Be Ungrateful and Blame America First: Part II

Alex B. Berezow,
Political Hot Zone

I usually follow a self-imposed policy of not responding publicly to criticisms of my column. However, this week I am making an exception. Two "criticisms" I had received were so egregious, they deserved everybody's attention.

SIU Emeritus Professor Bill Perk, in an e-mail to me, said I did not deserve my microbiology degree and was going to advise the department chairman to not award me my degree. After a semi-psychotic berating (in which he graded my column and gave me four F's), he went on to say I would be an embarrassment to the department, just like Matthew Hale (white supremacist and alleged conspirator in the murder of a federal judge), was an embarrassment to our Law School.

Keep in mind he threatened to send this to my department chairman. Basically, this professor was threatening to undermine my education because he did not agree with my political views. After I confronted him about this, he told me he said these things merely to get my attention. Well, he did, and hopefully I got the attention of some of his colleagues.

Chancellor Wendler, I hope you read this.

The second assault came from Prof. Mary Cashel, who "recognizes and respects the importance of freedom of speech," yet she wants the Daily Egyptian to "consider [my] temporary suspension." It appears Prof. Cashel supports the ideals of free speech but only if it agrees with hers.

She also said I was "slanderous," and I attempted to "defame the character of another." Calling Ms. Velitchkova "ungrateful" and pointing out she likes to bash the United States is far from slander and defamation. Both claims are true. I would again encourage any of my critics to read her columns.

Really, I am not surprised by these two critics. They represent a frightening trend among many liberal "free speech supporters": agree with their position, or they will shut you down.

Now, as promised last week, I present Part II:

It probably goes without saying that my critics all consider themselves ardent patriots. I do not know for a fact, but it is probably safe to assume my most bitter critics agree with Ms. Velitchkova.

To help bring these "patriots" back to reality, let us take a look at what the United States has accomplished over the past 60 years:

We have ridden the world of more than a handful of nasty people, including Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, Slobodan Milosevic, Manuel Noriega and Saddam Hussein.

We helped establish the United Nations. (As the unchallenged world power after World War II, it would have been impossible without U.S. support.)

We are one of the leading nations in worldwide humanitarian aid. (For instance, in 2000, we donated over $100 million to the Afghans and also helped the flood victims in South Africa. These are just two of the many acts of humanitarian aid the United States offers each year.)

We are gracious enough to rebuild enemy countries, even though these same enemies tried to kill us. We were under no obligation to rebuild Germany or Japan (who attacked us first by destroying Pearl Harbor), yet we did. What is more is American soldiers died rebuilding these countries.

We fought to bring food to starving Somalis, and Americans died fighting warlords in this act of humanitarian aid.

We have fought communism worldwide in part because of its hatred of democracy and the ideals of free speech and religion. In a bitter Cold War, we fought the USSR, who starved its subjects and oppressed every conceivable freedom we take for granted.

We have brought education to the women of Afghanistan after ridding them of the oppressive Taliban.

We are providing water, food and electricity to the people of Iraq.

I am not sure whom these "patriots" are trying to fool. I would much rather them say they are unpatriotic and proud of it than to try to pull off this farce that "blaming America first" is what true patriots do.

Obviously, America does not do everything right (see the Vietnam War and Manifest Destiny). However, it is perfectly clear that, overall, the United States is an overwhelming force for good in the world.

Several questions have plagued me for over a week. To those of you (natural-born citizens, immigrants, guests and otherwise) who consistently blame America for everything that is wrong in the world, why do you stay here? Do you stay to take advantage of our world-class educational system, our right to free speech or our ample opportunities for economic success? Do you stay for freedom from persecution?

Maybe the most important question is this: Is it ethical to take advantage of all this country has to offer and then turn around and stick a knife in its back?

Perhaps I will never know or understand those answers. All I do know is I am extremely lucky to have been born an American.

Political Hot Zone appears every Thursday. Alex is a senior in microbiology. His views do not necessarily reflect those of the Daily Egyptian.

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