I would like to express my disappointment in the panel discussion on the lasting impacts of 9/11 that was sponsored by the Center for Social Concern and the Religious Studies Department. I am disappointed not only because I disagree with the panel members' views, but more so because these views were presented inappropriately and there was no counter-viewpoint to balance opinions.

September 11, 2001 was one of the most tragic days this nation has ever seen. Close to three-thousand American lives were lost'children were orphaned, neighbors who went to work in the morning did not return that night. However, out of this tragedy, heroes were born. Firefighters, policemen, and EMTs died in their respective line of duty, ordinary Americans became heroes. In the days that followed, America united. It didn't matter if one was a Republican or Democrat, conservative or liberal, Catholic or Muslim'we were Americans.

Now, five years later, we're back to playing politics. Everyone has an opinion about everything. The war in Iraq'is it right? What should we do about Israel and Lebanon? Are our soldiers treating people in the Middle East correctly? The beauty of living in America is that we are each entitled to our own opinion about these things. We can hold panel discussions and disagree with the government, not having to fear getting thrown in jail for blasphemy. However, the five-year anniversary of a national tragedy is not the time to do that.

The panel discussion that we heard Monday night exploited the anniversary of one of the most tragic events this nation has ever seen. September 11 should go down in history as a day to remember the fallen and their families with reverence and respect; a day to be proud of our military men and women who have given their lives to protect our freedom (even our freedom to have an opinion such as those presented on Monday). Instead, the members of this panel used this opportunity to spout anti-war, anti-Bush administration, anti-armed forces, and anti-American rhetoric from the podium to an audience.

'This is part of the educational process' one might argue. Yes, and universities have the responsibility to their students to encourage independent thought and formation of opinion. However, in order to do this correctly, both sides of an issue need to be presented. The panel discussion that I heard Monday night was extremely one-sided.

I kept waiting for someone to say something in support of the military and what they have accomplished in the Middle East. Last time I checked, there hasn't been a major terrorist attack in the United States since 9/11. The shoe bomber and the shampoo bombers were caught, several key Al-Qaeda leaders have been captured, Saddam Hussein was caught and new roads, mosques, water lines, schools, etc. are being built in Iraq. These things were not even mentioned in the discussion on Monday.

Again, I am very disappointed in the way this panel was organized. On a day that should have been filled with reverence and respect for the American lives lost resulting from 9/11, the Center for Social Concern and Religious Studies Department at UD presented a one-sided academic case against anything and everything American.

Christie Shover
Junior
Biochemistry