I write in response to Jim Anderson’s Nov. 14 letter, (“Patriotism: Misguided fervor only perpetuates war”). I offer four points of contention to his letter.
First, there isn’t any misguided fervor in the U.S. in the wake of Sept 11. Was there any in the wake of Pearl Harbor, which was strictly a military target? The families of more than 4,000 people would disagree with him. Sure, there were some naysayers, but I think history has proven them in the minority. And remember that the strike on Sept 11 was against the World Trade Center, not the U.S. Trade Center. Many peoples of many countries were affected.
Second, he quoted Sun Tzu incorrectly. The correct mantra that he misquoted is, “not to besiege ‘walled’ cities if it can possibly be avoided. Due to the requirement to build movable shelters, preparation of mantlets, and various implements of war will take up to three months (in his time), and the piling up of mounds over against the walls will take three months more.” Quoting further, “In the practical art of war, the best thing of all is to take the enemy’s country whole and intact; to shatter and destroy it is not so good. So, too, it is better to recapture an army entire than to destroy it, to capture a regiment, a detachment or a company entire than to destroy them.”
Third, the United States and other countries have been trying to promote peace for years and reduce hatred within our own country as well as others via the United Nations, NATO and other organizations. We are even down to “anti-bully” legislation for our schools. The Israeli-Palestine question has persisted through three conflicts and the Cold War. I think it will survive this one.
Fourth, true, there are no terrorist cities. Terrorists prefer to operate in small cells and have camps in out-of- the-way places so that they cannot be observed or questioned as to their activities. Small cells afford the complete control of the body, souls and thoughts of the individual. Information comes only from one source claiming to have direct communication with a deity or higher power. With the exception of Timothy McVeigh, the camps of David Koresh, Jim Jones and Charles Manson have proven this theory correct.
I sincerely suggest that when the letter writer crawls back under the rock where he must have been hiding, he should take a TV and a cable lead.
Everett
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
