Friday September 21, 2001

Lee column un-American

Since I have attended the UA, I have often been frustrated by the propaganda spewed by the leftist columnists of the Daily Wildcat. It was not until yesterday that my frustration turned to fury! My anger was not as a conservative or liberal, but as an American. I could almost not believe what I was reading in Jessica Lee's article about whether or not we should go to war.

In her article, Lee stated that she does "not want to give her life for this biased democracy," but she would give up "democracy" for peace. So, I ask that Lee, along with any of her sympathizers, put your money where your mouth is, and leave this country! I am willing to die for this country, for myself and for my children. If you are not, we do not want you here!

Justin Rhoads

pre-pharmacy junior

Armstrong column right on, Lee column wrong

Reading all of the comments concerning the question about if we should go to war, I would say Zack Armstrong's views are closest to my own. The United States was not looking for a war, and to be honest, who really wants war? Yet, there unfortunately comes a time when war is the only answer left to solve a terrible problem. We must be smart about this war, as it will not be like any other wars we have ever been involved in. This war is important not only for justice, but for future generations. If there is any way to possibly avoid having our children and grandchildren see something like this, it is worth the effort.

People like Jessica Lee, who seem to have no touch with reality, worry me. There is nothing we did to possibly deserve this. Also, she said that she would not fight for our "democracy." If you feel that way Miss Lee, might I suggest that you move to China and live under a communist government. Then come back and tell us all how you enjoyed the government telling you what religion to practice and not to write your precious columns. Then tell what you thought of the government killing children you have after your first. Our freedom and our way of life is something to be proud of. We need to thank all of those who died in the name of it so we may remain free.

Manuel Espinoza

political science senior

former President, UA Campus Republicans

Justice More Powerful Than Retaliation

Anger and bloodlust for retaliation are understandable responses to brutal attacks, but where's our grip on reality? Who would we "retaliate" against, and what would happen then? We cannot bomb the armaments of our enemies - that would mean bombing our own airports! Let's try Afghanistan instead: If the Taliban does not turn over bin Laden, we could send some million-dollar missiles at their now-empty mud barracks. We flex our muscles, test our big guns, and make some holes in the ground, and that's all. How about we send ground troops in to fight the guerilla armies trained by the CIA and U.S. military to slaughter Soviet troops that vastly outnumbered and outgunned them?

It's not going to work, say military experts across the globe. So maybe we bomb Afghani citizens, people brutalized first by Soviet occupation and then by their own oppressive "government." Forget for the moment that bombing Afghani citizens for the actions of this criminal terrorist network would be like bombing Oklahomans for the actions of Timothy McVeigh. Let's say we do wage war on civilians of another nation to somehow make us feel strong again, to fill our politicians' hollow threats. What do we get? A region full of bitter, wounded people - perfect tools for manipulators like bin Laden to send on suicide missions of revenge for our attacks against innocent civilians. Each U.S. bomb that lands on a civilian neighborhood will give Osama bin Laden new recruits by the thousands!

We must take action. But we have a choice: wage war and fan the flames of hatred, or crush this fire with an all-out tidal wave of justice. Never in our lifetimes have world leaders been so unified. This is our chance to solve the problems that normally divide us so deeply that solutions seem impossible. Together we can deal directly with the deep causes of strife and frustration that feed terrorism, strengthen our alliances, and bring a sense of justice to global relations. Welcome to the New World Order.

Gita Bodner

biology graduate student

Frantzman letter is incorrect and misleading

Mr Frantzman, your comment in the Wednesday's Wildcat Perspectives page shows your ignorance of the current international situation. You said "It shouldn't matter that many Americans can't find Afghanistan on a map, because our bombs will be able to find bin Laden and his sympathizers." Wrong. We all need to be aware of the world around us, especially you as a history senior. We must know what our national policies are and their effects. We need to find countries on a map and to understand the motivations of the people who live in those countries. It's the basis to avoid violence in the future. I have seen firsthand that in war there are no winners, only death and destruction.

Afghanistan today has endured 25 years of war and destruction. There's nothing left to bomb that would have any effect. And 30 years ago when I visited there, it wasn't much better. I'm not saying we shouldn't respond (we will), I am saying we must break the cycle of violence or it will consume us all. Oh, and by the way, our bombs are not so smart that they can tell the difference between bin Laden and an innocent person nearby.

Sam Marion

physiology research specialist