I am disturbed by the retaliation against voices of disagreement in this country: journalists, college professors, entertainers, people of conscience harassed, fired or pulled off the air for not blindly towing the party line. I am more frightened by administration officials who say things like "Americans need to watch what they say" than I am of some hate-filled terrorist

My family begged me not to write this letter because they are afraid that I, as an American of Lebanese descent, would be targeted for retaliation if I say that I think George Bush is not handling this well; or that I think Israel is a racist state for treating not only Palestinians but also indigenous Arab Jews as less than human; or that I think those who would stifle the voices of debate in this country are of the same fascist ilk as the Taliban and are hastening the demise of our free nation.

But, I don’t have a boss who can fire me, and if my clients discontinue their association with me because of my political or philosophical views, that’s their loss. I defy anyone to attempt to muzzle me. And, to those who would, how dare you try to shut me up.

I’m afraid the spirit of Joe McCarthy is alive and well in 2001, and there are those in our current administration who like it that way.

Elliot M. Namay, Jr.

September, 2002