Püout
October 5.2001 » J m S M t | s
War and peace
To the E ditor :
I’m writing to express my unequivocal objec
tion to treating the terrorist crimes as acts of
war. We do not need to crash around the world
swinging the sledgehammer of military action.
These terrorists are organized and terrifying,
hut their acts are criminal, not military. I sup
port peaceful resolution through traditional
channels of justice, including full prosecution
of the criminals.
The bombings and the threat of war have
drawn us together. Our nation still will rally and
stand together, strengthened in unity, in support
of our ideals, if leaders choose the moral route of
fair pursuit of justice.
We do not need a war, whether protracted or
brief, to do that; in fact, the evil tendrils of its
effects only will weaken us in the long run. Fur
ther, launching “war” against a worldwide
organization structured like Osama bin Laden’s
carries echoes of the mess of trying to “win”
against elusive guerrilla tactics in Vietnam.
J uliet W yers
Portland
We m ust ca rry on
To the E ditor :
s a nation and a community, we all are
working hard to comprehend and heal
from the horrific events of Sept. 11. This
j u s t FTTTTTTm
unimaginable loss has struck at the very core of
our sense of safety and order.
Before the tragedy— even on a good day—
many gay, lesbian, bi and trans U.S. citizens felt
unsafe or at least vulnerable in ways large and
small. Now, that feeling has grown even more
acute and has blanketed the nation.
Like others, our community knows all too
well the devastating effects of hate. We have
witnessed it firsthand.
As a nation, our unity of experience and our
shared pain also give us the strength that renews
our hope for the future. For some, the struggle to
bring the United States even closer to the com
plete dream of equality for all has been a renew
ing notion.
While we deeply mourn our loss, we must
not allow this sacred quest to drift to any distant
place in our lives. It never has been more impor
tant to remain strong because at its core, the
very opportunity to seek full equality is what
makes this nation great.
So many people from so many walks of life
were caught up in this horrific web of tragedy,
and all differences have fallen away. As we heal,
we should remember that legacy.
In the name of those who perished— and
those they leave behind— we must carry on as
a community and a nation. Much work
remains to be done: a global cure for AIDS
and breast cancer, fairness and equity for our
families, safety and the opportunity to flourish
for our youth.
We will heal as a nation. When we do, we
will be stronger— and perhaps even more for
giving of our differences.
E lizabeth B irch
Human Rights Campaign Executive Director
Next to godliness
To the E ditor :
just read Marty Davis’ Sept. 21 commentary,
“One Nation Under God.7”
I am grateful for the clarity of your vision and
the lucidity with which you expressed it. Thank
whatever gods may be for those who hear a differ
ent drummer when the drum rolls for mindless
patriotism are shattering the eardrums of the spirit.
I shiver every time 1 see a pickup with a mon
strous flag. And here in Chattanooga, Tenn.—
as redneck a country as one could find— I see
many such trucks.
The idea of peacekeepers being soldiers with
out uniforms is a good one. I hope it comes to pass.
May whatever gods you cherish, cherish you,
Marty. You wrote with the compassion and wis
dom of a Bodhisattva, and I thank you for it.
I
J im D ickey
Chattanooga, Tenn.
open
24 hours
TOYS
NOVELTIES
LOTIONS
M edia overload
To the E ditor :
ith almost constant news coverage and
hundreds of interviews discussing the
Do you support immediate retribution against those responsible for the Sept. 11
terrorist attacks, or would you like to see calmer heads prevail?
T
he surest form of retribution against an
intolerant society is to expose it to the
economic prosperity enjoyed by open soci
eties around the world. We should proceed
to remake the refugee camps in Pakistan and
northern Afghanistan into self-sustaining
communities with schools, colleges, religious
freedom, information and access to the glob
al community. As these new towns and cities
improve the standard of living of the com
mon Afghan, more citizens will flee the Tal
iban-controlled zones, further isolating and
identifying the supporters of terror.
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Sweet Home
I
completely support immediate retribu- «
tion against the creatures responsible for §
this. Sometimes being calm and cool-head- |
ed just isn’t the way to go, especially when I
dealing with those who call themselves reli- “
gious terrorists.
|
There is no being calm with them. Thou
sands of people were killed, and many millions
more around the world are in great pain. We
need to put a stop to global terrorism once and
for all and show the peace-loving people of the
earth that they can feel safe at night!!!
PORTLAND
237 S.E. MLK BLVD
harm.7 Damn right!
right to freedom of religion, it also guarantees
freedom from religion!!! Jerry Falwell and Pat
Robertson are bastards!!! And I have told them
so by e-mail!!!
R ich R ibbons
Portland
• • •
S cot J ain
Portland
Salem
• • •
D
D an M c C ormick
emtxzracy requires calmer heads. Do we
really want additional innocent losses?
Calmer heads allow unification, support and
love to take the lead.
Can we really cause the terrorists the same
loss they have inflicted? I think not.
Put the responsible people out of the world s
I
support whatever it takes to rid the Mideast of
fundamentalism, the Taliban, Osama bin
Laden and anyone who would seek to destroy
our civilization. This is war, and they declared it j
on us first. 1 am 65, and I remember World
War II and Korea.
I also believe we should declare war on fun
damentalism in our society. We all have a right
to our position, but we do not have a right to
impose our position on others.
The Constitution not only guarantees the
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