Letter to David L. Boren, OU President

I just wrote and faxed the following letter to the president of Oklahoma University, where Joel Henry Hinrichs III blew himself up outside the packed football stadium on October 1st. After reading Boren's letter to the students, faculty, and staff of OU (posted below my letter), I was convinced that getting to the bottom of this matter was not his #1 priority. I was also struck by how important it is that we DO get to the bottom of this, and felt compelled to let him know how strongly I felt about it.

For more info about my references to evidence in the Oklahoma City Bombing case, visit the website of Jayna Davis, author of The Third Terrorist: The Middle East Connection to the Oklahoma City Bombing.

As for my letter, here goes:

Dear Mr. Boren:

First, allow me to express my condolences regarding the tragic event which occurred at your university on Saturday, October 1st. It is my hope that the investigation will proceed quickly and fully, so that all those affected may deal with the tragedy in the best possible way.

That said, I would also like to share my concerns, as a citizen and resident of this country, regarding comments you made in your October 6th letter to the students, faculty, and staff of OU.

Somewhere between the “rush to judge” to which you refer in your letter, and the dangerous, politically correct black hole of judgment that your letter seems to advocate, there is a difficult place to reach called The Truth. It is critical that we persist in finding this place, not only for everyone at OU, but also for everyone in this nation.

Regarding the 1995 bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, you state that “As we all now know, the person responsible was not someone from the Middle East but was Timothy McVeigh and at least one other American who assisted him.” I most emphatically DO NOT know that, Mr. Boren. Piles of evidence have been gathered in the years that have passed since April 19, 1995, that indicate very strongly that Timothy McVeigh not only did not act alone, but also was only a small cog in the large scheme of radical Islamic terrorism in which we find ourselves caught today.

Starting with the local FBI office in Oklahoma, and going who knows how far up the political food chain, this evidence was ignored, suppressed and mysteriously “lost” until only Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols remained. The very man who was repeatedly independently identified as “John Doe #2” by multiple witnesses walked away from Oklahoma to work at Boston’s Logan Airport where, if you will remember, two of the four hijacked 9-11 flights originated. Coincidence? Unlikely but possible. Worthy of official investigation? Without a doubt. Yet, for whatever reason, it was dropped like a hot potato.

Which brings me to my primary reason for contacting you. As a citizen and resident of this great country, I implore you to seek out that middle ground called The Truth that lies between unacceptable extremes. Please do everything in your power to see that we all get there, because to avoid it can only bring harm to America and her citizens.

If there is any connection to the bombing at OU and radical Islamic terrorism, to ignore or erase it will only endanger us all. The argument can be made that, had the investigation and prosecution of the Oklahoma City bombing been full, complete and honest, we might have stood a better chance of averting the tragedy that befell our country on September 11, 2001.

After Joel Henry Hinrichs III blew himself up outside a packed OU stadium, you very quickly stated that he had acted alone, and that no one was ever in any danger. I understand your instinct to calm and reassure those who fall under your care. But as president of this university, you owe it to your students, faculty and staff – as well as each person across this land who is a potential victim of further terrorist acts – to see that every avenue in this case is considered and pursued. In your letter you state that “Most of the news media…and most citizens have responded very responsibly.” I charge you, Mr. Borens, to respond very responsibly: let judgments be made based on the full and honest facts, that we may all be safer for your actions.

Very truly yours,
Michelle L. Jacobsen

His letter of 10/6, to which I was responding:

Dear OU Students, Faculty, and Staff,

I want to thank you again for your responsible and constructive reaction to the tragic event which occurred last Saturday evening. I appreciate the concern which many of you have expressed for the family and friends of the deceased.

Most of the news media, including our own OU Daily, and most citizens have responded very responsibly. Unfortunately, there are always a few who do not. Among the core beliefs which define us as Americans and which define us as members of the OU family from all backgrounds is a respect for others. We believe that we should not judge others or jump to conclusions about others on the basis of color, race, gender, economic status, or freely exercised religious beliefs. To rush to judge others or make assumptions about them on that basis is nothing short of prejudice. It has no place in America and it certainly has no place at the University of Oklahoma.

Unfortunately, we have seen examples of a rush to react in a manner not in keeping with our values in recent history. A reading of some media reports and comments from individuals made at the time of the bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City is enlightening. Some quickly rushed to the conclusion that the bomber must have been a Middle Eastern terrorist. There were video shots of international students on Oklahoma campuses shown on news broadcasts as this speculation was reported. As we all now know, the person responsible was not someone from the Middle East but was Timothy McVeigh and at least one other American who assisted him. We can only hope that all of us, including some media outlets, would have learned from that recent rush to incorrect conclusions.

I have been assured that law enforcement officials including federal officers have found no evidence of a conspiracy involving others which creates an ongoing threat to our OU community. They have kept me informed of the steps being taken in their investigation. You can be assured that if I receive any information to the contrary, I will immediately inform you and take steps to protect our community.

In fact, national law enforcement statistics compiled confirm that we have a low per capita crime rate. OU has long been dedicated to the safety of our students.

Thank you again for your help and understanding. Thank you for reaching out to the members of our OU family who have come from nations all over the world to let them know that they are valued and respected on this campus.

Rushing to judgments on the basis of race, religion, gender, or ethnicity, is not the OU or American way.

Sincerely,
David L. Boren OU President


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