Letter to the editor

Dear Editor,

I am writing this letter to thank Ana Velitchkova for her illuminating Sept. 11 tribute. Her courage and willingness to share her perspective as an international student is an act that requires more risk than most Americans are aware. I would like to think that our University community, being committed to the viewpoints of others in pursuing greater knowledge and understanding, would welcome this voice wholeheartedly as an addition long overdue. Unfortunately, I know that this will not be the case. Some Americans, imbibed with a heavy dose of dogmatic nationalism, will respond in a reactionary fashion, informing Velitchkova to return to her country of origin, "to move to Iraq" or some other such nonsense. My sincere hope, and it is one that I am confident that I share with a majority of my peers, is that we as Americans ˘ who as citizens of this country possess a certain measure of privilege that internationals are denied ˘ will refuse to tolerate this blatantly ignorant behavior. As citizens, it is our responsibility to ensure that the right to speak freely is guaranteed for citizens and non-citizens alike. Our government's policies, whether we like it or not, affect every country on this planet. The right of internationals to express themselves in an atmosphere that is accepting of other viewpoints with which we may disagree is something truly priceless. It is a voice that we as Americans must not ignore if we are to truly understand ourselves, our University community and our government's role in the world around us. To those international students who already speak out I hope that you continue to do so. To those who have yet to do so for whatever reasons, it is my hope that this letter will encourage you to openly and freely say what you wish.

Sincerely,

Joel R. Landry

Senior, double major in political science and economics

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