Bin Laden Is Not a Solitary Phenomenon

Re “A Cult by Any Other Name: Al Qaeda,” Commentary, Nov. 29: In comparing Al Qaeda with a cult and Osama bin Laden to Charles Manson and Jim Jones, Norah Vincent grossly underestimates the depth and vitriol of anti-American sentiment permeating the Arab and Muslim worlds. Vincent forgets that instead of expressing compassion for the victims of Sept. 11 and their families, some Arabs and Muslims celebrated passionately. She forgets that instead of encouraging Muslims to follow the ways of peace, clerics expressed open support for Bin Laden and spouted anti-American hatred without any fear of condemnation from moderate Muslims.

Bin Laden is not a solitary phenomenon; he is the most vivid expression of an anti-Americanism that burst forth with the 1979 Iranian revolution. The Middle East’s practitioners of anti-Americanism must be eradicated before more innocents become victims.

Joseph D’Hippolito

Fullerton

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Norah “Pollyanna” Vincent implies that Bin Ladin’s “cult” will probably disappear as most cults do. I hope she is correct. Most religions have their fundamentalists who interpret their holy books as they see fit. If in power, their first order of business is to diminish the roles of women. Taliban women were reduced to creatures with no rights, whereas women in more liberal Muslim societies have the same opportunities as men. Unfortunately, Muslim fundamentalism seems to be growing, even among wealthy Kuwaitis. Will Muslim women allow themselves to be diminished again if fundamentalism takes over?

Martin J. Weisman

Westlake Village