Cindie Coulombe in her letter to the editor (June 1) says no Arabs or Muslims have shed tears for al-Qaida’s crimes.

She is simply mistaken.

Many Arabs and Muslims, and their leaders, did express deep regrets after such incidents, including Sept. 11. Neither Arabs nor Muslims are to blame if the news media she watches failed to report these statements, or she missed or forgot them.

And “Arabs” does not equal “Muslims.”

Many Arabs are Christians. A majority of Muslims are not Arabs.

Can she see that her vindictive statements could be mirrored on the other side? That an Arab could truthfully say, “non-Arab outrage when someone Arab dies simply does not exist”?

Where was American outrage when Israelis recently killed about 60 Palestinians – including civilians, women and children – in Rafah, Gaza, and made a thousand homeless?

Where were Americans when 2,000 Palestinians were cold-bloodedly massacred in Sabra and Shatila refugee camps in Lebanon in 1982? Ariel Sharon was found culpable for the massacre by Israeli investigators. So why give him billions in aid annually, used to kill and dispossess Palestinians?

Coulombe blames a whole ethnic/religious group for horrors committed by criminal organizations they do not control. But the Abu Ghraib atrocities are financed by our government, which we should democratically control.

A vengeful outlook leads to perpetual war. The path to peace lies in honoring human rights and not belittling others – and in shedding tears for all those killed, maimed, tortured and demeaned.

Mehrene Larudee, Lewiston

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