| In the long term the world needs a stronger peace even
if in the short term war may be inevitable. The first priority
must be to grieve our lost relatives and fellow citizens.
Recovering from the economic damages and restoring our national
security system are also high priorities. But we should not
allow fear and anger to overcome our hope and attachment to
the ideal of freedom.
The building momentum for a crusade against terrorism
is frightening. The universal HEADLINE "Attack Against
America" is counterproductive. The obvious responce
to such a headline is that "America" should counterattack.
This attack was against humanity, not just America. The
targets, New York City and Washington, are the financial
capital and the military stronghold of the free world. The
response must be global. While it is right that we find
and punish the allies of the terrorists responsible for
the suicide missions on 9/11/2001, it is irresponsible to
imagine that we can identify and eliminate all terrorists
everywhere in the world.
We should resist calls to diminish civil liberties and
instead we should campaign vigorously to enhance the civil
liberties of the global community. As Americans we need
to make a new commitment to education of Americans as global
citizens. Making friends around the World is what Americans
and American government should do. We need to come together
to wage a concerted effort to accomplish a purpose, PEACE.
Terrorists are sick people reflecting social and economic
weaknesses of our society. Let’s work together to
support global ideological and political freedoms.
I do not disagree with the Office of Homeland Security
created by the President to oversee and coordinate domestic
efforts to prevent terrorist actions. But my heart and brain
both tell me we also need an Office of Global Cooperation
to initiate and coordinate international efforts to institute
and promote individual freedoms and means of non-violent
conflict resolution.
Benja 9/21/2001
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