By: Dave Astor On Sept. 11, Bill Tammeus' nephew died on the first plane that crashed into the World Trade Center. Nine-and-a-half months later, Tammeus traveled to three Islamic countries.
Why did the
Kansas City Star columnist go on the June 14-29 trip to Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Uzbekistan? "My purpose was to grasp a little more clearly the basis of Islam and to try to understand how some people have misused the faith and committed terrorist acts in its name," said Tammeus, whose late nephew was 31-year-old Karleton Fyfe of Brookline, Mass. "How do people head off the path of healthy religion to toxic religion?"
Religious leaders, government officials, and others in the three countries told Tammeus that a lot of the resentment Islamic people feel against America is caused by U.S. support for Israel in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. And they expressed resentment that Saudi Arabia (where 15 of the 19 hijackers came from) in general, the Arab world in general, and Islam in general were blamed for Sept. 11. They said there are extremists in every country and religion, as America knows with people such as Ku Klux Klansmen and the Rev. Jim Jones.
Tammeus didn't file any pieces during the National Conference of Editorial Writers-sponsored tour, but took copious notes on his laptop and more than 400 photos. His first
Star column on the trip, for July 6 publication, chronicles his visit to Ground Zero (where his nephew died) just before flying overseas. Then Tammeus wrote a big Sunday spread for July 7, and will continue doing other columns and stories over the next month or so. Some or all of the pieces will go out over the Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services wire.
The former National Society of Newspaper Columnists president said he also went on the trip because he believes newspapers should do more international coverage. "A lot of readers are asking for this, especially since Sept. 11," Tammeus said.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here