A chara, - While Timothy O'Connor's reaction to anti-American sentiment is understandable (October 17th), it does come dangerously close to the flat statement that "you're either with us or against us". People must always be allowed to express themselves freely.
Sorrow and respect for the dead are of course more appropriate reactions to the events of September 11th than the claim that America got its just desserts. Unfortunately it was not only the people here in Ireland whom Mr O'Connor criticises that reacted badly. The language of war was employed immediately by politicians and media ("Attack on US", "War on America", etc.) and it quickly became obvious that further carnage was inevitable. In all likelihood the tragedy will from now on be associated with the military response to it rather than the pain it caused America.
Previous letters to this page have correctly pointed out that alternatives to war were not meaningfully considered. Both we the people and our governments elect have been found to lack the vocabulary, imagination and will to find a different way, perhaps even a peaceful one. The horror of escalating violence is the result of this.
If Mr O'Connor can come to see the events of September 11th as a human tragedy first and an American tragedy second, then perhaps he will understand that not everybody in Ireland - nor even in Afghanistan - can support the views he takes issue with. Human dignity is our greatest ideal, and only people like Osama bin Laden (or whoever is responsible) lose sight of this. - Is mise,
Stephen Collins, Sir John Rogerson's Quay, Dublin 2.