Peter Makhlouf, a Brown University student, ticked off a lot of people recently when he wrote in an article for The Brown Daily Herald that the ROTC is an "organization of criminals" and "state-sanctioned violence."

He said the thought of "extending the poisonous branches of the armed services to our campus should be wholly denounced" and favored "outlawing ROTC and its byproducts on our campus."Many were enraged, including conservative talk show host Eric Bolling, who pointed out that if Makhlouf was to spread such anti-government or anti-military comments in places like Iran, Syria or other Muslim extremist areas of the world, he would be fearing and running for his life, and if caught, could be executed or, at the least, tossed in jail.The only reason Makhlouf has the freedom to write that column, Bolling said, is because of a strong military that defends his freedom of speech."Thank God for the ROTC, thank God for the military, thank God people are willing to risk their lives, so that you can be such a jerk and say stupid things like that," Bolling said.It's hard to imagine an America without its democratic freedoms being protected by our strong military.Students are being motivated and learning leadership skills, discipline, courage and integrity in about 1,645 Army JROTC units in schools across the country. Carbon County residents can be proud of Panther Valley High School's U.S. Army Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps unit, one of only 28 such JROTC programs in Pennsylvania. Another is in the Pine Grove Area School District.The Panther Valley cadets have appeared at Memorial Day and Veterans Day services, military funerals, marched in parades and at various flag-raising ceremonies, such as at the dedication of Coaldale's Veterans Memorial Garden. The school's JROTC color guard also participated in state events, such as the Pennsylvania American Legion's annual POW/MIA remembrance ceremony in Harrisburg.The JROTC creed states: "I am an Army Junior ROTC Cadet; I will always conduct myself to bring credit to my family, country, school and the Corps of Cadets; I am loyal and patriotic; I am the future of the United States of America; I do not lie, cheat, or steal and will always be accountable for my actions and deeds;"I will always practice good citizenship and patriotism; I will work hard to improve my mind and strengthen my body; I will seek the mantle of leadership and stand prepared to uphold the Constitution and the American way of life; May God grant me the strength to always live by this creed."Former Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, a staunch advocate of restoring ROTC to the nation's elite schools, applauded Duke University students last year for taking a lead. Building a solid ROTC program designed to safeguard the freedoms we all enjoy depends on the willingness of our nation's most gifted students to stand up and lead.By JIM ZBICKtneditor@tnonline.com