|
. Letters
from Our Readers *******
******* Living in fear ...
20
September 2001 / {Note: This came as part of a forwarded e-mail from a
local reader.}
"I just came back from a Doctor's appointment ... and
was attended to by an Arab assistant from Egypt. I asked him how he
was faring as a result of the tragedy. He threw his hands up, looked
visibly pained and described his nightly visits from the police (reassuring
him), the multiple bomb threats on his Mosque in Quincy, the harassment of
his wife and 14 deaths of Muslims across the country - five here in Mass. -
most of which are not being publicized for fear of spreading the
backlash. In speaking with the Doctor afterwards, he evidently has
shaved his beard in order to blend in more! He described the FBI as
being very cooperative and seeking to help but unable to protect them
against the ignorance of so many Americans. He felt in many ways that
Muslims were partly to blame for this because they have not integrated
themselves well into our culture - though that could not have been easy even
several weeks ago given such a widespread anti-Arab sentiment in this
country. He lives in fear each night at home and particularly in his
car, when he has to stop at stop lights."
.
A
reply to our original inquiry from Senator Gerry Gossens
{See our
interview with Senator Gossens in this month's The
State of Things.}
26 September 2001
... When we get back I would
be happy to work with you if what I would have to say is still timely.
I am really pleased to hear about your on-line magazine and of your desire
to have a better educated and informed public. I am constantly
surprised at how little information too many people have before they form
strong opinions on war and peace and taxes and all sorts of other important
issues. ...
Regards, Gerry Gossens
. How
we came upon John McClaughry's piece in this month's issue ...
14
October 2001 / {... as a hyperlink in an e-mail that simply said ...}
Thought
you might be interested in this novel approach.
.
John
McClaughry
.
[Obviously, we were.
See this month's Business & Finance.]
. Does
size matter?
15 October 2001
I had a chance to look at the
latest DownStreet ... huge amount of info and analysis.
. A
Reader responds to DownStreet's Special Report: Terrorism and
the Coming War
16 October 2001 / {Note: This e-mail began with
"wow!" in the subject line.}
Just finished up the latest
DownStreet. Amazing work, not only putting all the news in perspective
and sequence, but the in-depth look at what IS terrorism. Must say, at
times my brain hurt!!! One of the things in the midst of all this
coverage is the question of looking at US policy in the Middle East, the possibility
of change. We have heard a lot from the American Muslim community. Is
there a response from the American Jewish community? .
.
Linda
. See
attached ...
16 October 2001 / {NOTE: This e-mail came with a
single word and an attachment. The word, and the beginning of the
attachment are both included.}
Interesting.
.
John
.
[The
beginning of the attachment.]
Censorship of war news undermines public
trust by Amitai Etzioni
A friend who works as a high-ranking
public-information (that is, publicity) officer for the U.S. Army told me
that he does not expect to be sent any place near Afghanistan, because
"we plan to release as little information as possible, or
less." ...
.. From
a former VT resident now living in NYC after reading our Special
Report ...
16 October 2001
good to be reading your words --
haven't finished as yet, but will. i'm living here now (nyc), right near
washington square park. got an offer i couldn't refuse (last june), so
didn't. anyway, i'm fine, faron is fine (he's living on staten island), but
all else is just as you expect. nice tonight, now that the nato aircraft
aren't circling...
.
warm regards,
marilyn
. Praise
... as well as caution and questions
16 October 2001
I read your
Special Report and must say it was well researched and well written. I
also infer a hidden agenda which makes me uncomfortable because it seems to
equivocate on issues that at this point seem moot. At whom is
the attack directed, and at whom should I direct my anger? At this
point I have a lot of that.
.
Zina
. A
misnomer?
23 October 2001 / {Note: From Edward Bailey, writer in this
month's Local Writing, part of an e-mail he
sent with his piece, "Ground Zero, Two
Weeks After."
... I have to tell u I hate the Ground Zero
designation. For one thing it commonly refers to the detonation point
of a nuclear device or accident, and as such is totally inaccurate.
Nonetheless, it's slipped into common parlance, and there it will stay, for
better or worse.
.
Edward
.
.. *******
******* If you'd like to send a letter to DownStreet,
we invite you to do so. ... Please use any of our
e-mail addresses which is most directly connected to the topic of your letter. Thanks. *******
*******
|
