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What is to be done?
In response to this terrible tragedy, the citizens of the United States
must not give in to the jingoistic nationalism offered by the media and
many on this list. Rather than strike out with more violence and
death, the citizens of the United States must reach out for calm and
reflection. We must take stock of who we are and understand the
consequences of our own terrible actions in the world.
We must confront the fact that we, and I emphasize WE, must accept a
share of the responsibility for this horrendous act. Look,
folks - the United States has historically provided support and training
for many of these terrorists groups in the name of "national
security;" we have maintained (and continue to maintain) terribly
oppressive and violent dictatorships in the interest of corporate profit
and greed; we support and cuddle the criminal regime in Israel that
perpetuates genocide; we provide arms and money to right-wing death
squads in Latin America that massacre indigenous peoples who stand up to
multi-national corporations destroying their lands; we actively support
efforts by multi-national corporations and their client states in
crushing labor movements that attempt to ameliorate the worst aspects of
industrial capitalism; and we arrogantly abrogate international treaties
that attempt to save our environment, end nuclear proliferation, and
bring international criminals to justice.
Is it any wonder that much of the rest of the world hates us?
Surprise! We are not the shining beacon of "freedom and
democracy" that our propaganda and myth makers want us to
believe. Real justice and peace will only come if we as a people
take honest stock of ourselves and hold ourselves accountable for our
actions.
We must honor the memory of our fallen comrades and rise above this
terrible evil. If we are as strong a people as President Bush's
handlers claim we are, then no greater time has come for an honest
introspection that can change ourselves and the world.
_________________________________
Marcus C. Robyns,
CA To
be and not do is not to be at all
Assistant Professor /
University Archivist
Northern Michigan
University mrobyns@nmu.edu
1401 Presque
Isle (906)
227-1225
Marquette, MI
49855 (906)
227-1333 (fax)
First they ignore you.
Then they laugh at you.
Then they fight you.
Then you win.---Gandhi
Visit the
Central
Upper Peninsula and Northern Michigan University
Archives at:
http://www.nmu.edu/archives/archives.htm
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