Related to this is something that occurred here in Berkeley on tuesday night. I was attending a memorial service for the victims with a group of fellow Orthodox Christians while a vigil was taking place on Sproul Plaza on the UC Berkeley campus. This morning in my Public Policy discussion, the instructor took 15 minutes for people to make comments regarding Tuesday. I learned the following from a female student in my class. While not at this vigil, it is my understanding that it took the form of an open microphone forum. "Being Berkeley", a male individual got up on front of the crowd and said something to the effect of "small time terrorists attack the World Trade Center, real terrorists sit in the White House." One can clearly understand the rhetoric at work here. No matter what our feeling is about our President, this is a time in which party lines are to be broken down and we are to rally behind our leaders. While I did not pledge support for Mr. Bush in November I waited and attentively listened for him to speak to the people of this country. How dare anyone try to turn any of Tuesday's events back on to us. If it is the feeling of certain citizens that the people who we have chosen to represent our country - to whom we look to for protection in time of crisis - then I ask that those individuals propose a comprehensive plan for the protection of myself and the millions of citizens in this country. I have had it with extreme leftist rhetoric and I am shocked that anyone could be so crass in such an emotional time. Berkeley needs to stop being an excuse unto itself. Free speech is one thing. Common sense is another. Finally, I would like to speak to the issue of racism towards the Arabian-American communities. I am afraid that we could see something on the scale of Korematsu v. US once again. I would not dream of pointing fingers at any people I know or friends I have who are Muslim. Unfortunately, I don't think it would matter if one were muslim or not but they would just have to appear as if of Middle-Eastern heritage. I have a few friends who are Antiochian Orthodox Christians and know some Coptic Christians that could indeed be singled out due to meer guilt by association. I know the quiz bowl community is open-minded and I know nothing of this sort would ever be an issue here, but let this be a call for vigilance on all our parts. While sad that it is that some citizens are the victims of ignorance and misperception approach all with an open mind and remember that this has struck us all. Whenever we go to quiz bowl tournaments the atmosphere is especially happy. I never expect anything tragic to ever happen to any people in our community. I'll admit that I've taken us all for granted - but I associate quiz bowl with alot of smiles. I hope the pleasant, cheerful environment has not diminished to such a degree that it cannot be restored. Deepest condolences to those who have been touched by these events more directly so than they've touched me. With love, Ross Steven Ritterman
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