"Yes, George W. Bush is hated for what he is and not for what he does."

pdq, that seems to be a standard "skim over reality" mode of thinking of Bush and most his supporters. Unfortunately, his administration is not alone in this, because it would mean a radical change in America's foreign policies. But he has turned the volume way up.

NOW HEAR THIS:   Bush is not hated for what he is. If people hate him, it's because of what he has done, is doing, and apparently intends to do.

Bush himself (and those who support his view of reality, his voluntary ignorance, and his policies) exhibits this kind of thinking when he says things like "the terrorists hate us because this is a free country." Dingoes kidneys!! A lot of Middle-Easterners hate the United States and several other countries because the U. S. and others have been exploiting them for generations, if not centuries, and they're damned sick and tired of it. And recently they're anger has taken on a religious fervor as a result of activist Islamic fundamentalists and they've decided they aren't going to take it anymore. They're striking back in the only way they feel they're able.

The way to effectively fight terrorism of this kind is first, to back off and take a good look at our own policies, and second, be willing to address their grievances in good faith. But the chances of that ever happening are about as good as Bush's chances of flying to heaven by flapping his arms. It would affect the bottom line of two many American-based corporations, and we can't have that!

As long as we refuse to face the truth about the policies of this country, there will be terrorists. And Bush's illegal war against Iraq and his bellicose threats against Iran are only making the problem much worse.

I don't hate Bush. I wish him a speedy and pleasant retirement to Crawford, Texas where he can cut all the brush he wants and, in the future, preside over nothing more important to the country or the world than a weekend barbeque. I've heard that he's a lot of fun at a barbeque.

Don Firth