Power, racism, abuse

The year 2004: Photos of grinning U.S. abusers standing beside their mangled Iraqi captives in sexual positions of pain, degradation and shame. One would think that Americans in Iraq would project an image to the world of understanding and love, even for our captives during a time of war -- especially since we are there to provide a spirit of rebuilding and new growth. Instead, we must revisit the old adage "the more things change, the more they stay the same."

The years 1882-1968: Records show the lynching of 4,742 blacks according to the Tuskegee Institute. "Through all this terror and carnage, someone -- many times a professional photographer -- carried a camera and took pictures of the events. These lynching photographs were often made into postcards and sold as souvenirs to the crowds in attendance." ("Without Sanctuary: Lynching Photography in America," essay by Leon F. Litwack and Hilton Als.)

Isn't it chilling? The media call the current photographs of the Iraqi prisoners disturbing; Americans are appalled. Almost the same responses were shared when we viewed the "Without Sanctuary" exhibition at The Andy Warhol Museum several years ago of photographs of black bodies hanging from trees and the dominant culture reveling in their degradation and pain at picnics under the hanging tree.

The abuse of the Iraqi prisoners violated international norms (laws of order) on the treatment of prisoners. There is no excuse for the current abuse or other heinous abuse in American history. It is clearly about power and differences, and that equals racism and hatred.

I have no solutions, but I do know that the abuse comes from a few twisted minds in the military and does not and cannot speak for all of our courageous servicemen and -women fighting, dying and saving our lives from a future world of terror and devastation.

DEBORAH STARLING-POLLARD
Crafton

No outcry for us

So, the Arab street resents the so-called Iraqi prisoner abuse photos. I resent seeing the bodies of Americans being burned and dragged through the streets of Baghdad and hanging for all to see. I resent seeing the bodies of the American soldiers in Mogadishu dragged through the streets by thugs of the Somali warlords.

I resent seeing the bodies of American and coalition soldiers killed in Iraq. I resent the shrill, anti-American rhetoric from the demagogue imams of Iraq. I resent reading the description of atrocities committed by soldiers in Vietnam as reported in the Toledo Blade without another description of atrocities committed by the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army.

I resent the America-bashing of our so-called allies who, in separate deals, were in bed with Saddam. When will Americans get it -- we have been at war since Sept. 11, 2001, and no amount of photos or rhetoric will change that.

EDWARD R. GAVALEK
Plum

Why many don't care

Once again Arabs are outraged and angry at Americans; this time because of pictures showing mistreatment of Arab prisoners. While the alleged mistreatment is indeed offensive, I was and am still outraged and angry over the images I saw of Arabs flying airplanes into buildings, killing almost 3,000 people, and attempting to curtail American freedoms. Amazingly, this action as well as hundreds of car bombs, suicide murders, etc. do not seem to outrage the Arabs.

While the "so-called voices of reason" keep urging Americans to recognize and understand the cultural reasons for Arab hatred for Americans, I think Arabs should try to understand the growing hatred many Americans feel toward Arabs. They might find that many Americans could care less about their plight or their fate.

TONY ROZZI
Cranberry

America's shame

Harry Truman would be spinning in his grave over our administration's inability to take responsibility for anything, including the torture of Iraqi prisoners of war by U.S. soldiers. Late apologies, weak explanations (well, it's someone else's fault, of course, probably those private contractors...)

I haven't been so ashamed to be an American since Iran-Contra under Reagan. We're supposed to be helping the Iraqis understand that the rule of law matters! All we're showing them is that power corrupts; life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness continue to be meaningless constructs in Iraq.

We ought to all be ashamed of ourselves that we have a government that behaves so abominably against the citizens of another country.

LAURIE D.T. MANN
Mt. Lebanon

Golden advice

I've heard many statements concerning the atrocities that went on in the Iraqi prison, but the one statement that has stuck out most in my mind is that there were no instructions or training to follow on how to guard or treat the prisoners. May I suggest this one: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

ESTHER WALLER
Hazelwood