Letters

originally published September 26, 2001

MISPLACED BLAME

A very good friend of mine who has lived in Athens for the past seven years has been experiencing some scary shit, because he is half-Indian and apparently he looks somewhat like bin Laden.

A girl on the sidewalk downtown just started in on him, with, "How could you kill innocent people?" He goes, "What? Me personally?" "Yeah, you!" she said, going on and on, full of "righteous" anger.

Another time, he went into the bank at the time the physical money was being brought in, and the workers just acted like they thought he was coming in to rob them! Saying the "normal" things, but very obviously worried, and looking around, taking him at a different window, and talking really loud that, "Oh, just a deposit, and that's all? Okay, thank you sir, and be careful!" she told him as he left, sincerely concerned for his safety!

Then, last night, some guy in a truck was driving beside him on his way home (out in the country) and he started yelling at him about it all, and tailgating him, and generally scaring the shit out of him!

My friend may shave his beard so as to not look so much like him, but he feels that just being brown will cause this trouble. Can you believe all this has happened to one person within the past week? Here in Athens, GA?

We can only hypothesize that people who watch the tele see the terror over and over and are in some sort of acute stress disorder as a result, and are acting out of the ordinary at seeing someone who looks like who they think of as "the one person who caused all this."

Lucy C
Athens
MY FAT MAMMA

I waited with bated breath for what sort of wisdom ye old Flagpole would impart upon us during the aftermath of the tragedy. Again, I was disappointed but I noticed the lack of an obligatory "Bush not the real President" slam. Seriously, Pete, that shit about the USA acting arrogant because we refused to participate in the Kyoto treaty and abandoning the UN "racism" conference is just silly. The Kyoto treaty was an absolute joke and that "racism" conference was even more hysterical. The next time you Greens shout that we produce 25 percent of the CO2 emissions remember that we also produce 25 percent of the world's wealth. Only in the UN can one see a racism conference put on by some of the most racist and immoral countries on the face of the earth. Did I really see former African countries that participated in the slave trade (by owning and trading slaves) asking the former Western colonial powers for reparations? What about the Arab countries and their blatantly anti-Semitic statements and pamphlets? Do these people really look like they care about racism? Throw me a frikin' bone, please. Also, the problem with the World Criminal Court is that in the USA we have this thing called the Bill of Rights and there will never be a day when we capitulate our legal rights to some rag-tag international organization whose favorite pastime is bashing Western society.

Pete, Bin Laden didn't give a fuck about Kyoto, racism or some silly court. Yes, we can really see how much reverence Bin Laden takes the judicial system and other orderly institutions. Additionally, I really start to doubt your intelligence when you suggest that sticking to a treaty that holds a civilization population hostage to nuclear weapons is something to be protected. Finally, if you cannot understand why the Marshall plan wouldn't work for the Middle East, well, just damn. I can't sit here at this machine all night.

Silly Flagpole, ya'll don't even challenge me anymore. You people seem to possess all the logic of a left-wing frat boy (presently unknown to man). At least The Nation is more deceptive in it's arguments.

Matthew Dupree
Athens
ILLUSTRIOUS COMPANY

I am appalled, but not at all surprised, that you would spread the hateful notion (see Phalen, "What Price Retribution?" [Sept. 19]) that we are somehow to blame for the horrendous acts of September 11, 2001. That we are an evil empire reaping our just rewards is the same rhetoric espoused by Osama bin Laden, the Taliban, and other Islamic extremist terrorist groups. It is the same argument made by Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson, who viewed the attacks as punishment for America's sins. To this chorus, even political pundit and Backstreet Boy Kevin Richardson has added his voice: "What has our government done to provoke this action that we don't know about?"

Tell me, how does it feel to be in this illustrious company?

Mary Anne O'Neal
Athens
STILL A BEACON

Pete, There are parts of your editorial which are true. Our government's inconsistent foreign policy over the years could bring about legitimate arguments of hypocrisy. However, your suggesting we are "forcing our empire down the throats of starving people," and The Statue of Liberty should try to regain its stature as the world's beacon of hope is amateur at best.

So many unfortunate world events have caused the United States to come to the rescue of many "starving people" over the years. Yet, I can't recall us ever forcing starving people to accept our "empire." The fact is, many of the tabs are still open from our efforts to assist "starving people".

Furthermore, when did the Statue of Liberty lose its stature as a beacon of hope? Everyday, thousands of people attempt entrance into America to take advantage of the "hopes" taken away by their native country. Your stating the Statue of Liberty needs to try to regain what it represents is a blatant admittance of you taking your liberties for granted. It begs, when did she ever lose what she represents? All in the eyes of the beholder, I guess.

Your article "God Bless America!" was well intended, yet it still left this reader feeling as though your compliment also carried a snide remark with it. (Ever met someone like that?) If your editorial space ever had the opportunity to give 100 percent pure, genuine support to someone or something, you had your chance. After all, in the past Flagpole has certainly expressed passionate opinions towards other issues. There will be plenty of time and issues to question in the coming months and years. With so much at stake for all of our futures, why hold back now? America deserves a full, no strings attached compliment at this time.

David Youngerman
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