My reply to Mrs Aldous and others who criticised my US-Evil Empire letter, is read Prof Howard Zinn's book A People's History of America.

Prof Zinn relates how America waged war on Mexico and grabbed a large part of it into Texas. Prof. Zinn tells how the white Americans devastated the indigenous Indian population and how its barbarity against the Negro slaves was indescribable.

There is also evidence that the Japanese Emperor wrote to President Truman weeks before the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki offering to seek peace this nuclear bombing ranks only second to Hitler's holocaust in sheer anti-humanitarian terms.

I also seriously question the bombing of Afghanistan which is still killing and maiming far more Afghan civilians than were killed on September 11.

I not only consider the US to be an evil empire I am beginning to doubt whether it can be counted among the world's civilised nations. However, I differentiate between the average American and the ruling capitalist class.

On my visit to the US I found the American citizen generous and warm hearted if somewhat simplistic with little or no knowledge of what goes on beyond the borders of his/her own country.

Harry Bramson

The Chase

Norbury

July 10, 2002 11:00