcement officers cannot be expected to enter into unknown
situations without appropriate protection, whether entering a
suspected drug house or to seize a child from people who are
wrongfully withholding custody. Look closely at this picture. You
either agree with these tactics or you don't.

But this is clearly a picture of America.

RANDALL L. HODGKINSON,
Topeka.