Like many groups, Friends hypocritical

The Daily Herald must place a lot of importance on the "Eyes Wide Open" exhibit that is sponsored by the American Friends Service Committee at Elgin Community College since it twice published a notice and article about this event.

The Friends Society was founded to work toward peace and human rights. While the society has done some commendable worldwide relief work since 1917, it has criticized our Iraq involvement since day one.

It railed against Iraqi sanctions and blamed the "..massive number of civilian casualties.." on US "flesh-burning compounds."

However, before the Iraq war, it was silent. Silent when Saddam waged war on his neighbors, silent when Saddam destroyed at least 2,000 Kurdish villages and killed over more than 180,000 Iranian, Kuwaiti and Kurdish men, women and children.

It was silent when Saddam gouged eyes, raped children, branded bodies and amputated body parts. Yet it wasted no time disparaging American efforts to intervene. So much for "human rights" concerns.

John Skaritka

Elgin