Letters to the Editor
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Reductive argument
Isn't it possible that both 9/11 and the response to it were both wrong and reprehensible? Or are you arguing that sometimes blind hatred and wanton bloodletting are justified? So what if Wright has good reason to feel oppressed and "unpatriotic"? Crowing that the chickens have come home to roost argument is a reductive and, frankly, simple-minded argument. Bin Laden wanted to punish the U.S. for setting up bases in Saudi Arabia. If Nigeria had constructed bases in the sacred crucible of Islam, he'd have wanted to blow up Nigerians. He's an extremist, not freedom fighter. He thinks of himself as the keeper of the flaming sword. Get your facts straight. And note that I haven't used the patriotism argument, because, in fact, i don't believe in it either. I simply detest hate and violence in all their forms. Apparently Gary and Rev. Wright (and Barack Obama) believe you can parse both in such a way that they can seem the to be "understandble," even "reasonable." That's nonsense. Let's get the hate--and the religion--out of our politics and our government once and for all. Look to the French, they have the right idea about truly secular government.