The Des Moines Register, Friday, January 2, 1998, Page 10A
THE REGISTER'S READERS SAY
Farrakhan's goal: World peace
Minister Louis Farrakhan's Third World Friendship
Tour began in Mali, Africa, on Dec. 4, 1997, not in Iraq as was eroneously reported in The
Register's Dec. 10 edition on Page 13A. Minister Farrakhan is on a 52-nation tour to
promote world peace. Prior to his departure, he thoroughly briefed the State
Department of his plans. Wire service accounts of Minister Farrakhan's every move
are sent daily to the U.S. media (the public can also access the Farrakhan World
Friendship Tour via our website, http://www.noiworldtour.org).
The least the press could do is to report accurately, so that the American public
is not unduly polarized.
Minister Farrakhan included Iraq in his tour to encourage dialogue
between President Clinton and Saddam Hussein in the interest of saving innocent human
life. In the seven years since the Gulf War, 681,000 Iraqi children have died as a
direct result, of U.S.-government-inspired U.N. sanctions.
It is sad to see Secretary of State Madeleine Albright hypocritically
holding a baby victimized by civil war in Sudan while turning her back on more than 7,000
Iraqi children who die every month for the lack of food, medical supplies and parts to
repair incubators. Children should not have to to die or even suffer because one
nation hates the leadership and politics of another.
We must never forget that America played a major role in arming Saddam
Hussein's war machine as Iraq fought Iran, America's No. 1 enemy for 10 years. Now,
the American government has changed its position with Iraq and uses media disinformation
campaigns to polarize the American public against a whole people and thereby anesthetize
us regarding the real victims in this deadly game.
-- Minister Preston Muhammad,
Iowa Representative,
Minister Louis Farrakhan
and The Nation of Islam
2105 Forest Ave., Des Moines
He's free to condemn his country
I recently read Louis Farrakhan's
latest accusations equating sanctions being used for terrorism against the Muslim states.
What a joke this guy is. His constant rhetoric against the United States, the
Jews, etc., is getting old.
What were Farrakhan's feelings on the cowardly terrorists responsible
for the World Trade Center bombing? Innocent lives were lost, but does he speak out
against these acts?
I would like to remind Farrakhan the difference between our country and
some of the Muslim states. Over here, he has the right to constantly put down
America and still walk freely among the U.S. citizens.
Imagine if Farrakhan lived in places like Iraq or Iran and came over to
America and said what a barbaric and ruthless country he lived in. I doubt very much
Farrakhan would want to return there, and if he were crazy enough to do so, he would in
all likelihood never be heard from again.
-- Jim Forkenbrock,
232 S. Chestnut, New Hampton.
The Des Moines Register
Friday, January 2, 1998, Page 10A
letters@news.dmreg.com