http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/09/opinion/l09ayers.html?_r=1
Published: December 9, 2008
To the Editor:
In "The Real Bill Ayers"(Op-Ed, Dec. 6), William Ayers tries to paint
himself and his former comrades in the Weather Underground as just
part of a broader coalition that did nothing more than carry out
"symbolic acts" that were not terrorism, but simply a "screaming
response" to the failure of peaceful protests to end an unpopular war.
The Weather Underground was actually planning a major bomb attack at
Fort Dix, N.J. The explosive that killed the members at the March
1970 town house explosion in Greenwich Village was meant to be used
at a noncommissioned officers' dance for new recruits and their dates
at Fort Dix. The bomb was a homemade antipersonnel device filled with
nails, meant to cause as much harm to human beings as possible.
If it had gone off where planned, it would have killed hundreds of
innocent victims, and possibly more. It was hardly an effort that, as
Mr. Ayers once wrote, "aimed only to educate."
Of course their actions proved inadequate to end the war earlier. All
they did was provide much ammunition to supporters of the war, by
undermining the antiwar movement's motives and goals, thus allowing
supporters to paint it as not patriotic and supporters of Communist
revolution. In the case of Mr. Ayers and the Weatherman group, this
charge was accurate.
Ronald Radosh
Martinsburg, W.Va., Dec. 6, 2008
The writer is professor emeritus of history at CUNY and adjunct
senior fellow at the Hudson Institute.
•
To the Editor:
William Ayers provides a concise, lucid and articulate explanation of
his youthful self-identity. Moreover, he reflects meaningfully on his
past activities and the core of his rationale for protest: attempts
to end the Vietnam War. He poignantly renders his expression of
regret that the antiwar movement could not stop that war.
All this Mr. Ayers offers in a patently intelligent response, wisely
unspoken until after the election of Barack Obama, to the
"demonization, guilt by association, and the politics of fear" that
he recognized in Mr. Obama's opponents during the campaign. I commend
him for speaking up so eloquently at the appropriate time.
Vivian Valvano Lynch
Manhasset, N.Y., Dec. 7, 2008
•
To the Editor:
After reading "The Real Bill Ayers," I got a sense of who the real
Bill Ayers truly is, and, unfortunately, he appears to be similar to
the Bill Ayers portrayed in the media.
Mr. Ayers never directly expresses remorse or regret for his actions;
the closest he comes is a regret of his "mistakes of excess." He
justifies every wrongdoing, citing "an illegal and unpopular war" to
justify bombing the Pentagon and the Capitol.
Mr. Ayers claims that a "screaming response" was necessary to stop
the war, as peaceful protests had little effect. Unfortunately, he
was using the same "politics of fear" he so despises.
I dislike any fear-oriented action, whether it is taken by a
conservative presidential campaign in 2008 or a liberal "civil rights
movement" in the 1960s. America is a free nation, and it should be
free of fear from both the left and the right.
Will Harrel
Houston, Dec. 6, 2008
•
To the Editor:
As someone who lived through the Vietnam War and saw friends and
family shipped overseas, it strikes me that one of the pivotal
differences between then and now is the lack of a military draft. One
suspects that the public today would have a much different take on
the activities of the Weathermen if their own kin were conscripted to
fight for a cause that was ill defined at best.
Diane H. Gurien
Kearsarge, N.H., Dec. 6, 2008
•
To the Editor:
I am relieved that Bill Ayers does not consider himself to be a
terrorist despite the fact that he acknowledged being associated with
an organization that placed several small bombs in offices at the
Pentagon and at the United States Capitol.
But I'm puzzled. What size bomb qualifies a person to be a terrorist?
Mr. Ayers further states that the Weather Underground carried out
only "symbolic acts." Placing any-sized bomb in a public building is
a "symbolic act"? Despite his denials, a terrorist, past or present,
is a premeditated destroyer of lives and property.
John A. Manicone
Port St. Lucie, Fla., Dec. 6, 2008
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