It is difficult to accept quotes attributed to Marcy Kaptur dealing with spiritual soul-searching because of the threat of war. Is it possible that Ms. Kaptur equated the American patriots who resisted the tyranny of King George III with Osama bin Laden?
Does Ms. Kaptur think that the Green Mountain Boys of the American Revolution had the same callous intent as the members of al-Qaeda who so soullessly obliterated the lives of thousands of innocents in the Twin Towers?
The Green Mountain Boys fought against British troops. Osama bin Laden targeted men, women, and children of all faiths, races, and ethnic backgrounds. Bin Laden capriciously murdered to destroy American lives and to injure American democracy.
Ms. Kaptur is quoted as saying that "people of faith understand that for many of the terrorists their actions are acts of piety." I am a person of faith and I do not understand the merciless, indiscriminate, and brutal murder of innocents.
She continues by saying that persons of faith understand that there is a "heavy religious overtone to the opposition." Is she stating that there is a legitimacy for murder to be dressed in the garments of religious tradition?
There is in Ms. Kaptur's religious background the horrific tale of the "slaughter of the innocents." There is in our dolorous period of history the constant slaughter of the innocents by hateful brutes who clothe themselves in the vestments of religion. How can such inhuman actions be justified?
RABBI ALAN SOKOBIN
Pine Ridge RoadKaptur is the target of a witch hunt
The right wing has sunk to a new low with its recent attack on Marcy Kaptur. The fact that media and local Republicans have managed to extract that Ms. Kaptur compares Osama bin Laden to our Founding Fathers from her comments in The Blade only highlights the narrow focus of their crusade. Can we say "witch hunt?"
Ms. Kaptur was merely pointing out that the motivation of modern terrorism is the same as that which supposedly led to the American Revolution. That motivation is and was religious belief. That is a fact that our history books have been spoon-feeding generations of U.S. school children. It would take only a modicum of reason for her attackers to realize that making that point was in no way an endorsement of the tactics employed by the bin Ladens of this world.
Americans tend to have a blind spot on all things American. Why is it such a stretch to believe that if our founders employed terrorist-like tactics in defeating the Native peoples of this land with war, starvation, illness, and outright theft of their land, that other factions would use the same methods to make their causes known?
Terrorism is wrong, no matter the ideal being enforced. Ms. Kaptur has been a staunch defender of this country and an outspoken critic of terrorism for her entire political career.
It worries me that Larry Kaczala considers Ms. Kaptur's citing of documented history "outrageous and sick." To distort her comments and question her loyalties is the only outrageous part of this controversy.
MARSHA MANON
Elmridge RoadRepresentative shamed her district
Rep. Marcy Kaptur has shamed her district once again. She has now compared terrorist Osama bin Laden to our great nation's Founding Fathers. She says that Osama and his cohorts in al-Qaeda are religious "revolutionaries" like those who "cast off the British crown."
She could not be more wrong. Our Founding Fathers fought for religious freedom and choice, and for liberty.
Bin Laden's efforts, of course, are for the antithesis of what we value so much today. Al-Qaeda fights to eliminate any other religions from the earth. Al-Qaeda would have women subjugated and freedom restricted.
The American Revolutionaries fought to overthrow religious persecution and despotism, whereas al-Qaeda fights to engage such things.
The biggest problem is that Ms. Kaptur seems to be self-contented with letting Islamic terrorist states continue their totalitarian ways, only to hide her weakness in willingness to liberate millions of oppressed refugees in Iraq behind the Catholic Just War Theory. I believe Ms. Kaptur should apologize or clarify herself, because she just brings more of a disgrace and ultra-left perception to her constituents.
MICHAEL O'BRIEN
SylvaniaFlap is self-serving political nonsense
Listen up, Lucas County voters. Hear the biased political nonsense that Bernadette Noe and Larry Kaczala spew on behalf of their self-serving interests. Then listen to the intended message Marcy Kaptur is conveying to the people. Do not rely on the misguiding and unjustified comments the likes of Rush Limbaugh make to shape and form your opinion.
Instead I challenge you to use your own mind and make the conscious attempt to understand. Understand that religion is the key element to the terrorism we face today and that these people are driven by an intense passion for their religion. If the American public fails to recognize this fact the war against terror will become an illusion. The attempt to tarnish and tear down Ms. Kaptur's reputation in the hopes of building up their own shows they have no platform to begin with.
To imply that Ms. Kaptur believes the Founding Fathers were terrorists is laughable, and these people are the joke. Ms. Kaptur is more credible and true to the public she serves than her opponents can ever hope and only dream to be.
DANIEL KISH
OregonKaptur's words were misconstrued
Anyone who thinks that Marcy Kaptur, in her discussion of religious fervor and terrorism, was equating our revolution with al-Qaeda is either intellectually deficient or politically disingenuous, or both. I will take her thoughtfulness and intestinal fortitude over anyone on the political horizon.
PETER J. PITKIN
PerrysburgCall Kaptur to task for her remarks
This letter is in respectful memory of the 3,000 innocents murdered on 9/11 and the thousand or so Israeli citizens murder-bombed.
U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur said that Osama bin Laden is equivalent to the Green Mountain Boys of the American Revolution, and that people of faith understand that terrorist actions are acts of sacred piety to the point of losing their lives.
If these feelings are what have been prompting her local and Washington remarks ever since the memorial service that terrible Sunday in Promenade Park, then I suggest she be called to task by the moral outrage of our fellow citizens.
I do not know, nor care, what her religious beliefs are. But "thou shalt not murder" is fundamental to mine.
ELI BENSTEIN
Coldstream RoadAt least someone is speaking out
While considering the reaction to Marcy Kaptur's statements, it occurs to me that the tendency to react rather than think about what has been said or done is precisely the reason we have 300,000 troops surrounding Iraq right now.
Going to war might make us feel better, but it will not make us safer. At a time when so many Democrats are maintaining the uncomfortable position of feet planted on both sides of the fence waiting to see how this will turn out, I am grateful at least one person is more concerned with speaking out than with whether she can play the middle of the field well enough to keep her job.
MOLLY LaMOUNTAIN
Whitehouse
Kaptur can skip the history lessons
So Osama Bin Laden's massacre of 3,000 civilians on 9/11 was really not much different from Ethan Allen and his Green Mountain Boys firing on British soldiers in the American Revolution.
Please, Marcy Kaptur, no more history lessons.
ED WEBER
Maumee
Editor's note: Mr. Weber preceded Ms. Kaptur as U.S. congressman from Ohio's 9th District.
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