They Went to FREE people

Philippines Flashback

As an American, I should be grate­ful for Benedict Urn's appreciation ["Filipino Aop," Letters, March] of our occupation of the Philippines, but as an historian I am troubled by his one-sided characterization of the first decade of our rule. The "eradication" of Filipino hatred was accomplished not just by schools and hospitals but also by mili­tary brutality and draconian sedition laws, including a prohibition on flying the Philippine flag. Mortality was re­duced-after we had "contributed directly or indirectly" to the death of an estimated 775,000 Filipinos out of a total population of just over 7 million, . according to Ken De Bevoise's Agents of Apocalypse. The "democracy" we im­planted gave the vote to less than 2.5 percent of the population, essentially only property-owning males. Evaluat­ing the success of the United States' colonial experiment in the Philippines requires nuance and balance, not pa­triotic whitewash.

Norman G. Owen, Ph.D.

Duke University, Durham, N.C.

Sister, my point is very simple. I will reveal it as soon as you educate us on how has the United States' actions and the attutudes of her over patriotic folks have changed since?

Professor Owen works and lives in the US. I feel, he could best explain why he was forced to write this letter in "Harpers" - a one hunderd and ten percent respectable American publication.

Clue: my point has something to do with Patriotic Hogwash.

Brother Whipser, please carry on posting as I am educating myself with you.

Salam