Bombs in U.S. Culture

Bravo to Colman McCarthy (Column Left, Aug. 18) for encouraging us to finally take responsibility (if we choose) for the catastrophic events that have occurred around us in the name of terrorism. If we verbally glorify the machinery of war and, therefore, hatred and destruction, how is it that we are blind to the effects that it has on the humanity we propose to protect? Wouldn’t it be so much more genuine and life-affirming if we changed the language of these negatively charged “celebrations,” such as the national anthem, and reevaluated our compulsive need to worship heroes of war more than patrons of peace?

We would be well-advised to reverse the tides of self-annihila- tion by teaching more of life’s most precious values, such as those which don’t exhort war and its components, but promote compassion, communication, tolerance and the kind of real freedom that supports what is human and tender in all of us.

SARAH KENDALL

Studio City

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* For McCarthy to say that our national anthem is a celebration of bombs is patently absurd. He quotes 10 words to support his position and conveniently ignores the remainder of the text. “The Star Spangled Banner” is in praise of our flag, which could only be seen “by the dawn’s early light” and “the twilight’s last gleaming” unless illuminated by bombs and rockets during the hours of darkness.

Similarly, I cannot see how McCarthy can even suggest that an act of mindless terrorism like the Oklahoma City bombing can find its roots in our national anthem.

DAVID TURNER

Redondo Beach