Our readers begin to find words

I admit that I have lived a sheltered life. But I really thought Boston was above the kind of ignorance and hate that seems to be everywhere now.

The candlelight vigil at Davis Square last night was the Boston I always knew existed — people banding together in a time of need. It was a show of love and respect at a time of unparalleled grief.

That was last night ... now it’s morning.

I went back to Davis Square; people were still stopping to light candles. But one man came for something else. He came to tear up the prayers left by American Muslims who mourn this nation’s loss with all of us. He came to spew out hate and bigotry: " I know these people, I’ve read the Koran, they’re nothing but anti-Christian bastards. " " They’re not Americans — we should make them all leave, one way or the other. "

Faced with this, the forward-thinking folks of Davis Square turned and walked away.

I took some of the torn prayers and put them back with the candles. The man grabbed the torn paper out of my hand, and threatened me. " You want me to knock you out right now, you un-American fuck? C’mon! " he shouted. " Go somewhere else and love this trash. You’ll be the first to run to Canada when the shit hits the fan. "

People looked, then walked away. I stayed, and continued to light candles. He walked away swearing at me.

I’m not angry at one man’s ignorance, but at those who saw and did nothing, who looked and didn’t want to get involved. And I’m shaking with fear of what I’m seeing my world become.

The war against terror must be fought. But it is nothing compared to the battle against hate and terror that has to happen right here. Hate and terror have struck us hard, thousands have lost their lives, fear and resentment are everywhere. Until we stand united, they will win. If nothing is done, there will be nobody left to stop them when hate and terror come for you.

Geoffrey R. Ogonosky

Arlington

As Jews, we wish to express our opposition to the anti-Muslim and anti-Arab attacks that have been occurring in this country since the atrocities of September 11. Neither Arabs nor Muslims as a group, nor Islam as a religion, bears responsibility for this horror. We must not scapegoat our neighbors; we must never succumb to group hatred of any form.

As members of Boston’s Jewish community, we express solidarity with our Muslim and Arab neighbors. We pledge ourselves as Jews to resist any attempt to make Muslims or Arabs unwelcome here. We will refute statements of bias against Arabs, Muslims, or Islam; we will do everything in our power to stop any verbal or physical harassment that we witness.

We must work together to help America live up to its ideal of judging people by their behavior, not by their religion, ethnicity, or otherness. We collected the signatures to this letter in the two days preceding Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.

Editor’s note: This letter was signed by more than 150 Jewish citizens of Boston. Phoenix publisher Stephen M. Mindich and all staff members of the Phoenix Media/Communications Group fully support the sentiments expressed above.

I believe that most of the people of this nation, given the chance to step back and a few moments to begin to heal, would not favor war. Let us find out for certain who committed these acts and bring them all to swift, decisive justice. But please don’t let us rain fear and destruction upon thousands or millions of people who, like those killed in New York and DC, are innocent.

Sara Willig

Somerville

I had never worried that taking the T would get me killed.

I had never feared the sound of a jet flying overhead.

I had never been scared of walking near tall buildings.

I had never seen you bastards will pay scrawled on the sidewalk outside a convenience store, where immigrants from the Middle East work.

I had never seen so many people waving American flags when it wasn’t a national holiday.

I had never seen people waving those flags look so scared.

I had never felt so fragile or vulnerable, and yet also so very fortunate.

I had never felt the need to call my parents every 10 minutes to tell them I was okay.

I had never overheard someone on the street use the phrase " Fuck all Mohammeds. "

I had never thought that things could change so quickly.

I had never felt so sorry for, as well as proud and ashamed of, the American people.

I had never felt so hesitant before sending an e-mail, for fear of the repercussions.

Until now.

I’m greatly saddened by the events in New York, DC, and Pennsylvania. But before we can form opinions, it is best to try to understand just what has occurred here, so that a rush to judgment doesn’t lead to more heartache. Although we all want to know who did this, we should first ask why.

I’d like to warn those who already consider it a foregone conclusion that this attack had origins in the Middle East: that is gross speculation. Please don’t forget that when the Oklahoma City bombing occurred, the national media immediately assumed that Middle Eastern fanatics had carried out the attack. Also, the belief that these attacks are too heinous to have been anything other than foreign in origin is exactly what got us in this mess in the first place. The American people have become ignorant and apathetic about the world’s people and the struggles they endure every day, especially if our own government is involved. We can no longer trivialize lands and cultures that we so routinely consider " out of sight, out of mind. "

Even more insane is the belief that we can avenge the deaths of those who were slain by attacking a specific nation (Afghanistan). What would that accomplish? Those we would kill inadvertently would be the equivalent of those who died on Tuesday — mothers and fathers, uncles and aunts, sons and daughters, friends and spouses. We should punish those and only those directly responsible for these unspeakable acts, and send a message to all those who would likely follow in their footsteps that we will not be goaded into violence for the sake of violence.

Braden Moriarty

Emerson College, Class of 2002

Boston

I like to believe I’m one of the world’s more cynical people, but the events of the last week have me thinking in a new light.

All week long, I saw notices about the nationwide " light a candle " campaign. Usually, when I see things like this I ignore them, or make some snide remark about a candle and my ass, but this time was different. Why be cynical, rude, condescending, when it can all be over in a flash?

So I drank a beer for those who won’t be having another, and set out down the street, candle in hand, to Broadway (in Somerville). It was a corridor of light as far as you looked. Then I heard four people, around my age, singing patriotic songs and hymns. I joined in. Cars honked every time they saw the candles up and down the street.

In that moment, I knew that the thousands who died were not, and would never be, forgotten. Now more than ever, we all need each other — working together, putting aside hate and race and petty bullshit — to get this country moving and working again.

Isaac F. Slepner

Somerville

Disagreeing with Gitell

While I haven’t always agreed with the views and opinions expressed in your pages, I’ve found your weekly newspaper to be an enriching, intriguing read most of the time. It’s nice to have a somewhat progressive and slightly scruffy alternative to the Globe and Herald.

But I’d like to offer a few critical comments on the pieces by Seth Gitell [ " This Never Should Have Happened " ] and Dan Kennedy [ " The End of Decadence " ] in the September 14 issue. Kennedy spoke of the ’90s as " a time of wealth, fun, and disengagement from public life. " I’m not so sure. In 1999, protesters against corporate globalization came to Seattle and other cities. As for " wealth and fun, " for the millions of poor and working people who saw their wages and earnings fall or stagnate while CEOs were paid astronomical sums, " deprivation " and " misery " might be more accurate words.

As for Mr. Gitell’s remarks that " if terrorists aren’t afraid of blowing themselves up in bombing attacks, they’re not going to worry about receipt of legal briefs and prosecution " — it seems highly doubtful that anything, including the get-tough policy Gitell seems to be advocating, will affect these individuals. Is Mr. Gitell saying that we should nuke Iran? Bomb Iraq? Have the CIA destabilize the Taliban regime? Such actions, it seems to this citizen, would only harden the resolve of Muslim-fundamentalist terrorists. Let’s be careful in how we deal with this threatening situation.

Barry Hart

Boston

I found Seth Gitell’s outrage understandable, but his analysis rather simplistic. The philosophy behind the decision not to seize Iranian assets in the Flatow v. Iran case did not originate with Clinton, and will not go away under Bush. The decision was made to protect Americans living abroad from the whims of foreign governments. The compromise reached in the Pan Am flight 103 case is similarly intended to meet the needs of both American-style justice and US foreign policy, which sometimes conflict.

It makes no sense to try to lay the blame for the September 11 tragedies at the feet of any one president, because certain areas of foreign policy don’t change much no matter who is in charge. Please, let’s not cast blame at others. Instead, let’s try to protect ourselves more effectively from those who would harm us.

Michele D. Maniscalco

South End

Oklahoma correction

The bombing of the Murrah Building in Oklahoma took place in 1995, not 1996. I know: I was there, on-site, two hours after it happened. I commend the article otherwise — I hope and pray yours is not the only voice decrying the potential loss of civil liberties. The country’s in terrible danger.

Linda Mansker

Corning, New York

The right to bear arms

Many anti-firearm types have called the Second Amendment " archaic, " but these terrorists have brought the fight to our own land. And if ever the need arises, the minutemen of the future may just be the firearm owners of today.

Ken Goodall

Exeter, New Hampshire

Frivolity?

I’ve been watching death, destruction, and unmitigated sorrow on television now for three days. The very foundations of human decency have been shaken and irrevocably altered. There was a great surprise, therefore, when I turned to the Phoenix article " Pot Shots " by Chris Wright [News and Features, September 14].

In a world where people are willing to die and slaughter to prove their hatred, it’s somehow reassuring to know that Jim Pillsbury is " willing to die " for such a noble cause as pot. I just hope Mr. Pillsbury is only willing to sacrifice his own life to protect our right to get high, because it would be a shame if we had to be on the lookout for stoned bombers.

Jeff Burke

Arlington

The Phoenix is dead wrong

As I read the Boston Phoenix editorial [ " Reflections on Tuesday’s Terrorist Attacks, " News and Features, September 14], I thought, What garbage!

President George W. Bush has done a great job during this terrible time. I’m glad he’s in the White House, rather than Bill Clinton or Al Gore. He may not be the smoothest talker, but he’s saying what has to be said. Each day of this crisis he seems to grow stronger, as do we.

There will be plenty of time for those who wish to criticize the president’s handling of this horrible attack upon America, but this is not the time. I lump the Boston Phoenix along with US Representatives Marty Meehan and Richard Neal as the ideal recipients of a brand-new Congressional Medal of Chutzpah.

Sal J. Giarratani

North Quincy

Having recently moved to the East Coast from that purported intellectual backwater known as the Midwest, I picked up " Boston’s alternative newspaper " expecting to find intelligent, considered coverage of the horrifying terrorist attacks. Instead, I found Dan Kennedy’s cover story, an obvious example of what we in the heartland call " asshole journalism. "

While victims buried in rubble still desperately try to dig themselves out, Kennedy declares, in a paroxysm of onanism, " the end of decadence. " He couldn’t be more wrong. The idiotically simplistic, wholly insensitive, and utterly fatuous nature of Kennedy’s ill-timed media critique epitomizes the decadence and " cultural frivolity " he has declared dead.

Josh Kimball

Brighton

Instead of spending this time of national mourning trying to unite the country, you choose to attack the government. I understand, and respect, that this is your First Amendment right, but I find your judgment truly horrible.

Criticizing the president for being taken to a secure location is not only irresponsible journalism, it is downright stupid. I suppose if the president had been killed in one of these attacks, you would have been the first to write, " Why wasn’t the president removed from Washington? "

You state that the president’s performance on Tuesday did not inspire confidence. CNN announced today that he has a 90 percent approval rating. That sounds to me like he has the nation’s confidence. It includes mine.

Lee J. Spivack

Natick

Phoenix editor Peter Kadzis responds: If Josh Kimball had read more closely, he might have understood better that Dan Kennedy was criticizing 10 years of media frivolity. Lee Spivack may be right, but many conservatives agree with us. And to Sal Giarratani: you put us in proud company. Our position is more fully explained in our editorial.