Opinion: Muslim, Afghan people are not our enemies

Regarding two letters of Oct. 2 (Sending food to Afghanistan is aiding the enemy and Let the Taliban feed its own): The United States has been a friend of Pakistan, the Taliban regime's main benefactor, for many years. The United States provided major assistance to Osama bin Laden and other groups who fought the Soviets during that 11-year military operation. When the Soviets were ousted, the Taliban (former radical students) seized power.

The Taliban has, from the outset, oppressed the people of that country. For years now, we have seen TV newscasts of the Taliban repressing the populace -- a populace, by the way, that consists of mostly illiterate, impoverished goat herders who are not even aware of the events of Sept. 11. They are, however, painfully aware of years of oppression under the despotic Taliban. Huge numbers of Afghans have been trying to leave the country since well before Sept. 11.

The Afghan people are not terrorists, nor are they our "enemy." Bin Laden's organization and the Taliban regime his thugs fight alongside are the enemy, along with the myriad of other such organizations throughout the world.

If, as one writer stated, he is "amazed and appalled" that the United Nations is shipping food to those people, what might his reaction be to the fact that in May of this year, the State Department awarded the Taliban government $43-million! Even though the Taliban levy a tax on opium poppy production to fund their war machine, our government rewarded them for their efforts at "opium poppy eradication." In a way, there has been a "feeding of the enemy," but not with food to the starving Afghan people.

Lastly, if you want to see an example of "aiding the enemy," watch the news. Each and every disgraceful attack on law-abiding citizens of Muslim faith is broadcast all over the Islamic world to whip up anti-American fervor and help recruit more radicals, thus hampering our ability to cultivate allies in areas where they are most needed to accomplish our goals. This behavior is not only un-American, but in fact is aiding and abetting the enemy.
-- Dennis Hawley, Tampa

Falling into the enemy's trap

Re: Support for Israel fans Arab hate for U.S., letter, Sept. 27.

This letter is an example of tunnel vision, simplistic and illogical reasoning, not to mention a selective reading of all the facts.

When Yasser Arafat was offered 95 percent of what he claims was taken from the Palestinians, why was it not accepted? Arafat does not want peace. He wants to destroy all of Israel.

When Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait to control the Mideast oil, Israel had no part in that war. Were the Israelis to blame for Hussein's power grab?

More important is the fact if any terrorist group is allowed to control a nation's policies by murder, destruction of property, intimidation and fear, that nation is not in control of its destiny.

The Palestinians see in Israel a modern technological country that pulled itself up by its boot straps with help. They have been manipulated, indoctrinated and suppressed by their leaders squandering resources from other terrorist nations to wage a war the same as was visited on America.

What these terrorist nations see is not Israel's role in the Middle East but similar values and goals for its people. That is what they resent. If Israel didn't exist, the Great Satan would still be the United States. They are all dictatorship nations. The possibility of a democratic nation frightens them beyond words and crumbles their control. Only with iron-fisted control can they maintain their place.

The letter writer's harangue is exactly what the terrorists want to happen: to drive a wedge between the United States and its allies. He has aided the enemy and fallen into its trap.
-- Sy Ginsburg, Hudson

Our ally should cooperate

I fail to comprehend why Israel, our supposedly one true ally in the Mideast, does not comply with our country's request to desist from any further fighting against the Palestinians. Allies cooperate; allies work together for the common good. But I heartily applaud Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres for speaking out against the military's total disregard of the cease-fire. You can be certain that he echoes the sentiments of many, if not most, of his fellow countrymen.
-- Giovanna Perrone, St. Petersburg

No lives lost over atheism

Re: Don't forget the good religion does, letter, Sept. 25.

While it is true that religion does help some people deal with their mortality, and some religious organizations do good work along with their efforts to proselytize, the letter which this writer criticizes so harshly contains much more truth than his own.

He makes the unsupported statement that "far more lives have been taken in the name of atheism in the last hundred years than could ever be laid at the feet of religion." This is arrant nonsense. I have lived through 85 percent of the last century and never heard of even one life being taken "in the name of atheism." The Middle East, the Balkans, Ireland and anti-abortion fanatics the world over prove the first letter writer's case.

Of course, the second writer has a vested interest in defending religion; it's his bread and butter.
-- Joseph R. Gately, St. Petersburg

Religion is foundation for violence

Re: Don't forget the good religion does, letter,
-- Sept. 25.
I agree with the letter writer that religion has been a force for good at times. I was appalled, however, by the statement, "Far more lives have been taken in the name of atheism in the last hundred years than could ever be laid at the feet of religion."
Unfortunately, the opposite of what he says is true. Religion itself often provides the underpinnings for violence, historically and currently. Differences of opinion among religions can often not be resolved in a rational scientific manner since they are based on conflicting beliefs based on faith (beliefs without evidence).
Atheists (non-theists means the same thing but is less emotionally charged) resolve their differences by using scientific evidence and rational analysis rather than resorting to violence.
In addition to the problem of divisiveness, the mythology of religion can specifically lead to violence. Consider the case of the recent terrorist attacks: Does anyone really think that these young men in the prime of life would be so eager to commit suicide without the promise of immediate admittance to Paradise?
James W. Williamson, Winter Park

A moral code decided by Christianity

Re: Grateful for freedom from religious rule, letter, Sept. 25.

If the letter writer truly believes that there is separation of church and state he must not know or care for gay and lesbian people. Indeed the moral code is clearly decided by the Christian faith. Their belief in when life starts and how it may not end sets the tone for our country.

The government is ruled by politicians and they are ruled by their personal religious beliefs. I look forward to the day when we will all be equal and free without the pressures of religions. I should live so long as to see this happen.
-- Michael Morris, Clearwater

Live in mutual concern

Our hearts go out to all people who are suffering. Since the attacks, many of us feel fear, anger and loss. These are burdens others have carried many times in the history of our world. We know there are children and adults here and all over the world who live every day in terror.

The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) has a long tradition of calling on all people to "live in the life and power that takes away the occasion for war." We have spoken out through the generations for finding peaceful and just ways of solving problems from the level of family life to the level of all life. Terror will never be stopped by more terror. The more weapons, inequity and devastation of any kind, the more violent, unjust and unsafe our world becomes. The potential violence to innocent people of the Islamic faith or Middle Eastern descent in this country and in other countries of the world is a horrible possibility.

We urge that the heroic efforts of those who worked to save others be honored by continuing to work to save others all over the world from violence or the threat of violence. If we did not know before, we know now that acts of violence are just too terrible. We must learn that the cycle of violence and more violence is unacceptable.

We have seen love close at hand in the deep, overwhelming concern for the victims of Sept. 11. Many people have experienced a deepened connection to everyone they meet in daily life. This is truly a life-changing tribute to the suffering and the dead.

So we come to each beloved child of God to make this plea again. It is time to give up warmaking on our small planet and to find ways to live together in kindness, equality and mutual concern.
-- Christine O'Brien, clerk, St. Petersburg Meeting, the Religious Society of Friends, St. Petersburg

Another reason not to fly?

Re: Guard to deploy troops at airports, Oct. 3.

Tampa airport officials are to be commended for taking economic measures to respond to the decrease in air travel. However, increasing parking fees will only encourage many travelers to take alternative transportation.

When a couple days' worth of parking fees cost the same as a full tank of gas, the decision to avoid the airport becomes much easier. The flying public will take some time to get its confidence back. The least the airport could do is not provide yet another reason not to fly.
-- David Baker, Palm Harbor

Let them lead by example

The quickest way to get the public flying again is for the members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, and well-known celebrities, to fly commercial airlines.

They say "it's safe." So let them lead by example.
-- James C. Bunch, Floral City

DEP team is innovating

The Sept. 23 article Top environmental posts short on experience was short on balance.

In fact, the DEP team is leading the nation in creating and implementing new and innovative approaches to provide greater environmental protection without adding to the bureaucracy.

Actions speak louder than words, and among this administration's many successes are jump-starting Everglades restoration; implementing Florida Forever, the largest land acquisition and management program in the world; cutting the land acquisition process by nearly six months, saving millions of dollars; protecting Florida's famous beaches by insisting upon no oil drilling off Florida's coasts; and increasing environmental enforcement by pursuing more investigations over the last two years than the previous five combined.

A more balanced story would have mentioned at least some of the accomplishments of this team. All of them have had a role in our accomplishments and will continue to serve Floridians well in the future.
-- David B. Struhs, secretary, Department of Environmental Protection, Tallahassee

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