Editor:
I was disturbed by the tasteless headline and ridiculous lead article in the Sept. 11 issue of The Chronicle, “U.S. Gov’t Continues To Promote Anti-American Feeling Worldwide”.
Most of the panelists at the Hinckley Institute-sponsored event appeared oblivious to the fact that our country has the luxury to even worry about “health care, environment [and] women’s issues,” because of the freedoms it has fought to protect. It is sad that those entrusted to teach us are so blind to the good that our nation has done. Who defended Europe, Southeast Asia and the Middle East from murderous and brutal regimes over the past hundred years? Who freed the Afghan women from their burqas last year?
Do the panelists believe that if the United States were to solve the world’s problems that al Qaeda and Saddam Hussein would lay down their arms against us and the rest of the free world? No. Once again, it appears that the United States may be forced to go it alone to defend itself and the world against forces that do not give one whit for the very freedom that permits the environment, women and health care to be a matter of concern in free societies.
Those who want to be intellectually honest would do well to consider the good the United States has done when they exercise their right to criticize the issues that still concern them and the rest of us.
The article reports that panelist Hakan Yavuz claimed that the U.S. Government has not learned the lessons it should have from the attacks. Apparently, the ones who would rather let oppressive terrorist regimes threaten the world and our freedom are the ones who have not learned the lessons of Sept. 11.
David Sundwall
Graduate Student, Law