09-13-01

So now we have the war on terrorism about to begin. The whole world is lined up behind the United States. Most of the people lined up behind the government. The majority of people on the Internet seem to be bound for blood. There are a few calmer voices in the flood of rage, but many are afraid to speak out. Certainly no politician ever would because they know they wouldn't get elected. They'd be excommunicated by their party. I heard from one friend, "This is the time for lefty's to shut up, or they might get themselves killed." People have begun harassing Arab-Americans, committing acts of violence on them. All the racism and xenophobia has burst to the surface. And yet, even the most conservative Americans like to claim America is a Christian country. Once in a while they generously add, a Judeo-Christian country. I support neither of course, being an atheist. But someone told me that Senator McCain said something on TV that sounds like a Marine saying, "God will show you mercy, but the U.S. won't." So apparently, thou shalt not kill does not count in certain situations. Apparently Christianity only goes so far when you've been wronged. If the Christ myth was really true, then what would Christ do in this situation? Would he suggest war is truly the best solution to the problem of terrorism? What would Buddah do?

So what will this war on terrorism create? A busted US budget. Less money for social services. Probably our civil freedoms of various sorts will be reduced. Environmental groups and other left wing organization may be infiltrated and subverted even more than they were in the past. And will we really stamp out terrorism? Or will we just produce another, younger generation of Muslims and others around the world who hate the United States even more because we're going to lay waste to lots of innocent Arabs in pursuit of the bad-guys. Will we have 3 Vietnam's going on at the same time? Will the economy sink into a depression? Or is war good for business? It's good for the military-industrial complex, that's for sure.

I doubt that terrorism in the long run can be stamped out by war. Not unless, of course, we establish a world-wide Big Brother fascist like country where everyone is watched and tracked and listened to. The moral way to eliminate terrorism is to look at the underlying poverty and social oppression that drives people to desperation. Moral leaders are needed who put human rights ahead of nationalist pride. These leaders are severely lacking.

Americans are very parochial in their anger at terrorism. We are so enraged, desiring revenge, when Americans are killed, but foreigners mean very little to us. Where was the US when Indonesia invaded East Timor and slaughtered half the country - 100,000 human beings? Why no outrage and desire for revenge? The media didn't seem to care too much about East Timor, but they sure covered this bombing from every angle. Many of us will know people who died, and that does make it very personal. But a human being is still a human being, even one we didn't know. And those people of East Timor were, without a doubt, innocent people. Indonesia remained an ally of the US long after that invasion because it benefited us to stay allies with them. I believe a big part of the reason Americans are so enraged is because we don't feel safe anymore. We are afraid. Fear breeds hatred and violence. We must strike back.

I don't want revenge. I want justice and peace. Peace and Justice. A trial before all the world, a tribunal. A demonstration of evidence against the accused. If we prove in a world televised trial that Osama and others are guilty, then there would be so much pressure to turn him over that there would be no escaping. Of course, I know it will never happen. We are going to wipe him off the face of the earth with big guns. Because we say he's guilty. He'll be a martyr and many many more Muslim fanatics will idolize him and train themselves to attack us. Is a biological attack in our future? It could be. It could be.

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