I sit in sorrow, absorbing
the same story as it's replayed over and over - thousands of lives, ended, in
the name of hatred and fanaticism. Symbols of immense power crumbled to dust,
and more importantly, the lives of so many loved ones buried forever, trapped
under the crushing weight of an utterly inhuman act.
As this story plays over and over, showing angle after angle of the camera's
lens focused on the World Trade Center, giving the world a picture of what
terrorism looks like, I begin to understand exactly what has happened as my own
disbelief dissipates - but my disbelief returns as I see people dancing in the
streets, celebrating the deaths of innocent people.
I suddenly begin to ask myself, "Why would anyone celebrate such a
horrible thing?" and come to the realization that I shall indeed never
understand why.
Perhaps it's because I have never lived the life of a Palestinian, watching my
home being bulldozed to the ground for no good reason by an Israeli occupying
force. One that is backed by a far away superpower in a land of riches that I
can only dream about.
Maybe I don't understand because I have never experienced the feeling of being
a parent in Iraq, holding my child in my arms, knowing that she will die soon
because there isn't enough food in my villiage anymore - not since America
imposed sanctions on my country that do nothing but strengthen the dictator I
don't even want in power.
Perhaps it's because I have never been in the shoes of a sweatshop worker in
Bangladesh, toiling away making sneakers for my boss, who forces me to take
birth control because the baby I so badly want would mean less profit for those
who make their fortunes on Wall Street.
I have never been in any of these situations. So I will never understand how
anyone could ever bring themselves to celebrate such a horrible crime, one that
can never be justified under any circumstances, and one that should be punished
severely.
I sit and watch some more, saddened, dismayed, but comforted in the hope that
those who are behind this cowardly act will be brought to justice.
But as I watch the TV, drawn in by the hypnotic imagery of this attack against
the United States, I know that the media is actually celebrating our own crimes
with a silence that allows them to continue. The truth is that Islamic
Fundamentalism is a threat to any kind of meaningful freedom and democracy -
and that is easy for most of us to accept. Here's another truth, one that is
harder for some of us to come to terms with: Capitalism is also a threat to any
kind of meaningful freedom and democracy.
I believe it was George Orwell who once said "In times of universal
deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." Sadly, it seems that we
live in such times. Donating blood, blankets and money will ease those who have
suffered, and we should all do what we can to help in this way. But remember,
only one act - telling the truth - will end the criminal silence that allows
suffering to continue around the world in the name of profits over people.
There have been far too many casualties already. I'm not going to let the truth
become another one this time. Are you?
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