An Open Letter to Ward Churchill: My Brother, the 'Eichmann'

Peaceful Tomorrows ^ | February 16th, 2005 | Michael Faughnan, Common Dreams News Center

[vivabushchick]

My brother Chris was a 1985 graduate of the University of Colorado, the father of three young children and a compassionate, respectful and generous man. He stood in defense of our environment, volunteered his time and money in support of human rights, and gave unselfishly to help disadvantaged, vulnerable members of our society. He spoke openly against unjust government policies, and followed a private ethic of compassion. Chris was also a U.S. government Treasury bond broker for Cantor Fitzgerald, and therefore by your definition was a "little Eichmann."

At 8:46 a.m. on Sept. 11, 2001, you claim that my beautiful brother Chris, a "technocrat" in your words, received his "befitting penalty." While Chris rarely used a cell phone in his work (much less self-importantly brayed into one), he did make one call that fateful day. At about 8:30 that morning, Chris bantered back and forth with his 4-year-old daughter to get her to say that she loved him — she was the last of his family to talk with him.

Mr. Churchill, what I want you to see is the human face behind the rhetoric. Human beings are not symbols, and your essay's dehumanization of the victims of 9/11 reduces them to mere symbols — drones in a capitalist machine. In this way, you are guilty of what you claim to condemn, that is the dehumanization of individuals. It is the inability to see the human face of "the other" that allows the horrible violence in this world to continue.

From what I understand after reading your essay, you wish to give the American people a view of the suffering of the Iraqi and the Palestinian peoples, and provide insight into why the attacks of 9/11 may have occurred.

[Max in Utah]

"Anyone whose brother is so horribly murdered who, like the author of this piece, goes on to make excuses for the murderers, instead of doing everything possible to see them and theirs exterminated, is beneath contempt."

Got that right. And-- Ward Churchill needs a course of treatment with pliers and a blowtorch.

Figuratively speaking, of course.

[Mr. Buzzcut]

Anyone whose brother is so horribly murdered who, like the author of this piece, goes on to make excuses for the murderers, instead of doing everything possible to see them and theirs exterminated, is beneath contempt. The author of this piece is attackeing those of us, President Bush, and our brave military, who are doing our best to see another 9/11 never happens.

This bit, in particular, is a load of Chomskyite crap:

From what I understand after reading your essay, you wish to give the American people a view of the suffering of the Iraqi and the Palestinian peoples, and provide insight into why the attacks of 9/11 may have occurred. This is noble and legitimate. We do need to see and understand the consequences of the actions of our government and the exportation of our culture, and also do what we can to right the wrongs that have been committed.

[vivabushchick]

Even the DUmmies are turning against him...

Yes, but as others have pointed out, only to a point. The writer is careful not to give up the hate America party line.