This is in response to Cecilia Duran’s perspective, “Terrorism did not control elections” (March 19, pg. 7). We have two words to say: Get serious. Tell me where you are drinking this Kool-Aid on campus. The idea that a national event does not influence a person’s political view is ridiculous.

Let’s look at President Bush’s approval rating after 9/11, which was at an all-time high of 90 percent, or his approval rating after the capture of Saddam Hussein. Both of these national events influenced the public’s view. A poll taken not three days before the bombings in Spain showed the ruling Popular Party, lead by Mariano Rajoy, had a 4.5 percentage point lead over the Spanish Socialist Workers Party. How can you think a national event would not influence a country’s view of their leader?

Additionally, how can you criticize the American people for not parading for peace? Do you think we just like to fight wars? America wants peace. War seems to be one of the best ways to fight terrorism. We must always be on the offensive, not the defensive, or another Sept. 11 is bound to happen. Name one act of terrorism that has been committed in the United States since the Bush administration waged a war on terror.

I do applaud you for thinking to criticize our leaders. That is a person’s role as a citizen of a country. However, your ideas do not make sense. When something hits so close to home, how you cannot think that it would not influence a country’s thinking?

Trevor Guthrie

COM ’06

Doug Clinton

SMG ’06