To the editors:

I commend The Crimson for its well-reasoned criticism of last Thursday’s peace rally organized by the Harvard Initiative for Peace and Justice (HIPJ) (Opinion, “We All Want Peace,” Sept. 21).

I consider myself to be a peace-loving person with a high regard for the sanctity of life. I would not condone an ill-conceived plan of retaliation resulting in the unnecessary loss of more American lives, nor do I revel in the thought of killing innocent civilians thousands of miles away. But let’s face it: an act of war was made on the United States of America on Sept. 11, resulting in unfathomable human loss and incalculable property damage. As a nation, we simply cannot and should not ignore the fact that nearly 7,000 innocent people were killed (including many foreigners) on our soil by terrorists whose mission is to destroy our values and beliefs. They are jealous of democracy, of freedom, of success, and have perverted their own religion in order to accomplish their goals. Make no mistake: they will not stop their crusade until we stop them first.

While few people really want to go to war, fewer still would want to witness another “day of infamy.” Whether we like it or not, justice can only be achieved, and our safety and security can only be better protected, if this worldwide association of terrorists is eliminated.

I am greatly dismayed, although not surprised, by the outspoken liberal element on this campus which has missed the point. Their rally was noble in its intent of wishing for peace, but failed to provide an alternative reponse to the attack on America. They urge diplomacy and peace, but we are not dealing with a reasonable enemy: anyone who would dare turn civilian aircraft into deadly weapons to kill thousands of innocent people is not reasonable. He is evil.

In addition, I take offense to those who have unjustifiably blamed the United States government for bringing the attacks upon its people through its foreign policy. Whose side are you on? How can you even try to justify these attacks?

What truly enraged me, however, were comments made by a Harvard worker at the rally who heartlessly failed to mourn the deaths of management from the attacks and foolishly lamented that workers are somehow victimized during wartime at the expense of “Big Business, the White House and the military.” How can anybody take the rally’s speakers seriously if this is their mindset?

While I champion free expression, I must shake my head in horror at what is being expressed. Military retaliation might not be the preferred response, but it is the best the U.S. and its coalition can do to show terrorists that violence and evil will not have the last word.

I think Harvard needs to hold a rally of a different sort; one that is supportive of our country, President Bush, his advisors, and our military men and women. We should not be ashamed to be Americans, but proud, and it’s high time that the campus acts like the rest of the nation for once in this regard.

John P. Kachichian ’04

Sept. 22, 2001