Anger

Ithaca College

In the recent edition of the ICQ it seems there is an attempt to share some of the blame for an act that murdered almost 3,000 human beings with America. The article by Asma Barlas reflects on memoranda written in 1941 and 1954 to show that it is the goal of this country to control and suppress other countries. In addition, Barlas somehow uses our intervention in various countries as an example of how others have been militarily attacked. Of course there is no mention of the reason for the intervention or the outcome. Also there isn’t one mention of any good that has been done for the benefit of others. There is no mention of humanitarian, economic, educational, medical, or any benefits that have been shared with other countries.

The article by Claudia Montague Wheatley ("Let’s Get Serious") is another attempt to show that America must also somehow share the blame in what happened on September 11. Again it is the injustices of America that are pointed out, but again there is not one mention of a positive action that has been done by the country. The article has a picture of aid being provided by the Iranian Red Crescent Society, but there is no mention of the aid and assistance provided by the American Red Cross Society to this group.

Perhaps it is difficult to get an objective balance in an academic environment, but it would be refreshing to have seen some views that weren’t shaped by such a narrow scope. The basics are pretty simple: evil is evil, and no matter how it is packaged it will remain evil.

Joseph Panetta ’58
Glen Cove, New York