re: RPaine

Submitted by concerned (Italy), Feb 14, 2007 at 11:00

Thanks for the above insights and comments. At this point I have to apologize if my comments earlier gave the impression that I was down on the USA. Please be assured that nothing is further from the truth! Over the years, as a result of having lived so long in Europe, I've come to appreciate and understand what the USA is all about, so I couldn't agree more with you when you say that our propensity toward self-criticism makes us stronger. Would that Europeans engage in at least some sort of introspection every once in a while! Perhaps they'd realize that they haven't understood ANYTHING AT ALL from history in general, and their own in particular!

What was depressing to me, at any rate, was seeing with my own eyes and hearing with my own ears, what happened to Daniel Pipes. Maybe it wasn't the first time and maybe it won't be the last either, but to realize that such things can happen not only in the USA, but on a university campus, was a real shock to me. Needless to say outbursts of this kind are so common here, and not only at universities!

It's just that having been a product of the US college/university system in the 1980s, I had always thought, believed, and even taught others over here that our higher education system encourages serious research, free but respectful and civil expression of one's opinions, and independent thinking. To see that this is being undermined by barbaric religious fanatics was and is disturbing to me. Thanks again for having responded.

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