10/3/01
Hi all,
I'm quite taken by all the show of patriotism. All the flags and wanted
posters of Osama. If I were a terrorist, I'd hang lots of extra
flags--really make a show of it--make everybody think I'm a patriot! What do
they mean, these flags? It's nice to see the uniting of people around a
common cause, though I'm not sure I know anymore what the cause is--it's
changed so much in the intervening weeks. From rescue to revenge, from grim
clean-up workers lifting the fallen heroes to spiritual leaders wafting
words of idealist notions, from patriotic fervor to self-righteous insults,
from unholy disbelief at the images happening in real time on our turf to
musical theme songs for the incessantly repeated disaster coverage over air
and page, I've lost the sense of what the truth is. Let's see:
1. Terrorist attack? Yes
2. Horror at the heart and mind of our homeland? Yes.
3. Inexpressible emotions teeming in our bodies? Yes.
4. A new fear to add to the cadre? Yes.
5. Anger that knows no end? Yes.
6. Grief that has no compare? Yes.
7. A life that proceeds as before--but changed? Yes.
8. The commitment that justice be done? Yes.
9. The complexities of how justice is to be accomplished? Yes.
10. The echoing calls of vengeful citizens? Yes.
11. The challenging optimism of spiritual leaders? Yes.
12. World War Three? Yes.
13. Forgiveness? Yes.
14. The hope? Yes
15. Help? Yes.
There are, of course, many, many more pieces to this puzzle I call truth.
None of them truly hits the mark. All of them still miss the point.
Complicated problems in an interconnected world don't easily fit into simple
words. There are so many differing opinions about what has happened and what
it means. Plus, there are people in positions of power--on both
sides--making decisions that will impact all of us without us having any
control. The future, which once appeared semi-predictable, is rife with
ominous portents.
I've been thinking about my pride in America. I'm troubled with that word. I
can't help but thinking about poor Oedipus whose pride led first his
father's death, his city's troubles and finally his own demise. I can't help
but think about Pride, the first of the seven deadly sins. I can't help but
think about the ego and its self-serving ways. At the same time, the pride
is emblematic of unification. As the public focuses on a singular enemy
there is an added sense of camaraderie that America has not seen since
Hitler.
Our purpose in eradicating terrorism from the face of the earth, is noble.
Our commitment to ridding the world of hate-driven violence is a worthy
cause. I can think of few things we can put our collective minds to for
greater good. I also believe that we have to approach the elimination of
such people on a variety of levels simultaneously. We cannot simply
counterattack. Assassination of terrorist leaders won't do. Rooting out the
cells is not enough. We must lead the innocent people of the world out of
their suffering, at the same time we enforce justice. In reality, these two
diametric ideas don't have to be linked for us to unilaterally strike back
at the terrorists and their supporters. We have the might to enforce our
collective will upon all who oppose us. No one can stop us. It seems we can
take action with perfect impunity.
Or can we? Would that we could. We have to consider world opinion. Because
of our very might, we have grave responsibilities. The war on terrorism is
global. We're entering a world war. At such a time we need strong allies.
Our enemies recruit from peoples neglected and oppressed on the world stage.
Twisting facts into lies, their leaders with venomed voices spur the
ignorant to commit heinous acts. Those who have passed the point of no
return, who cannot be redeemed must be stopped from ever being able to
commit other atrocities.
Ignorance is not bliss. It is the veil behind which evil hides. To expose
evil, we must act with integrity, not to justify ourselves to the
perpetrators, not to convince the committed, but to ally ourselves with the
next generation of the potential terrorists. We need to attract the
disenfranchised to us before they are corrupted into hate.
We have the opportunity to reach out to many of the neglected and oppressed
at the same time we smash our enemies. Knowledgeable voices are being raised
with viable suggestions of how to aid the infrastructure of Afghanistan as
part of a plan to eradicate Osama bin Laden and his camps. People far wiser
than I are being heard. There is much commotion in the political arena that
gives me the sense that great consideration is being brought to bear upon
the momentous decisions now being contemplated. I sense the care being taken
in consideration, I'm not however confident that the people making the
decisions will be far-thinking enough to include a future beyond the days of
this war. I hope I am proven wrong.
Most of the pride that I'm seeing on display, is not the same as confidence
or self-assuredness. Its loudest expression is bullyish and cocky. It sounds
arrogant. I worry about that. Laced with vitriol, our anger turns dangerous.
We pride ourselves on being a nation of laws. Let's remember this when we
enforce justice. This type of pride can temper our wrath. Otherwise, pride
may prove so dangerous to us, to our nation. Clearly, we have much that we
must do. It won't be easy. It won't be risk or casualty free. Innocent
people are likely to be killed. On both sides. (We've seen many times in
history how small bands of renegades can inflict grave damage to a vastly
superior power. So we're not out of the woods.)
So yes, there is a pride we need to have. But we should be wary of an excess
of pride. As a people, we have been able to be aloof, floating above the
world's problems for decades. History shows us that great empires fall,
great civilizations crumble. If we can move into the future with great
humility, we have our best chance of bringing the promise of future to our
children's children. History is filled with lessons, and the present is
filled with varying opinions about those lessons are. I suggest we look at
the sweep of periods greater than those of centuries and governments. I
suggest we look at epochs of millennia when we evaluate the course of
action.
History is cyclical, but in the form of a spiral moving forward even as it
"repeats itself." Despite the terrorists, the consciousness of the humanity
is evolving. The world, whether we think it ready or not, is moving toward
greater inclusion. We are taking in more and more of the variety of the
world. We have space in our hearts to hold, not just our country, but all
the peoples of the world. This is the basis of America's underlying
principles--that all people are created equal. This foundation is something
to be proud of, not in the sense of showing our superiority, but by
displaying our fundamental belief in freedom and participation in the
decisions of rule, we place all the people of the world in a vision that
includes them and declares them our peer.
America was founded on a series of simple, but profound principles. She has
never yet been able to fully live up to those ideals. But the beauty is, we
have never stopped moving closer to them. I am one voice being raised among
the millions who is stating, "Let's keep moving toward those great ideals."
I recognize that for so many, the progress is entirely too slow, but so it
is. When moving an entire society toward the greater good, some of the
voices will protest the changes. Civilization is subject to inertia.
Convincing the majority of the right, next course is an arduous task.
Culture grows slowly. (A person may recognize an injustice in an instant.
Correcting that injustice may take generations.)
We're in a rapid growth spurt today. We've been forced to integrate so much
so quickly. The events that took place September 11, happened in hours, but
their impact is still clearing out of the smoke. It's why I've chosen to
write now. This is the moment I'm witnessing. My point of view is just my
point of view. I was here in Manhattan at the time of the crash. I saw the
smoke in the distance, not knowing what it was until I heard people talking.
My story is not particularly dramatic. Though effected on the inside, I
continue my life on the outside much as before. I am just an ordinary New
Yorker, not a journalist or expert. My words express my concerns. They give
voice to my views. I decry all the violence, while I accept the need for a
decisive response. I grieve for the innocent, while I accept the need to
expeditiously and permanently eliminate the terrorists. There are so many
opposing things to keep in mind at once.
During this time, with so much to process, others might have thoughts like
mine. As we hack through the jungle of confusion created three weeks ago, we
have stories to tell. I hope that sharing these contemplations, will stir
others to share their stories. Sharing is one of the great ways we can heal
ourselves. We need to listen to each other. We need to hear the laughter and
the tears, just as we need to laugh and to cry.
Love,
Marc