Nguyen

OPINION COLUMN What happened to democracy?

Peter Nguyen NGU02002@BYUI.EDU Angry Asian

The following is an e-mail I received that I assume was written in reply to an editorial I wrote against the Iraq war printed in the Sept. 27 issue of Scroll:

“Hey crap for brains,

 If you don’t like the U.S. so much, I would be happy to buy you a one-way ticket back to Asia, where things are so much better and you won’t have to bellyache so much.

-BYU-I Student”

The following is my reply to this student; I’ve added some sentences, but I have not deleted any. It’s dedicated to all those who were mean in their e-mails to me.

“Student,

I assume that you’re replying to the editorial I wrote regarding the Iraq war. If my difference of opinion offended you, I apologize. I must admit, however, that I found your e-mail offensive and evil-spirited.

First, I was born here in the United States, so I actually couldn’t go “back to Asia” as you put it. Just because I’m not white doesn’t mean that I’m not American.

Second, I didn’t write in my editorial that I disliked the United States; I actually consider myself a loyal citizen. What I did do is question the merits of this war. If my opinion about the war is wrong, then at least my elected leaders know that I care about the issue and that they will be held accountable.

Third, dissidence does not imply a lack of patriotism; it merely means that I disagree. We live in a system of checks and balances where decisions are questioned. Our government is set up in a way that the minority opinion will have a voice so that the majority opinion does not become tyrannical. This is also called the “loyal opposition.”

At least my editorial contained reasoning expressed in a civil manner.

It might be worth mentioning that I voted for President Bush and I agree with many of his policies. I initially supported the war and, in Oregon, I’m a registered Republican. But even so, that doesn’t mean that I have to go along with everything on the Republican agenda.

Did you also know that there are many teachers on this campus who disagree with the war? Does that suddenly make them disloyal or unpatriotic?

Also, if you feel that a difference of opinion makes someone disloyal, then I’d just like to remind you again that we live in a democracy, not a communist state.

Let me ask you: What do you think would happen to you if you disagreed with your leaders in public and you happened to live in China or Cuba? I’ll tell you what would happen. Your “patriotic” neighbor would turn you in and you would be locked away or shot for treason simply because you expressed your dissenting opinion.

I, however, really do appreciate and respect differing opinions. If you disagree with me, next time at least give me some reasons written in a more mature and humane way.

Lastly, I do not know whether you are a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or not. I do not know what faith you may follow. However, considering that you go to this school I will assume that you are LDS.

I’m a convert to the Church, and although I do not know you personally, the attitudes and expressions like the one you made toward me are what caused me to wonder (as I was investigating the Church) whether a faithful follower of the teachings of this Church could actually cause a person to be more “saintly.” If I had nothing to go on but your e-mail, and if I were not a member of the Church, I would assume that members of the LDS Church are no different than members of any other religion. Someone once said, “There are many Mormons but few Saints.”

If your intent was simply to be humorous, I want you to know that I was really offended. My editorial was written professionally and it was written in the spirit of loyal, civil protest, which is vital to the nature of this country.

As much as I respect your disagreement, I felt your e-mail was mean, stereotypical, unintelligent and unchristian.