Ungrateful Aid Recipients

In your Feb. 27-Mar. 4 edition, you published an editorial criticizing the lack of response by the United States or the United Nations to the atrocities against Christians and other minorities that are taking place in Sudan (“Walk the Talk in Sudan”). In light of brothers and sisters in Christ being raped, killed and enslaved, your criticism is justified; however, the lack of response is at least understandable if you read an article in the very next issue: “NATO and U.N. Forces Blamed for Violence” (March 5-11).

The NATO and U.N. forces in Yugoslavia are a group of men and women far from their homes and vastly outnumbered by factions that have been fighting viciously for the last millennium. You might think that blaming the continuing violence in that country on these men and women would be absurd. Yet the same pattern of pleas for intervention, followed by accusations of malice or incompetence, has haunted every involvement of the United States, United Nations or NATO in troubled regions of the world.

I have no doubt that U.N. and NATO forces make errors in judgment, that they fail to live up to their highest ideals as peacekeepers, or that there are individual soldiers who are insensitive to human suffering. Like all the descendants of Adam and Eve, the members of the U.N. and NATO forces are imperfect. Furthermore, these imperfect people (and the imperfect citizens of their home countries who finance their efforts) find it difficult to continue being enthusiastic helpers when they are continually subjected to this humiliating pattern of invitation and rejection.

If those who plea for intervention in Sudan really want aid, they need to indicate that they will be merciful in their judgment of the imperfect efforts of those who help.

John H. Fogarty Lake St. Louis, Missouri

Keyes Is Key

George W. Bush is being bashed by the media for speaking at Bob Jones University, which has expressed anti-Catholic views and racial prejudice (“Election 2000 Heats Up,” March 5-11). Doesn't it seem odd that the media conveniently omits the fact that Republican presidential candidate Alan Keyes, who is both Catholic and black, also spoke at Bob Jones University on the same occasion?

Keyes delivered a polite, but powerful speech. He pointed out that the school's religious bigotry and racism are contrary to the Declaration of Independence and the principles set down by our founding fathers. Alan Keyes is the only candidate who radiates leadership and courage.

Stephen J. Conway Banning, California