The United States is waging an all-out military, propaganda and
economic war against the Taliban and those who harbor terrorists.
Yet America has been the largest harborer of terrorists in history.
Since the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation, groups such as the Ku
Klux Klan and even our own government have terrorized black America.
When black homes and churches were bombed in the 20th century, concern
for black citizens was minimal at best.
Cities, states and the federal government basically ignored the plight
of black America until it was to the point of worldwide embarrassment.
Most terrorist acts against black America have gone unpunished,
uninvestigated and almost unnoticed. Only when terrorism struck the heart
of white America did terrorism become an act of war.
While Osama bin Laden and Afghanistan continue to be the primary faces
in the war against terrorism, maybe America should take a look in the
mirror. For once, white America knows how it feels to be attacked for no
reason.
Christopher Jones
Powderly
Movie stars are lousy U.S. critics:
Danny Glover blames the United States for spreading violence and
terrorism, and he says we should spare mass-murdering terrorist Osama bin
Laden. Speaking at an anti-death penalty forum, Glover called America "one
of the main purveyors of violence in this world."
I respect his right to oppose the death penalty, but to say America is
responsible for spreading terrorism shows how invalid his reasoning is.
Strange sentiment, for one who has made a fortune riding Mel Gibson's
coattails in some of Hollywood's most violent movies. Add Glover's name to
the list of so-called stars who think their limited fame entitles them to
spout their personal beliefs. While they are entitled to opinions, what
makes them think they can push them on the public?
Mr. Glover, Alec Baldwin, Richard Gere and others who have so deeply
criticized American policies should consider where and what they might be
if born elsewhere. Plane fares are at an all-time low, and the airlines
need the business, so it would be easy for them to go to a country they'd
actually enjoy living in.
Richard Stern
Wine Ridge
U.S. must help Afghans rebuild:
Edmund Burke, described as one of the wisest men ever to meditate upon
the civil social order, said: "Man is not fully man until he is fully
civilized; he acquires his higher nature as a member of a culture, of a
civil social order. Man's true nature is only latent in the savage."
C.S. Lewis, in his address "The Weight of Glory," points out that all
men have the potential for tremendous good or incredible evil. All day we
are in some degree helping each other to one of these destinations.
We must extirpate terrorism wherever it exists and go after those who
harbor terrorists, or life in the United States will never resemble what
we were accustomed to before Sept. 11.
But that is only half of our obligation. We have a moral responsibility
to do our utmost to help the Afghans restore their civilization and
develop their highest potential for good. Very possibly, we will emerge
more civilized ourselves.
E. Barry Evans
Mountain Brook
Airport security needed upgrade:
Let's see: Paying a reasonable wage, providing benefits, requiring that
employees speak fluent English and are American citizens will result in
more incompetence?
Cartoonist Scott Stantis and other faux-conservatives need remedial
economics if they think an airport-security system of low-bid contractors
and low-paid, minimally trained personnel is the best solution.
Last August, while traveling, I was stunned that many of Detroit Metro
Airport's security screeners were Arabic and did not have much of a grasp
of English. I travel all of North America and have noticed very few of
these screeners seem to have much on the ball.
Incidentally, I had to drive my rental car home to Birmingham after
Sept. 11. Boy, those Boston security screeners were on the ball! You get
what you pay for. You pay lousy wages and benefits, you get lousy workers.
With 25 years of experience in providing jobs, I have found this to be a
universal truth. Stantis and his ilk are obviously more concerned with the
profit margin of a few fat cats than airport security. Or is it just that
they like to see people underpaid and mistreated?
Tim B. Pond
Grayson Valley
Don't rule out military tribunals:
President Bush's plan for the use of military tribunals and the
indefinite detainment of terrorist suspects are plans that we will all
scramble to endorse once we experience the loss of our first 100,000
citizens to a terrorist attack. Some apparently feel that we should wait,
or maybe they can't fathom that it could happen. For God's sake, let's at
least give Bush the "option" up front that just may prevent such a
catastrophe or something worse. Luckily, we have a president who accepts a
ghastly reality and acts to lessen its devastation. Now if only we can
accept reality.
Armond "Si" Simmons
Pell City
UAB complaints put in perspective:
I read with interest the Nov. 18 "My Turn" from Robert Collins about
UAB's funding of academic vs. athletic programs. While Collins is an
esteemed colleague, some of his statements need context.
UAB's academic schools rely heavily on state appropriations. From 1996
to 2001, UAB's state funding increased by 13.4 percent while academic
faculty salaries rose 21.4 percent.
The use of part-time faculty is a growing concern throughout higher
education. But because we recognize the value of providing small classes
in English at UAB, and our state funding is limited, we must rely on
assistance from part-time faculty. Even so, past studies have shown that
UAB relies less on part-time faculty than most of its peers.
Finally, given the current downturns in the economy and layoffs in
private industry, I wonder how many unemployed workers would argue about
relative increases in pay or less than optimal space if they still had a
job? While UAB has never wavered in its commitment to improving faculty
salaries, the realities of our current fiscal environment must be
realized.
John Lyons, Ph.D.
Vice president Planning, information management, UAB
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