Symptoms Of An Illness

In an exposition exemplary of the idiotic ignorance and righteous indignation plaguing the underinformed U.S. public, Mr. Graboski, in his Feb. 28 letter to the editor, “U.S. bears no responsibility,” manages to stick his foot in his mouth and spout out manure at the same time.

One, Osama, genius that he is, has ties to prestigious education institutions, such as Harvard University and American businesses that deal in Saudi oil related to it. His brother lives across the river, actually. Two, the weapons he uses are a combination of U.S. and Soviet gear; the difference is the U.S. weapons, such as the stinger missiles, were free, while the Soviet arms were bought on the black market with Osama’s funds. Three, much of the funds for these weapons comes from U.S. drug and smuggling trades. The most profitable crop in Afghanistan is poppy for opium — for U.S. consumption. Four, the very notion of terrorist jihad was introduced to Al Qaeda and the Taliban via the CIA to spur recruitment when they were fighting for us against the Soviets in the Cold War. Five, those Middle East regimes — such as Saudi Arabia, where bin Laden is from — with some of the highest inequality ratios on the earth thank you every time you start your SUV. Their oppressive oligopolies and dictatorships are subsidized by the American commuter and lack of gasoline taxation.

Mr. Graboski embarrasses himself further with heinous extrapolation to communism and the case of “socialists and left-wingers” caring more for Afghans than their compatriots. Most times, these individuals have valid views and are simply extolling something other than a knee-jerk violent response.

The actions of Sept. 11 are symptoms of an illness spreading across the globe — resentment of American homogeny and unilateralism. Increased security treats the symptom, not the cause, and in most cases, increases the resentment toward Americans by those not necessarily disposed toward it. Perhaps Mr. Graboski was ignorant of this, but that is the problem. I found it poetic that in the same issue as his letter, there was a report speaking of a study finding an overwhelming majority of Muslim nations at odds with American actions and resenting American lack of respect. I implore individuals, before they label anyone a “disgrace to truth and freedom,” to find their information from a source more credible than the Onion. It would make the world a safer place for Americans, something we all want.