Dear Sir,

Irony exists in most situations. More than 400 years ago, Guy Fawkes conspired to blow up the English Parliament. Reprisals against Roman Catholics were severe. Even today, on November 5, English children ask “penny for the Guy?” and set bonfires in the streets.

Closer in time and place was Thoreau’s imprisonment for refusing to participate in America’s war against Mexico in 1849.

He left some fine advice: “If the machine of government is of such a nature that it requires you to be the agent of injustice to another, then, I say, break the law.”

It always takes two to tango.

ROGER SNAPE