I was horror-struck when I heard and saw what was happening on Tuesday the 11th of September. The terrifying images coming across the airwaves seemed so surreal, like they were something out of a movie. There were no words to describe my mixture of emotions. Only when the World Trade Center buildings came tumbling down did things start to take focus for me, and I could start to sort out the sadness, anger, and feeling of loss for those lives that were taken.
Yet when I see the United States ramping up for an equal retaliation, with 85% of the public in favor of military action, and 75% in favor of military action even if it risks the death of more innocent people [Yahoo!News], I find my words come back to me.
Thousands of innocent lives were lost on Tuesday. That was not right. There is no valid justification for those horrifying events. No matter what injustices or persecution a person has suffered, imagined or real, they still do not have the right to take the lives of innocent people. The terrorists achieve no justice in the deaths of the thousands of innocent Americans and non-Americans killed in New York, the Pentagon, and in Pennsylvania.
But we have to apply the same rule to ourselves when we talk of retaliation. Yes, a very real injustice was done to the people of the United States of America, and, yes, even to the world. Nevertheless, no matter what injustices or persecution a nation has suffered, real or imagined, they still do not have the right to take the lives of innocent people. Period. To do so, in this very real and present case, is only to renew the horrific cycle that led those who hate America and what it stands for to fly those airplanes into our national symbols of financial and military strength. We would only create more anger and hate, and we would ironically, though quite predictably, strengthen the resolve of those who commit these terrorist attacks by demonstrating that we are as evil as they have made us out to be.
I have seen and heard a number of stories about people—individuals—who are doing amazing, admirable, selfless things in the face of these nightmares, as I am sure all of you have, too. It is the firefighters digging for the lives of those who may still survive; it is the volunteers breaking into Manhattan restaurants to feed those rescue workers; it is the people who create ad hoc churches where anyone can go to pray; and it is the people donating their blood and their money to help those who were injured. Those are my fellow Americans. Those are the people I am proud to call my countrymen.
The thing that would crush my hopes, and what would make me want to tear that Made in the USA label from myself, would be more lives lost at American hands. It would be the thought that all the gruesome stories I have heard about having to fill body bags with body parts, about turning Brooks Brothers into an ad hoc morgue, and about people jumping out of 110-story burning buildings, that those things were going to happen again to more innocent people. That is not justice. That is just more evil.
I want those responsible to pay for what they have done. Tuesday's events have ignited more anger in me than I care to feel. But this is not some "rogue nation" firing on us with clear and obvious motivation. There is no obvious target here. This is a network of individuals organized against the United States. I want those individuals to be brought to justice for the lives they have taken, but like my brother said in an e-mail this week, "I want no part of war."
But of course we all have opinions, and as Americans we all want to express them. Even non-Americans want to express their opinions. So if I just struck a chord with you, or even if I just pissed you off, don't tell me about it. Tell your Senator, tell your Representative, and tell your President.
I have seen and heard a number of stories about people—individuals—who are doing amazing, admirable, selfless things in the face of these nightmares, as I am sure all of you have, too. It is the firefighters digging for the lives of those who may still survive; it is the volunteers breaking into Manhattan restaurants to feed those rescue workers; it is the people who create ad hoc churches where anyone can go to pray; and it is the people donating their blood and their money to help those who were injured. Those are my fellow Americans. Those are the people I am proud to call my countrymen.