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Don’t blame the United States 

Editor: 

The common wisdom in Berkeley holds that America is an evil empire, justly hated around the world. One of the speakers at a Berkeley rally (Protesters rally against war, Sept. 19) encouraged us to, “show that we hate our government too.” Apparently, the blame for most of the human suffering that occurs in the world is our fault. 

While acknowledging that we’ve made plenty of mistakes in the past, I wonder how much better off the world would be without a United States of America.  

What if, by the wave of some magician’s wand, this country vanished from the Earth tomorrow? Would the world’s chances for peace, justice, and freedom be any greater? 

Why not place the blame where it belongs - on the inability of other governments to create a free and just society for their citizens? 

Joshua Hurwitz 

Oakland