U.S. `generosity' can't atone for its sins

1/5/2001

Printing Canadian journalist Gordon Sinclair's generation-old essay on the wonderfulness of the United States was as illogical an exercise in self-gratification on Dec. 28 as it was in 1973. The country Mr. Sinclair praises repeatedly as generous with its money had just completed a 19-year military intervention that featured the killing of about one in eight Vietnamese civilians.

At the time of his writing, U.S. intelligence was allocating American money to finance the Chilean Pinochet coup which, the following fall, would overthrow the democratically elected government in a military takeover probably best remembered across the world for its public torture sessions.

A list of other once and future crimes against humanity by the United States wouldn't be hard to compile.

Even if you don't believe that the very rich countries of the world have a responsibility to send economic aid to those suffering from disasters, it should be obvious that large quantities of that aid can never sweep under the rug the activities for which the United States is reviled worldwide.

In refusing to address these obvious arguments, Mr. Sinclair implies the opposite and threatens to foster an irresponsible and dangerous zero-sum morality.

MICHAEL ANDERSON

Talmadge Road

Thank you so much for reprinting the article by Gordon Sinclair of Canada in 1973 in which he so eloquently wrote in defense of all the good that the world has received from the generosity of the United States.

And, as he noted, not once has the rest of the world responded to very real needs of the United States. I recall reading this article when it was first published and thinking “Someone has it right, finally.”

I firmly believe his column should be reprinted annually at Christmastime, much like other seasonal editorials such as Christ's birth and “Yes, Virginia, there really is a Santa Claus.”

WILLIAM L. LAWRENCE

Maumee

Put 'em in jail and throw away the key!

Zero tolerance may come back to haunt the status quo.

Mayor Carty Finkbeiner, now charged with three misdemeanors, is probably rethinking this policy.

Zero tolerance may be a good thing, until it applies to the master.

Oops, can't we get a recount?

FRANK ALBERTS III

Brooke Park Drive