Placing Courage in Social Context

Re “Real Men Don’t Blow Up Innocents,” April 26: Norah Vincent takes up the classic rhetoric of those who want to kill others: that they are not really human, thus relieving the murderer’s conscience. She likens Palestinian bombers to “rogue elephants,” who supposedly kill because they have been “improperly socialized.” She seems to think that the Muslim view of women is further evidence for nonhumanity. She contrasts suicide bombers with the Sept. 11 heroes, who are described as “real men.” But let us not forget that great bravery is also required to give up life with awful explosive certainty and that great devotion is needed to do this for a greater cause. The suicide bombers are attacking because (in Vincent’s words) “their cultural cues told them it was their duty to do so.”

Clearly the intentional killing of innocents (by both sides) is evil, but the bravery of a suicide bomber is in no more doubt than the bravery of a Sept. 11 hero, or the bravery of Israeli soldiers.

Roy Williams

Pasadena