GETTING A CHANCE TO SPEAK OUT STATEWIDE Edition

• Published in: The Hartford courant
• Main Authors: Reyna, Bessy, Bessy Reyna is a free-lance writer whose column appears monthly. To leave her a comment in English or Spanish, call 860-241-3165. Or e-mail her at bessy_reyna@hotmail.com
• Format: Newspaper Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hartford, Conn Tribune Interactive, LLC 20.07.2007
• Subjects: Lopez, Jennifer
• ISSN: 1047-4153

On March 16, in "The Voice Of A Martyr," I wrote about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and Rachel Corrie, the U.S. student and peace activist killed by an Israeli bulldozer. Published on the anniversary of Rachel's death, it was read that evening at a memorial gathering in California. It was translated into French, posted on a number of websites and reprinted in "Illume," a U.S.-based Muslim publication. I was overwhelmed by the number of largely positive letters and calls. I was surprised that people from countries in Europe as well as Malaysia, Palestine, Jerusalem and Canada would take the time to write to me. My response to 9/11 and its aftermath drew much criticism. In October 2001, I wrote "We Can't Bomb Our Way To A Safer World." In September 2002, I wrote "9/11 A Wake-Up Call, Not A Call To Arms." It was becoming clear that the Bush administration was manipulating us with fear. In October 2002, in "A Nation Ruled By Fears Of Foreign Bogeymen," I wrote about Bush using Saddam Hussein as a "bogeyman" to keep us compliant with what he and his gang of three -- Rumsfeld, Cheney and Rove -- and their marionette Colin Powell, were determined to do: Invade Iraq.