Stand united, stop terrorism\nOur "hired" hands muddy the waters of free idea exchange with the precision of simplistic cowboys hunting "Injuns." American leaders ostensibly repeat themselves as if we didn't hear the first to mention the words "cowed" or "evil-doers." Why do they echo each other exactly? As if they draw thoughts from one large brain, each must think: "Cowed?? Never heard that word, but the people seem to understand it [read: earmarked for future use]. Ha, no one will realize the grim truth that I was hired not because I am able to think for myself in representing my constituents, but because I fit beautifully into the bureaucratic machinery of our nation." [All due respect to Barbara Lee, serving well the 9th district of Cal. by solely voting no to hasty military retaliation]. \nWe must remember we stand as a united nation, and we have a voice defined by our freedom to be individuals. So why do we stand for robotic repetitive leadership? Clumsy rhetoric should not dominate or dictate, and thereby stifle open dialogue between people of our land. The murky network of communication contaminated with vile bloodlust sputters to futility. We should not wallow in sorrow, but use time grieving to gather information as to why, how, and by whose hands unspeakable harm befell a great and free land. This will help us protect ourselves; understanding will lead to healing. Do not let compassion and reason be quashed by confusion, oversimplification, fury and hate.\nStill, no one makes sense of this. We have found ourselves only at the tip of the proverbial iceberg. Our ignorance and mortality have only slightly come to light. We must know our foes' foundations in order to understand their aggression, and how to respond. War has evolved. How we adapt will reflect our understanding of this evolution. As beasts such as blitzkriegs and guerrilla tactics changed the identity of war, so too will this monster. We should study the new beasts carefully, as wounded members of the savage breed lay sated on the soil of America. Let us dissect them. Let us talk about them, and let us listen to each other. Let us feel ... let us be hurt and angry. Most importantly, let us be true leaders by taking the first steps onto the path to a peaceful world. For this to happen, the beast of terror must be asphyxiated.\nTodd Agee\nIU Alumnus
Why do so many people hate us?\nThe fact that the majority of Americans don't understand why so many people hate the U.S. is part of the problem. So, to take some of the questions Joe Walterman asks: We have viciously fought against debt forgiveness for other countries, despite having refused to pay our debts in the late 19th century. We were among the last Western nations to outlaw slavery, and have steadfastly refused to discuss reparations or even offer any kind of apology for the transatlantic slave trade. We tried to not fight the Nazi's, they were Europe's problem. \nWe joined WWII reluctantly. We control the vast majority of the world's wealth, and do our best to maintain a system that preserves this inequality. We make our aid dependent on "economic reforms" that assure the system we benefit from is maintained, and help overthrow governments that try to thwart this system and put in some of the most brutally oppressive regimes around. Then we train their secret police. \nWe ignore international treaties that inconvenience us and have bombed no less than four countries in the last 10 years. We support crushing UN sanctions against people except for Israel, which we prevent from suffering from the numerous UN sanctions placed against it. We tell the world we are in charge, and if you don't like it, too bad, and back that up with military and economic force. We espouse grand theories of equality which we don't live up to in our own lives, and then act as if our prosperity is due to our superior moral character. That's the short answer to why so many hate us.\nLaurent Castelucci\nAlumnus\n \nPut your energy toward positive activities\nDear Editor, dear students and faculty at IUB: We are writing from Vassar College in New York. We are deeply hurt and distressed by the terror attacks in New York and Washington. Many lives here in New York State are very directly affected by this tragedy. However, we are also disturbed by reports of harassment and violence against Muslims and Muslim students at schools across the nation. We are glad to see that the Bloomington campus has reacted so quickly to reports of harassment at Indiana University, by offering an escort service, and by providing counseling. We are writing to urge all students and faculty in Indiana and at campuses across the nation to exercise restraint, and to actively help stop verbal and physical attacks on foreign, Islamic and Arab-American students, visitors, and citizens. We urge you to put your anger, fear and sense of loss to productive uses. Help unite your local community and to strengthen a true national consensus. As students, teachers and intellectuals we should set an example and help find ways to stop the spiral of violence and the suffering of innocent people. \nSincerely, \nMichaela Pohl, Ph.D. '99 Assistant Professor of History, Vassar College; \nLydia Murdoch, Ph.D. '00 Assistant Professor of History, Vassar College; \nAndrew Evans, Ph.D. candidate Visiting Lecturer, History, SUNY New Paltz
