Seven years ago, al Qaeda terrorists used hijacked airplanes to attack the World Trade Center and the Pentagon -- the twin symbols of America's financial and military might. Another hijacked plane crashed in Pennsylvania.
Thousands of families and friends lost their loved ones with this arbitrary mass murder which provoked awe, anguish and anger in all of us. As we have sought to grapple with one of the worst ever challenges to not just the U.S., but to humanity, September 11th is now about commemorating, learning, respecting and connecting. The perpetrators of these and other desperate terroristic acts must continue to be brought to justice, and we must tackle the causes that give rise to forces of hatred and violence. We have seen how heinous & violent people can be, but on that day and following, we have also witnessed inspiring displays of heroism, compassion and humanity.
This crisis involved issues of national security, public safety, economics, murder and foreign policy. Using some restraint, our response should have been equally as multifaceted. World scale contempt has formed through terrorist organizations, various world leaders & administrations and hasty reactions, where seeing others as less real than we are and with our wanting to be superior. The answer to indiscriminate hate will never be more indiscriminate hate.
It is crucial to understand that we live in a different world since September 11, or at least seemingly different to us civilians that were ignorantly blissful to the political, terroristic and religious strife that has existed around the world. It may be a long while before we regain the personal freedoms that we have lost in the name of national security.
As the 2008 presidential elections wade through the last several weeks and we commemorate the many lives lost, let us hope the candidates will seek a world in which security is gained through international cooperation, and social justice and not merely through revenge.
In honor of the innocent victims and their families of 9/11/01 and to those who have lost their lives since, in the wars of Afghanistan and Iraq and to quote an Irish proverb: "Death leaves a heartache no one can heal. Love leaves a memory no one can steal."
All Eyes on California
15 years ago
1 comment:
Hi Kate,
Your mother told me you started a blog and so I am posting to you to invite you to visit our political (Ventura County)blogs and share the blogging environment with us. We are on www.venturacountystar.com home page at Democracy Watch and at www.PoliticalWatchCentralCoast.org.
As for Sara Palin, well what can a thoughtful feminist say? She is without any qualification either intellectual or executive and her ethic is somewhere short of a midwest religious zealot barbie doll. Do join us.
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