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Comments
from northern Arizona residents on the terrorist attacks
of Sept. 11, 2001
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Comments from
northern Arizona residents on the terrorist attacks of Sept.
11, 2001:
Editor’s
note: A few days after the terrorist attacks on the World
Trade Center and the Pentagon, we asked some of our readers
for their thoughts on the attack. Below are the responses we
received, some of which are published in the October edition
of FTP, but most of which were not due to space constraints.
-----------------------------------------------------
We
have all experienced at gut level the recent dreadful, sad
and horrifying slaughter of innocents.
For the terrorists, it seemed a masterfully executed
blow against American capitalism, against the
multi-nationals and exposing the myth of our invulnerability
and military might. Let's face it, with meticulous planning,
eighteen ruthless young men, armed only with knives, but
eager to die, and with a minimal amount of funds, succeeded
in bringing our country to a gory, grinding halt.
They left us soaked in the blood and tears of wives,
husbands, children and heroic rescue workers.
I may respect the courage and expertise of these
terrorists, but I spit in their faces with contempt for the
cruel, barbaric and stupid manner in which they betrayed,
not only their own cause, but the very tenets of their own
religion and Holy Writ. What these terrorists want is
"Helter Skelter," chaos and World War III. They
hope we will become infected with their brand of hate and
barbarism, broadly lashing back at them over the bodies of
other innocents, thus allowing them to further brainwash
their poor and often oppressed masses into following their
Satanic banners and their false interpretations of Islam.
It is
all-important that the U.S. government and the media do not
now fall into this trap by overreacting against the wrong
parties, or parties who might quietly help, but are caught
"between a rock and a hard place."
So far, these specific terrorists are a relatively
small core of super-fundamentalist Muslim fanatics (about
4,000?) spread out over some fifty countries, but they have
overplayed their hand and have sickened the world, including
many in the Arab world.
Remember that many Arabs, as in Palestine, Egypt,
Morocco, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon, among others, are not
only kind, devout Muslims, but many also happen to be
Christian.
We must also take a hard look at why so many hate America
and the West. The roots are deep, all the way to our barbaric Crusades
(recently denounced by the Pope). And how, in World War I,
the British promised the Arabs control of Jerusalem and the
Holy Land, in exchange for their military help in defeating
the (also Muslim) Turks, while, at the same time, making the
same promise to the Zionists, thus creating an unsolvable
conflict. The
Arabs had lived there since the days of Rome; the Jews
claimed God had given Moses these lands…
Today, our preferential treatment of Israel (our client
state with a strong lobby in Washington), our oil interests,
and our prolonged conflict with Iraq, have made us opponents
of the Palestinians and much of the Muslim world.
The West's neo-colonial use of cheap child- and
"slave-like-" labor by multi-nationals (often
achieved by collaborating with oppressive, dictatorial
regimes), as well as past questionable CIA activities, have
created a fertile soil of powerless, oppressed, uneducated
and abused poor. Their only hope to regain liberty and
dignity is seen by them in fundamentalism, nationalism and
sympathy for terrorist resistance. So, let us not dwell too
long on the (amazingly small) number of juveniles and
others, who, in their own pain and ignorance, rejoiced so
unthinkingly at seeing the suffering of those whom they
(rightfully or wrongly) consider to be the root cause of
their own suffering. Let
us rather remember how many of us behaved in similar fashion
in 1945, rejoicing at the carnage of the Hiroshima atomic
bombing.
We must react militarily, but it will have to be that most
difficult of all military operations; small actions,
strictly directed at the terrorists and executed with
surgical precision. I
hope our military will do this with restraint. We saw how
difficult such distant operations are at the time of the
British action on the Falkland Islands.
Even one heavy-handed move by the U.S., or a
"just nuke 'em" attitude by some, could make us
lose the support we still have in the Arab world and make
them swing over to the terrorists, smack into WW-III.
That is what the terrorists hope to achieve.
Let us, instead, openly face why so many hate us and let us
do something positive to change it.
May God forgive us all and help us try to understand
and love our enemies. (See Matthew 5:44)
Tony van Renterghem
--------------------------------------------------------
Dear President Bush:
While the
magnitude of the terrorist attack on the U.S. is chilling
and the urge for retribution and vengeance is strong, I ask
you to exercise sober restraint as you plan our country's
response.
As the leader
of our nation and our armed forces, please use your position
to focus our efforts on justice rather than hatred and
violence. One of the reasons cited for the terrorist attacks
on the U.S. is that they may be in retribution for deaths
caused by our government or our companies. A tirade of
military might would only escalate this situation and lead
to further violence.
As the
organizations involved in the attack are likely dispersed
and small, directing the mass of the U.S. military against
these individuals and "those who harbor them" will
end in great loss of civilian life. The Afghanis, for
instance, did not choose the Taliban as their leading party
nor do they have any say in whether Osama bin Laden is
granted asylum there. Attacking Afghanistan for harboring
terrorist would be unfair, immoral and cruel.
Which brings
me to another important point. There is already strong
anti-Arabic sentiment in the U.S. and the discussion of the
investigation and pursuit of the assailants of this attack
is worsening it. In America, where we pride ourselves on our
openness to people from all religions and heritage, we need
to be most careful about stereotyping Arabic and Islamic
people as terrorist.
—
Jeremy
Wadsack
--------------------------------------------------------
Because of
the tens of millions of dead Native Americans, Koreans,
Vietnamese, Nicaraguans, Iraqis, Yugoslavians and other
nationalities who have suffered under the yoke of American
imperialism, this day was bound to come. If indeed it was an
extra-territorial attack and not a homegrown, or even a
Mossad plot.
— Philippa
Winkler
---------------------------------------------------------
It's Friday
the 14th and I await a new series of emotions. Tuesday was
frozen shock, numbness and a need to be close to loved ones.
Solace was found in assisting my minister tend to the needs
of his flock. Wednesday seemed OK. Then, almost like a new
day, a new resolve, back to carrying water, chopping wood.
My hospice experience will shorten the grieving. "I'll
just carry this sadness along with everything else," so
I thought. Thursday was a lower low, the Wednesday drugs
wore off and the pain was much more intense. My anger led
the charge as people around me seemed insensitive. Later in
my men’s group I realized it was all a cover for the deep
painful wound and resulting hurt. I'll pray today and just
be with my sadness and express it as best I can. I am the
patient.
— Roger Fontanini
---------------------------------------------------------
Being a dedicated pacifist, I am
alarmed by the war talk coming out of Washington. I see the
attack as a crime more than an act of war, especially since
we don't even know who was behind it!
I don't trust the current administration — they
seem awfully eager to me! Let's at least find out for sure
who the perpetrators were instead of jumping to conclusions.
And get the rest of the world, as many nations as possible,
to support the U.S.
— Dolly Spalding
-----------------------------------------------------------
I
think the FBI will most likely find that everyone directly
involved with the attack died in the planes. They seemed to
have everything they needed among themselves and it would
have been risky, to say the least, to involve anyone who
wasn't willing to die for the cause. They might have a lot
of trouble linking them to Osama in any way. If this turns
out, who is our less than brilliant president going to
attack? The most important question is are we going to rise
above the kind of violence that we're responding to? I must
admit I'm frightened. Seeing the president stammer over and
over again trying to make simple statements all last week
really says a lot about what we got into this last election.
Now that we really need a leader, the best we can hope for
is that the one we have at least gets some good advice.
— John Whipple
-----------------------------------------------------
I
am saddened, like all of you I am sure, by the recent tragic
events. I am even more saddened, by what it appears
America's response will be. I have read about "World
War III," "bombing Afghanistan back into the Stone
Age," and other atrocious acts. Attacking Afghanistan
will cost many, many innocent lives, both American and
Afghani, and it will probably only enhance the support of
terrorists such as bin Laden. I have heard only a few voices
in the media — drowned out by greater calls for violent
action — that have asked why and how this could happen.
Isn't it more important for us to ask why anybody would
commit such a horrible act? Why would 19 people give their
lives to kill so many others? Why is there popular support
for such people in some parts of the world? Let's try and
answer those questions, not drop bombs. Lets engage the Arab
world in a positive way and really listen to their concerns
about our country. As Americans who love our country, we
fail to understand how others may feel threatened by our
encroaching culture and economy. Escalation of this war is
exactly what bin Laden wants. Invasion of Afghanistan is
part of his agenda, and we are his puppets if we let the
violence escalate. War doesn't work.
Those
thousands of people will have died in vain if they are just
the first of a wave of civilian deaths. We can honor those
innocent people if we use this event to change our hearts
and souls for the better.
— Bryan
Cooperrider
----------------------------------------------
I have a
friend who worked on the 38th floor of World
Trade Center One. He escaped unharmed, but nonetheless the
attacks hit close to home.
I spoke to my mother the day after. She had just been to
mass. She told me that the gospel was a little hard to hear.
I don’t remember the precise passage, but we all know
it—love thy neighbor as thyself, turn the other cheek,
etc.
Then I turned on the radio and heard about 75-year-olds
calling to enlist in the armed forces. “Can I still join
if I have arthritis?” they asked.
It’s damn hard to preach peace at a moment like this. But
never, perhaps, has it been more important. Responding to
violence with violence only begets more violence.
We condemn the attackers as cowards. But we will not
demonstrate bravery by striking back, blindly and
indiscriminately, in our anger and rage.
If our leaders
want to show courage, they should pause for a moment and
consider the root causes of the attack. This won’t be
easy. Ours is not a patient nation. The public, fueled by
the pundits, will be screaming for vengeance.
But only by addressing the underlying reasons for these
unspeakable acts will we escape a future defined by acts
more terrifying than these. If we want to spare future
devastation, we must work to end similar devastation that
occurs daily around the globe, often with our own
fingerprints all over it. If we want peace, we’ve gotta
work for it — not fight for it.
— Daniel Kraker
----------------------------------------------------
Although I
agree that the events that took place on Sept. 11 are a
horror and the loss of innocent life was needless. I also
believe it is time to retrospect on our part, in this world
that has evolved, and how we as human beings have allowed
the madness to grow. I do not believe in nationalism for any
reason, because this way leads to war and war is not the
answer. We must evolve above the type of behavior that we
all agree is deplorable. These are the days of great
contemplation, to realize our future in a way that will
change the World we live in so that people no longer feel
they need to hurt each other for any reason. I pray that
human kind has the ability to lay blame aside and see the
truth in these events, as a way to grow into a society where
none suffer, emotionally, mentally, physically or in any
other way, ever again. I pray for a world where there is no
need for martyrs or heroes. I pray for us all, for the whole
world. We are on the brink of something very great. God help
us to see the right future. This is not a contest between
good and evil. It is a conflict of not understanding the
true needs of people. We no longer can turn our heads and
say "someone else will deal with it." The only
true evil here is ignorance, an ignorance that we all share
some responsibility for. We as a people must look now more
closely at what we say we believe in, no matter what
religion or spiritual path you belong to. There truly is
only one God! It is up to us, for
all of
us to see this fact!
— John
Garza
-------------------------------------------------------
Upon first
hearing of it through a friend I didn't believe it. Then
when I saw the buildings on fire and going down, I was
overwhelmed with grief for the people there in NY and DC,
and then for the world over because I know and knew in those
first seconds that we would inevitably retaliate by
virtually taking over the world, or at least the Muslim
world — from North Africa to the Philippines.
People may have varying reasons for stating that this was
worse than Pearl Harbor. This is mine: The evil unleashed
Tuesday against us will be dwarfed by what we visit on,
firstly, Afghanistan and Iraq, then any and all countries
who because of their religious, cultural or ethnic
connections to those people we destroy, argue or take up
arms against us along the way. Before it's over I think
we'll be running most of those countries as colonies.
I think our biggest responsibility in the coming years will
be to insist on oversight/monitoring to ensure that our
military personnel refrains from engaging in war crimes.
— Rachel
Scala
-------------------------------------------------------
I will always remember a newscaster’s
description of people fleeing from the World Trade Center in
New York and of the police and firemen rushing toward that
disaster area. We had returned to the U.S. a year ago after
spending 25 years abroad. Up to the time we left the U.S. I
had never thought much about patriotism. Patriotism and
prejudice are subtle. You do not have to be black or Asian
or Middle-Eastern to experience prejudice. Being an adult
immigrant in Australia was sufficient to discover that
Americans are stereotyped by others who only know this
country and its people by what they see on television or in
movies or in brief visits to Disneyland. After we returned
to the U.S. I started working at Northern Arizona University
as a civilian employee in the Reserve Officers Training
Corps office. Over the past year I observed the qualities
and skills of the teachers and trainers of students enrolled
in the ROTC program. I watched as the students became
leaders and were stimulated to think, as I never had, about
what it means to be a citizen of the U.S.A. I believe I
could never achieve that discipline; to serve selflessly, to
protect and assist strangers who are kin to you only as
fellow-citizens, to run toward a disaster area instead of
away. I know I would never have that courage but I am proud
to be associated with those who do.
Today I heard a volunteer in New York say that he was
digging through the rubble to find not just bodies or black
boxes but freedom. The freedom Americans had to be friendly
and not suspicious of others. He was afraid that freedom was
gone forever. I hope he is wrong.
— Barbara
Molnar
--------------------------------------------------------------
The
Tower of Babel has fallen, but its corrupt tentacles have
retreated into the communications system. Through the
electric web it hunts for empty weak minds to occupy and
indoctrinate a false sense of patriotic duty. Demanding
action because Americans aren’t accustomed to their
comfortable lifestyle being threatened. Meanwhile, the
majority of the world is suffering from the disease, war,
poverty, pollution and economic sanctions imposed on them by
the U.S. and its allies. With about 5 percent of the
world’s population, the U.S. contributes to over 30
percent of the pollution. Including radioactive debris from
our 166 land, air and sea nuclear tests; with an additional
900 tests below ground. Our questionably elected government
chose to be the only country in the world that voted against
the Kyoto Protocol. A distinct line is being drawn and I
hope people can see it and decide which side they are going
to be on. I find it humorous that so many from the baby boom
are seeing their world crash before their eyes. “Things
will never be the same again,” they cry. I’m glad. Who
needs highways and nuclear power to fuel inane jobs and
entertainment? Affluence chosen over sustainability — it
has to end sometime and I would prefer that it happen now
than wait until we all have cancers. Or do we already?
—
John
Bianchini
----------------------------------------------------------------
On
Tuesday morning I received news of this tragedy by listening
to an early voice mail from my best friend Nancy. She lives
in upstate New York, as do other friends and most of my
family. My shock and disbelief put me on autopilot. I called
friends. I called the AWARE phone list to gather a circle to
pray for peace in Wheeler Park. I did not feel afraid at
that moment, just devastated. The circle offered some
comfort and an opportunity to begin the immense work of
coping, understanding and responding to this horrendous act
of violence.
Since then, I have moved quickly through feelings of deep
sorrow, fear and anxiousness, and finally anger. Anger at
the divine plan including such an event; anger at being told
by the media and by our president how I am feeling; anger
that no-one from mainstream media seemed to be asking what
role America has played in this event? Why are we so hated?
Why do I once again feel like a minority, an oddity in our
greater society because my prayers are for peaceful
solutions and understanding rather than the retaliatory
response? That stance alone could make me an object of
terrorism right here in our community. And I return to the
grief when I realize this.
In
the midst of the mainstream media assault on my senses, NPR
and NBC's Peter Jennings have offered some sanity. Jennings
has offered his commentary with respect and sensitivity. He
hosted a TV talk show with children yesterday morning. The
children were questioning our role in this event. The
children are questioning if "bombing them back" is
the best way? The children are asking for peace. Peter was
genuinely moved. My husband and I sat in tears. Solutions
and hope have often come to us through the wisdom of the
children. May we again be as children as we face the coming
days. May we find the inner peace to stay in love during
this time. I find it hard to believe that I am alone in
thinking that there can be peace on this earth.
—
Aleia
O’Reilly
------------------------------------------------------
I
have been waiting for the next wake-up call. Why are so many
people so surprised?
Now that we are awake, we must defend ourselves against not
only future terrorist attacks, but against an even greater
and more immediate danger of jumping to conclusions without
evidence. Many Arab-Americans are innocent of involvement in
terrorism, but some may be vulnerable to threats against
loved ones in their old country if they do not help or
shelter evildoers here. At least one U.S. citizen, who had
been an exemplary soldier, later thought it was OK to blow
up a building full of people.
Many of us have been insulated from the world's realities.
Imagine trying to live your life in a refugee camp, or in
Israel where car bombs and suicide bombers can blow up
beside you at any time, or in Gaza where your own innocence
can't protect you from victims' retaliation against your
guilty neighbor. This is the only sort of life many people
have known since the day they were born.
I hope our anger toward Osama bin Laden does not blind us to
the failure of Arab States to curb zealots who preach hatred
of anyone who does not hate Israel. The Palestinians are
being used, and may be used up, by their own Arab brothers.
How much more hopeful life would be for the Palestinians if
they could accept the company of Israel on the way into the
future instead of longing for the Islamic self-determination
they have never, ever, had.
I don't want anyone, however angry, hurt and frightened they
are, to persuade the rest of us to actions we will later be
ashamed of. We must not let anyone keep us from thinking for
ourselves. Denying reality will not make it go away.
—
Joyce
Browning
--------------------------------------------
I arrived at
NAU’s Center for Excellence in Education the morning of
Sept. 11, with the news of the tragic events of this day
ringing in my ears. Throughout the day, news reports and
talk shows covered most of the bases. Speculations about who
was responsible; numbers of fatalities estimated; solidarity
among nations that condemned the violence; caring American
citizens giving blood and praying were the main topics. In
the evening the president spoke about the war against
terrorism. He said, “We were attacked because we are the
beacon of freedom.” He quoted the
Bible,
speaking of good and evil. He said, “The American
economy will be open for business as usual ... thus the
American way of life will go on.”
Another base was covered by courageous professors in
hallways, offices and, most importantly, in classrooms.
While everyone else was talking about how, where, and when,
the professors talked about why. Admitting the horror and
wrongness of the acts, they asked the hard questions
nonetheless: Was it likely the U.S. was attacked because
“we are the beacon of freedom?” What kinds of pain and
anger could possibly lead to such actions? Are there U.S.
policies and actions that are doing violence to innocent
people anywhere in the world? Or even at home?
The professors understood the possibilities for
misinterpretation. They did not want to be insensitive to
the immediate needs and emotions of this day. They did not
want it to seem that the terrorists’ actions were
successful in bringing about a dialogue that might
rationalize the attacks. But they knew that once the fears
of children were put to rest and adults returned to their
busy occupations, a bigger tragedy would exist if something
was not learned at a deeper level by the NAU teacher
candidates. Something that they could teach to young people
about social and racial justice worldwide; about the value
of indigenous cultures who are being destroyed for the sake
of economic wealth of outsiders; about ecological systems
upon which life depends being sacrificed for short term
profits; about the virtues of courage, generosity and
humility; about increasing gaps between the haves and
have-nots; about the pitfalls of exclusivism in religions;
about the unchallenged realities of corporate agendas and
about the vital need for respectful, creative and critical
thinking.
The world is running in an insane direction and not only
because of terrorists. It is, in some ways, comforting to
know that a university exists where issues of sanity can be
openly discussed, before it spreads too deeply and too
broadly to allow for any hope at all.
— Wahinkpe Topa
--------------------------------------------------------
I feel
compelled to add my two cents worth of ramblings, fueled by
lack of sleep, caffeine, and a deep sorrow for humanity.
The terror we have witnessed in our country last week is a
brutal, abhorrent, and unconscionable reminder of what
surely must be a daily ocurrence in most of the world's
people's countries. There is no logic or explanation here,
just a rude and ugly awakening, an opening through the dense
and dysfunctional fabric of our culture into the basic
inequity of wealth distribution on this planet: As long as
there exists such an obvious discrepancy between the haves
and have-nots, between the power brokers and the pawns,
between the rulers and the ruled, there will be conflict,
senseless murder, and suffering. We live comfortable lives
in the U.S. We are soft and pink and happy, and anyone who
lives well and works hard should enjoy such rewards. But how
long can we as a nation of good conscience continue to
sustain our 3 percent of the global population while
consuming 25 percent of the global gross annual product?
Can't we taste and feel the grist of human suffering in our
opulence?
Bombs, cruise missiles, assassination...we WILL take an eye
for an eye in the coming weeks and months (years?), and as
Gandhi said, eventually everyone will be blind! Should we do
nothing? Of course not! But choosing to bomb
indiscriminantly to “rid the world of evil” is as inane
a strategy, and suffers from the same zealously religious
and delusional mentality that puts terrorists in pilots'
seats to murder civilians. We now know that terror lurks on
every street corner, so we tighten security, losing civil
liberties. Wouldn't you rather willfully donate that extra
house, SUV, or mutual fund, or adventure vacation in some
exotic place? Just Imagine ... it's easy if you try. ...
Ahh,
you say, another commie hippy-type idealist. But look at our
options. We've tried escalation, and seen what it brings:
Heightened instability, reprisals, revenge, soon to come are
reprisals with bioweapons, reprisals with primitive nukes,
reprisals with any mundane object that can blind, maim,
hurt, kill. It hasn't worked and it won't ever work,
especially with such a diffuse and transparent network of
terror as exists today. Will you be able to go to an airport
again without pondering where and when you'll land? Will you
go to any public place — concert hall, sports arena,
school yard, etc. without wondering the same question?
With the scale and breadth of dissatisfaction in our world,
it's time to realize that symptomatic relief (revenge!) is
temporary, and that only through real basic changes in how
we relate to fellow humans and the planet, away from
subjugation of the many by the few, will lead to a
substantive change: an increase in our collective security.
So how to
start? Try talking to your neighbors & friends.
Volunteer at the prison or library to improve literacy. Give
money generously to service organizations. And above all,
speak up when you see inequity, even if your voice shakes,
and no matter how small the injustice. Speak nonviolently
and constructively for the rights of the oppressed, and for
the dignity of the oppressor. Defuse tensions, and encourage
the saber-rattlers to blow some steam — knowing that they
have to! Yes, there is too much Yang energy in this world,
but let's find a way to channel it into productivity.
Imagine, if we bombed Kabul next week not with fire and
brimstone, but with food and pencils, compassion instead of
aggression. How long would bin Laden stay hidden?
And another thing you can do. Shield your children from this
visual miasma. None of us really needs to see the horrific
images of the past and what's to come; it's just too
horrible to comprehend. Right now I'm teaching my 6-year-old
boy Silas about how the Middle East is the cradle of
civilization, about the Rosetta Stone, and tolerance of
differences in people.
And
I suppose one could find some degree of solace in the
ultimate freedom:
"But
this is the space age. Overpopulation, electronic
communication networks worldwide, planetary death threat
with bombs, escalation of irrational hostilities, moment of
leaving the planet in space-ships – and opening up of
chemistries that alter consciousness and take all this into
account with total Awe. So it's no wonder that it seems
strange for older folks. History's accelerating like
technology's accelerated. Can't go back. We can blow the
whole show up. Or we can calm fear, see the world is really
changing, like a dream, and go explore and help each other
through. It's all safe because as Einstein and the Buddhists
secretly tipped everybody off long ago: the whole show is a
harmless wave-illusion. That may be hard to take but it's
better than going mad and seeing devils in every corner in
typical pre-space-age American Style." Allen Ginsberg
in a letter to the
Wall Street Journal
, 1966.
— Edward Smith
------------------------------------------------
Feeling
Helpless? STOP!
Following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, I listened
patiently for a U.S. response. As the hours and days passed,
I became ever more frustrated by the overwhelming emphasis
on governmental response. The media intensely monitored
updates from our leaders while programs focused on possible
military retaliation. A sense of helplessness settled into
the souls of Americans while George Bush asked us to return
to our daily lives.
There is a distinct difference between direct and indirect
causation. Regardless of who organized this attack, they
needed money to fund their actions. Many terrorist groups
originate in the Middle East. Osama Bin Laden and Suddam
Hussein have gained their power through oil profits. We are
a petroleum-based society, and as horrible as it may seem, a
portion of every dollar that is spent on petroleum based
products ends up in the hands of terrorists.
As individuals, we must remember the power of the dollar we
spend. If we hope to rid the world of the threat of
terrorism for generations to come, we must make a conscious
effort to transition our society away from its dependence on
petroleum. It is a little known fact in America that
anything made from hydrocarbon can be made from
carbohydrate. Products from household cleaners, to plastics,
to fuel can be produced from plants. The money we are
sending to oil-rich countries of the Middle East needs to be
redirected to the farmers of our own great nation.
Currently substitute products that are not petroleum based
are available, but cost more due mostly to infrastructure
and lack of research and development. It may be time for us
to return to a plant that has led to major leaps in human
civilization: Hemp. Hemp sails and ropes allowed Europeans
to cross the oceans. Hemp-canvas wagon-covers protected
settlers as they explored the frontier. Our own Navy
depended on Hemp ropes during World War II. Hemp can produce
the most carbohydrate per acre or any plant know to man, and
until the 1930s was a major cash crop for our farmers.
Educate yourself about the benefits of carbohydrate-based
products. Support businesses and politicians that understand
this importance. Talk to your friends about what they can do
to help the families of the victims of this terrible
disaster and make our world a safe place for generations to
come.
— Grant Brummels
---------------------------------------------------------
Could you
feel the unity consciousness on Tuesday?
It may have been an unfortunate substitute for the
ideal — it being caused by so much violence and suffering.
But it was there.
Everyone
was thinking of the same thing, and for the most
part, people were compassionate, concerned; hearts were with
the wounded. The people of New York City are awesome. The
response to this tragedy was so benevolent and organized.
the people I was surrounded by all day in Flagstaff were
awesome, as well. I went to a vigil at noon with my good
friend Chris Kusy in Wheeler Park. Many people spoke and
handed out candles and sage and trauma oil, and we sang
songs while we all held hands in a large circle. My candle's
wax dripped down onto my hands as it burned, making me feel
some minimal pain for what all those people are still
feeling today. And I cried so much. I cried mostly through
the memory of Kristy, my friend, my soul friend, my lover,
my peace of mind. And I still do not know if she is OK. She
plays her guitar and sings in the Manhattan subway every day
starting at 8 a.m.
So I still don't know. But I am not broken at all. I am
feeling good. The people of America were all charged with
tears, anger, adrenaline and seratonin on Sept. 11. The air
was cleaner, as if advertising and bickering took a break
for once. And it did. All around downtown people cried and
talked critically and usefully. Spirits were broken, but
people were together, in mind and body and spirit.
But then the Face appeared. This rogue of democracy known as
the "retaliation attitude."
The Face was our cute little president, Mr. Bush. And
I once again saw in his words and eyes why our nation was
attacked so drastically. I do not condone anything that
these terrorist types did, but I sympathize for much of the
world that has been subjected to the American influence and
ideal. Obviously, these people who hijacked and organized
this attack were convinced of their wonderful and sacred
ideas so much that they would kill themselves and thousands
of innocents to make their point. I still wonder what their
point really is. But that is exactly why we cannot bomb the
piss out of the nation they turn out to be from. Aggression
and revenge seem to be on the Face's mind, and many other
politicians agree
with a violent retaliation, which is already being
planned. They will make "no distinction" between
the one's responsible and the system or nation that spawned
them.
Anger cannot
be perpetuated. It is going to make terrorists out of
the U.S. if our government retaliates like it seems they
will. And it will make things worse despite the words
"God bless America." You know what god they're talking about. But not everyone
prays the same. Obviously, the motives of our president and
his staff run further away from the people.
Pride was hurt. Honor and "freedom" were
apparently taken away. The FACE will conduct a response, as
if we need to maintain our power over the world. Our
hegemony is at stake, indeed. But the response to keep the
U.S. as the most
important
country on the planet is completely backwards.
Killing more innocents makes us the bad guys, again. The
people all around me Tuesday don't believe in retaliation.
Unfortunately, the people do not make decisions to kill
other peoples. The decision makers do not have to drop the
blade.
I have cried quite a bit in the last week. And it has all
been positive.
The world is silently rejoicing, publicly hurting. The
terror may have been an attempt to break us apart, but it
has only brought us together. On Tuesday I displayed an
American flag and was happy about it. There was a massive
vigil on south NAU campus at sunset. Hundreds of students
and citizens had candles and moist cheeks. The speeches
given were less than average, but a couple people spoke from
their heart, and not from a piece of paper. It is crazy how
wonderful all the people around me are, yet the people who
represent this beauty to other peoples around the world, are
generally Republican commerce-mongers.
Now I fear the defense spending of our nation will triple.
The star wars and missile defense plans that were too
expensive for Reagan to ever pass are going to be passed. It
appears that our great nation is scampering about like a
wounded bird, searching for the tourniquet fitted to the
teeth with bombs and glory. I hope I am incorrect.
The malls all closed Tuesday. Commercial flights cancelled.
Disney's theme parks all closed. Oil prices are expected to
sky rocket. Commerce is in danger for America. Commerce is
America's livelihood unfortunately. Shopping is a staple.
Earlier this year, President Bush advised Americans to spend
more because it will boost the economy. He did not say
conserve energy or be intelligent consumers. People of
America take their freedom for granted all the time. The
only freedom that was taken away that day was the freedom to
exist in peace. And that is a human right. It has nothing to
do with America, although I am grateful for the chance to
exist in peace on a daily basis in the United States. The
ability to simply plug a hair dryer in the wall is a
freedom. Electricity is taken for granted.
Technology, the same. Over-consumption is everywhere.
Laziness and convenience have become the mothers of
invention. Technology allows for things like planes to be
slammed into skyscrapers.
We, as humans living in a hyper-technological world, have to
feel responsible just a little bit for what happened. Every
time we use technology, be aware of how fortunate you are.
At the same time, be aware that increasingly terrible things
can befall a nation of technology. Be aware of your culture.
I hope all of you are feeling compassion in your mourning or
praying. And if you have no one to pray for specifically,
pray for humanity.
Compassion, tolerance, understanding can bring peace. Those
things do not rule the world, though.
I hope that our government will seek compassion and use
intelligence in their efforts to reconcile the horrible
deaths of so many people. And I hope all of our friends and
family are OK, whatever side of existence they tread.
— Nayt Keane
--------------------------------------------------------
On Sept. 11,
the unthinkable occurred. As each of the World Trade Center
towers and the Pentagon were struck by hijacked commercial
airplanes, the world erupted in hatred for terrorist
organizations. The dedicated few put their lives on the line
to help those in need, while, seemingly, the rest of the
United States awakened from it's slumber to speculate about
the looming retaliation. Osama bin Laden quickly advanced to
the forerunner of the suspects, and the public called for
retaliation in forms ranging from his assassination, to a
nuclear attack on Afghanistan.
It's true,
whoever was behind this horrific act of terrorism deserves
to pay with his life. However, this alone will only cause
this man to grow into a martyr for this already strong
cause. Assuming that this was the work of bin Laden, his
terrorist network consists of hundreds of cells, seemingly
capable of functioning on their own. From the death of one,
grows the birth of hundreds, if not thousands.
No matter how inhuman the delivery, the motives must be
examined more closely. Since around the alleged birth of
Christ, the Muslims and Jewish have been fighting over their
shared homeland, which at this time, the Jewish occupy. This
never-ending war has been fought for near 2000 years, and
only since the end of World War II has the US tried to step
in. At this time we moved the Muslims (Palestinians) out of
Israel, and relocated the Jewish there, under influence from
American Jewish. Not surprisingly, the Muslims retaliated,
and the dormant war was refueled. All along, the US has
supported the Jewish, providing them with money and
supplies. It's no wonder the Muslims, especially those with
power, view us as the root of all their current problems.
The most horrifying part of this all, is how the Taliban and
terrorist organizations convince people to kill the
citizenry of the United States. Muslim is based on the Old
Testament, for the most part, as are many religions. In
these texts it is said that when the Anti-Christ comes it
will assume all power in the founding of a world government,
by convincing the world it offers unequivocal peace and
happiness for all. It then turns power over to the devil,
who lets evil loose on the world. After the United States
pushing for it's "acceptable democracy" around the
world, it doesn't take much to convince someone who's
suffered all their life that the U.S. is the root of all
evil. The Taliban/terrorist group then tells these people
that by killing even one heathen American, they secure a
place in heaven. The Taliban effectively uses a belief
system begun to promote peace, to convince followers to
commit inhuman acts of violence.
Now I'm not saying that everyone in Afghanistan loves the
Taliban and terrorism, while, in fact, most are strongly
against it. I am not saying that there is any way possible
to justify the actions of terrorist groups. What I am saying
is, the messages that terrorists are trying to convey are
very real. The powers of the world need some major reform in
foreign relations. Enough trying to tell one group that
another is more deserving of their holy land. No more
promoting, or becoming involved in violence in any way.
We're a super power, and it's about time we stopped abusing
it, or it won't last for long.
The solutions for this particular situation are simple,
making you wonder who came up with the current mistake. Turn
Jerusalem into a neutral entity, like was done with Vatican
City. Give the Muslims the area to one side, and the Jewish
the land on the other. Imagine that, fixing past stupidity
that caused violence, instead of promoting it like the
current "peace talks" do. Second, dissolve any
government that harbors or funds terrorist groups. With
NATO, and every free corner of the world on our side after
the recent attacks on the U.S, this would be especially
simple. Replace these governments, not with what the U.S.
se.es as appropriate (how many times has that backfired on
us?), but what a popular vote of what the people in the
given country want. After all, with the taste of the
temporary democracy from our intervention, there's a good
chance it's there to stay. Especially when we offer support
for the transition period to their new government, no matter
what it may be.
It's high time someone makes a difference in this world
headed for ruin. I'm sure I'm not only speaking for myself
when I say, I don't want any of my blood to live to see
World War III. After recent events, it's looking more and
more like I'll see it personally. However, it's not too late
to turn things around, and I can't think of a better
candidate than the US to take the lead on this one. Even if
those currently in power are unwilling, seeing that we are,
after all, a government by the people. Make it known that
you won't stand for the way the world is headed any longer,
and anything can happen.
I strongly urge everyone reading this to speak out for what
you believe. Start a Web site dedicated to your beliefs, or
contribute to an already existing site which expresses
similar ideals. Open a public forum in your town by holding
regular meetings, or, again, find one that already exists.
And finally, write letters to each and every official for
whom's position you hold a vote. After the last presidential
election, it's become painfully obvious to all politicians
that every vote counts. And with the support of the
community which I've already mentioned, that's a lot of
votes.
— Neon
Krist
Peace on
Earth
— Debby Denny
------------------------------------------------------------
First, my heart and intentions go out
to those who lost lives and/or loved ones, to those who are
bearing the physical burden of this horrific event on their
shoulders. You are not alone. I cannot speak to the reality
you are now facing, but rest assured no one in this nation
is unaffected by these events.
Peace.
What can we do to arrest this vicious downward spiral of
death and retaliation?
Where is a sane and comprehensive dialogue, one that
is putting Tuesday's action in the context of the world we
live in, a world largely manipulated and crafted by heads of
business and state in this very country?
Tuesday's attack did not come out of the blue. It is not an
action without context, a random act without intent or
historical underpinnings.
Regrettably, the only thing unusual about Tuesday is
that it was this country that was bearing the brunt of
tragedy, rather then inflicting it upon masses the globe
over. In many
ways, such an event was inevitable.
This does not, of course, lessen the tragedy in any way.
But it is the context in which it is unfolding, and
as such it must not be ignored. Let us not forget the very active role we have played in
formulating, manipulating and profiting from the often
horrendous realities around the world.
Some would label our current heads of state
"terrorists," and I imagine Bush's statement about
a "faceless coward" is shared by numerous
countries who have felt (and continue to feel) the heavy
weight of U.S. aerial bombardment and covert (and overt)
military intervention.
(Again, this does not, in ANY WAY, make
Tuesday's actions OK. Nor
am I attempting to say that the blame is wholly ours. I am just urging circumspect and comprehensive dialogue and
investigation.)
I only hope that those who feel comfortable “doing
whatever it takes to make sure that whoever planned these
attacks does not have the opportunity to have another chance
to kill thousands of people" feel as strongly about
insuring that U.S. policies likewise do not kill thousands.
And remember, in this country such actions are
routinely a matter of publicly sanctioned POLICY, rather
then the actions of an active minority.
So, what to do? I
imagine that victims have denounced this cycle of violence
in the past. As
we generally do not play that role, it is new to us.
(Again, this is not to belittle any other events in
which lives have been lost, whether in combat or in covert
actions.) However,
the time for new and vibrant visions could not be more
obvious. Kicking
sand in each others' faces is a childish game, leaving the
land itself barren and everyone blind and angry.
Of course, we can continue to destroy our ecological
and social capital in the futile pursuit of hitting our
neighbors harder then they hit us.
Or we can work toward peace.
And to put some backbone in that, rather than leave
it as a laudable but insubstantial goal, how about the
following:
1) Immediately cease the manufacturing of military hardware.
Immediately. We already have enough to annihilate everyone.
Let's rest and think and feel.
2) Post bumper stickers, hang fliers at work, speak with
everyone you can about the need for peace now. Hold vigils,
meetings, prayer groups etc. Do not let this event be
controlled and manipulated by those who seek to gain from
it.
3) Work to eliminate "war" vocabulary from our
everyday discourse. Phrases
such as the "war on the environment" serve to
honor and encourage a militaristic reality which is
destroying cultures and ecosystems the world over.
4) Create alternative visions in print, film, radio etc.
Forward this message to all those you can think of
who are wrestling with these issues. Write letters to the
editor. Again and again.
We must talk until we are exhausted and then talk
some more. Nothing less then the fate of reality as we
experience it is at stake.
5) Get creative. We have an economy and world-view directly tied to our
military might. We
need other ways to make a living, to influence global
policy, to (yes) protect ourselves from aberrant behavior.
Social isolation, whether through jail (as opposed to
capital punishment) or other creative mechanisms need to be
explored. We
can encourage a global peace rather then threaten military
reactionaryism.
6) Indeed, we can lead the way toward a global peace.
In my own world, the event Tuesday, and the unfolding
nastiness that we are only beginning to see arise in
reaction, has reconfirmed a dedication to non-violence.
Not just in my own activism, not just as an
historical oddity that has had its moment in the sun, but as
a truly needed and necessary global view.
Not something just for individuals willing to face
dogs and water cannons, tear-gas and "less-lethal"
firearms, but for societies and institutions to embrace.
The time couldn't be more clear.
Peace and Vision,
—Dave Sherman
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