When the people of the United States look in the mirror, what they see is a friend of the world. I am stunned that George Beres (“To find the real enemy, we need to look in the mirror,” ODE, 10/12) and others like him see an enemy of humanity instead. I cannot keep quiet about this any longer: The logical flaws of the “peaceniks” and their intellectual allies need to be brought to light.
First, I’d like to discuss Beres’ position. Beres indirectly asserts that, a) the United States has perpetrated great evil upon the world and therefore, b) “had it coming” with regard to the recent slaughter. It should also be noted that hidden within his unbalanced view of current events is the insinuation that Bush was not lawfully elected and that U.S. corporations are to blame for the world’s evils. He goes on to project Bush’s term, “faceless coward,” onto the American people.
Most Americans won’t deny that the U.S. government has made terrible mistakes and still does. Weigh these errors against the good that the United States does for the world and a more balanced picture emerges. Remember World Wars I and II? In both cases, the American people selflessly donated thousands of soldiers’ lives and billions of dollars to free other people from tyranny.
Penicillin is a gift to the world from the United States. So is the transistor (which made computers possible). The U.S. government has forgiven more Third World debts than most countries ever loan out. The United States is the world leader in humanitarian aid. When there is a natural disaster anywhere in the world, it is Americans who are there first offering medical care and money.
There are millions of people alive today who wouldn’t be if it weren’t for the perseverance of American scientists who developed cures for diseases and the investment by American corporations that produce them. Americans are not cowards, nor are they the enemy. Even suggesting that Americans are in the same category as the terrorists is an intellectual crime.
A recap of recent events: Thousands of innocent Americans were slaughtered at the hands of murderous sadists. The repressive government harboring and sanctioning the primary suspect refuses to turn him over for trial. President Bush gives the Taliban almost a month to recant before taking military action. During this time, food is airlifted to hungry Afghani citizens at the United States’ expense. Al-Qaida (Osama bin Laden’s organization) makes still more threats against innocent Americans. An apparent (and so far unsuccessful) bioterrorism campaign is waged upon American civilians. What is there to think about?
It is the legitimate place of any government to defend its people. It is time to defend America both intellectually and militarily. This is the first time in my life that I have supported a U.S. war: I have thought all the others were questionable at best.
This time it’s different. This is defense of my people. I would be honored to die defending the generous, hardworking, courageous, peace-loving, decent people of the United States of America. And to hell with those who don’t like it.