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Dear George, I am saddened to read the attitude and opinions expressed by Will Lyster in his E-mail of November 1st. Apparently he thinks that anyone who questions the American military response to the terrorist attacks of September 11th is either ignorant or traitorous, or both. My main objection to the war in Afghanistan is that it's hypocritical for us to decry the killing of innocent civilians here in America, while at the same time we pursue a response that results in OUR killing innocent civilians in Afghanistan. Does Mr. Lyster believe that Afghani lives are less valuable than American lives? By killing innocent civilians in our pursuit of the terrorists, we are lowering ourselves to their level. Supporters of the war claim that "collateral damage" is unavoidable in our "necessary" response to terrorism. I question both the wisdom and the necessity of the kind of military response we have undertaken. And I fear that by our actions, the United States may inadvertently be creating more future terrorists than Osama bin Laden could ever have hoped to recruit on his own. Some people say that our actions are justified because "they started it". If a crazed gunman killed a score of innocent people tomorrow, would Mr. Lyster think it was OK for the police to kill a bunch of innocent people in their pursuit of him, because "he did it first"? Of course not. If we, as a nation, believe that killing innocent civilians is wrong, then we cannot use such rationalizations to excuse our actions. America killing innocent civilians to fight terrorism is no more justified than Osama bin Laden killing innocent civilians to fight Western Imperialism. Mr. Lyster says "I guarantee that if I threaten your life by saying, 'George, I am going to come over to your house tonight and kill you and your family' you are not going to wait for me to come over so that you can reason with me. You are going to call the Police immediately, aren't you??? Usama Bin Laden has given the same threat." Yes, Mr. Lyster, George probably would call the police. And the police would come after YOU, the perpetrator, in their pursuit of justice. They would not bomb your neighborhood and hope they somehow catch you in the crossfire. Mr. Lyster also encourages "peace protestors" (sic) to either head for Afghanistan, immolate themselves, or agree with him. In his reply to Jim Shea, he says "'America - Love it or Leave it'. My feelings EXACTLY! If you hate America so much - get the hell out!" I would point out that disagreeing with U.S. Government policies does not mean that you "hate America". The freedom to express one's opinions and disagree with our Government's actions is one of the basic principles of our nation. I view upholding such principles as patriotic. Dissent is a right that our forefathers saw fit to guarantee and protect in our Constitution. Mr. Lyster shouldn't feel threatened by difference of opinion. Indeed, it's his intolerant attitude that strikes me as un-American. Perhaps if Mr. Lyster had been around during the American Revolution he would have said... "If you don't agree with the Governor, you should just go back to England!" I also find it amusing that Mr. Lyster directs his wrath against "Library Directors (Fl. Gulf Costs (sic) Univ.) that won't allow librarians to wear Pro-American slogans like the Red, White & Blue sticker: 'I'm Proud to be an American'". So he thinks it's bad when people aren't allowed to express themselves by wearing a sticker... but he thinks that people who disagree with him should leave the country? Toward the end of his E-mail, Mr. Lyster writes "Now we need to unite, fight and restore our freedom and the time of peace we have been enjoying." With our government leaders hurrying to sacrifice our civil liberties here at home, and bombs falling in Afghanistan, I am dubious that we will be enjoying either anytime soon. Ward Foeller (electronic mail, November 6, 2001)
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