Off the mark

It's a shame that The Jakarta Post published Donna Woodward's article in Sept. 18, 2001, edition entitled Americans still ignorant of Arabs, Muslims. Although I agree with Donna that America has misstepped in training men from third world countries in terrorist tactics, her comments on America's leaders seeking revenge are off the mark.

Revenge is not the spirit prevailing in the U.S. right now. In fact, since the WTC tragedy, Americans have demonstrated a remarkable degree of unity and volunteerism. What the leaders of America are talking about is justice, not revenge. Even Donna would not want to live in a country where bad actions go unpunished and bad people are not brought to justice.

Believe it or not, Colin Powell, Dick Cheney and others in Bush's leadership team are intelligent, experienced leaders, well aware of the worlds watchful eye on America's response.

As the Pakistani delegation has made clear, they want Osama bin Laden -- not the Afghan people -- for bin Laden's past and present crimes. Crimes that have cost the lives of people from a score of nations and the world's major religions.

If Americans have a skewed perspective on Islam, it may be because leaders like Khomeini, Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden have become the face of Islam in the news. Now is the time for Muslims worldwide, horrified by the recent events in New York and Washington D.C., to express that this is not what Islam is all about. And that is what Muslim leaders are doing. From Iran to Palestine to Jordan to Indonesia, Muslim leaders are saying, "This is not the Islam we practice".

Megawati has an excellent and open opportunity to re-state this perspective during her meetings with our nation's leaders and the world press. Although Donna doesn't know it, the crusades have almost nothing to with the average American's perception of Islam. It is the reaction of world leaders that they are paying attention to now. Americans are listening and they like what they are hearing from a host of shocked Muslim leaders.

Don't be confused, Donna, the architects of last week's violence -- not Islam -- are the target of America's just response. Thankfully most Muslim leaders understand this and want to work together with America to bring these people to justice.

BRUCE WILSON

Bandung