On Tue, 11 Sep 2001, Wayne M. Smith wrote:
Like I said,
this is a reckoning.
It is only a reckoning in the eyes of a select few -- such
as those firing guns in the air in celebration of the many
dead. There is no way that the taking of thousands of
"innocent" lives balances out anything. Just as nothing
will be resolved when we inevitably do the same in
retaliation.
I'll try to make this my last comment on this.
Wayne, and everyone else:
When I say this is a "reckoning", I do not mean it is "revenge" or
"payback" or any other similar synonym. I do not mean we deserved it, I
do not mean we had it coming. What happened yesterday should never happen
to anyone, anywhere.
What I mean exclusively is that what happened yesterday is a direct result
of US foreign policy. When the US bombs other nations in the name of
security, in the name of peace, or in the name of NATO, or in the name of
the UN, we call it justified. When we get bombed, we call it an act of
war. This is hypocrisy.
The people of this nation must send a clear and strong signal to our
"leaders" that they are putting us all in peril due to their questionable
and objectionable policies that have invited this attack.
If you are angry, contact your local leaders and ask them to account for
why we were attacked yesterday in such an egregious fashion. Put pressure
on them to in turn put pressure at the top eschelons of leadership to hold
them accountable for the atmosphere that has been created to have invoked
yesterday's attack.
The only reactions I saw from our "leaders" last night will only invite
more such attacks in the future, hence the cycle will continue, and we'll
all be doomed for sure. If we continue on the same path, we will always
live in fear.
I'm sorry if I offended anyone but it was not my intention. Like everyone
else, I was in shock and disbelief at what happened yesterday. I was
horrified. I am a natural born citizen of this country. This is my home.
I am an American. I was attacked too.
I am trying to point out the truth of the matter. I welcome your response
or criticisms, but please send them to me PRIVATELY.
Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival
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International Man of Intrigue and Danger
http://www.vintage.org