Americans can prevail despite McCain's smear and fear tactics

Editor,

I write in complete disgust of the fearmongering tactics - the worst form of smear and fear - being waged by John McCain's campaign. Does the campaign honestly believe the American people will fall prey to such a divisive and deceitful form of campaigning? The truth always prevails.

Faculty and students across the nation are being targeted for espousing their views, which are labeled as liberal and "leftist," and for their "anti-American" support of "the one who associates with terrorists." This is in an attempt to reduce to labels the heroics of many who have had the courage and fortitude to defend the defenseless, to declare the truth from lies, to promote one for all and all for one.

UNM students and faculty, do not allow the fearmongers to intimidate you. Rise up as you have historically. Defend your right as the true Americans to voice your opinion. Continue to speak out in opposition of the war in Iraq, in opposition of the war on the working class and against stealing the economy from the people. Don't let them steal your vote and voice. Continue to promote social, political, economic, environmental and legal justice for all. Promote fairness and fair play.

Just as I have spent the past 40 years fighting for equal rights, equal opportunity and civil, legal, political, cultural and immigrant rights, so has William Ayers, Martin Luther King Jr., the Kennedys, Cesar Chavez, Mother Theresa, Pope John Paul II, Mahatma Gandhi, Las Comadres del Barrio, MEChA, LULAC, NAACP, Ecumenicals and Evangelicals, the Democratic Party and countless others. They have sacrificed their lives to uphold the right to a voice and a vote in a democratic society. How dare this be equated to being a "leftist" or a "terrorist" agenda. This is the American agenda.

The real terrorists are those trying to steal this election, again, by spreading fear, lies and disdain for people of color. They dare infer that people of color are incapable of leading this country or that people of color are less patriotic. It has been the will, the strength and the dedication of the people of color who have led this country in war, in peace and in prosperity for the past 200 years. People of color have endured mass repression, oppression and suppression, and they continue to survive as loyal contributors to this country's wealth and prosperity. Were you to erase every nonwhite person from America, how many and what would remain? That's right - it is those people who introduced the race card by spreading smear, fear and disdain.

Stand up as a united body and we all prevail. Remember, you thrive and flourish as a community and languish and wane as an individual.

Patricia Roybal

UNM student