Editor,
UNM is like most universities, it fills the minds of students and faculty with fantasy misinformation that numbs us to reality. Everything around us becomes a statistic and desensitizes us to the fact that people - mothers, fathers, partners, lovers, children and unborn babies - of all ethnicities and religions died in the World Trade Center, Pentagon and Pennsylvania attacks.
The individuals that attend protests and don't actually do anything about the strife that they are protesting only create a breeding ground for this misinformation. If a protester's opinion and feeling is so great and should be heard by all in the form of signs and the spewing of rhetoric to the general populous at gatherings, then they should do something about their cause.
Protest and rhetoric does not equate action. Working from within the government to ensure this never happens again is action.
Regardless of your political disposition, you need to do your part in repairing the damage inflicted by this act of war against the United States. Protesting military involvement does absolutely nothing except hurt and devalue those that protect our freedoms.
Mourning those that died but again, doing nothing to avenge their death does nothing but bring disrespect to their life and to their families.
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Put down your anti American signs, stop debating what happened and what "we" as Americans should do and join your fellow Americans and help. Take a break from UNM and join the Red Cross or another local, state or federal agency and do your part.
School will be here when the war is over, and you'll come back a great deal wiser. It's time to grow up! It is time to act! Praying is not enough. The Taliban are praying, Osama bin Laden and his al Qaeda organization are praying; whose prayers are being answered? Whose side is God on?
If America doesn't fight back, will we be seen as weak and will more terrorist activity then take place? Will Democracy fall? I'd rather not find out.
The whole reason we haven't had acts of terrorism on our soil of this magnitude is due to the fear of what America might do in retaliation.
The whole world is watching, waiting and appalled at the division that is festering in this nation. We must act as one or the terrorists will have won.
In closing, I implore the administration to fire Professor Berthold for his hateful and ignorant statements. He is representing UNM and that's why he should not be allowed to continue to use his affiliation with UNM as a pulpit for his hateful dogma.
I also ask that my fellow students and University community members become active members of the war effort. Do something, words are not enough, it is time for action or thousands of people will have died in vain.
Brian Coulson
UNM Junior
