Alison Herget urges her readers to read the newspaper ("Students should redirect their passion for revenge," Sep. 11). Miss Herget should take her own advice.

By reading the newspaper (something other than the Collegian), Miss Herget would learn about the violent, fanatical culture which exists in much of the Muslim world. This is a culture that does not value individual rights, a culture that glorifies martyrdom and the submission of the free mind.

It takes a sick mind to equate this culture with Western culture. Miss Herget is right about one thing, though. The U.S. definitely has some double standards when it comes to foreign policy. These double standards are, in turn, partially responsible for terrorism.

Other factors which contributed to 9/11 were America's failure to adequately retaliate for earlier terrorist attacks and not allowing the FBI and CIA to share information. Terrorists attacked America on 9/11 precisely because Western culture is the opposite of the Islamic culture of death. We, as Americans, should be furious at these thugs' attempts to rob us of our freedom.