Recently, some friends and I attended a comedy show at the Providence Performing Arts Center. Although many people were drinking and enjoying themselves, the couple behind us was intoxicated to an absurd degree. They spent the duration of the performance complaining about the bar being closed, fighting with each other, using their phones, and talking so loudly that we had difficulty even hearing the miked performer onstage.

After twice asking them to lower their voices, we were compelled to summon an usher, causing the man to burst out, “I’m shipping out to Afghanistan in a few months and you’re going to treat me like this?”

Military service does not entitle a person to bad behavior, and should in fact inspire one to act in a manner befitting our nation’s supposed finest.

Regardless of your position on the current war, the fact is that our military men and woman are fighting and dying every day. For this man to use their sacrifices to justify his offensive behavior was nothing short of reprehensible.

A true soldier carries himself with dignity and honor. He should be able to enjoy himself in public without insulting — and becoming an insult to — the very citizens he claims it is his duty to protect. If this man is in fact in the military (or even if he is not), he should be ashamed of his actions, and should apologize to every serving man and woman whom he insulted. He has disrespected his military and his country.

He is not a soldier; he is a disgrace.

MAGGIE DESLAURIER

North Billerica, Mass.