Letters from the Issue of May 11, 2006

They like us; they really like us: Regarding Robert Wilonsky's "Fear of Flying": United 93 is a wonderful portrait of courage. But in the context of America's current foreign policy, it comes off as a familiar bit of wound-licking. Every nation has a tale of the day the world did them dirt, and United 93 is America's. But what's more remarkable is that when people abroad see the Michael Moore movie Fahrenheit 9/11, they are surprised that we are allowed to be so critical of a sitting president in America. By being so harsh, the movie ends up giving every American something to be proud of — America is still somewhat free.

This is why no one has come over here and blown us off the map. Face it. We're an open society; they could do it any time they wanted. So really, it's not the chest-thumping that has kept us relatively safe since 9/11. It's that this guy out of nowhere gets to film our president's most embarrassing moments, make it into a movie, and inspire debate. That's why angry fanatics stay their sarin gas and their bombs. It's not because we "have the terrorists on the run." Obviously we don't. Bush gave up trying to capture Bin Laden years ago. We're safe only because even angry people still admire something about this place. I hope it stays that way. Don't you?

Jamie Esquire
Biscayne Park