Terrorist reactions
Like many students on Tuesday, I was riveted by the news of the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington. I was dumbfounded by the enormity of the devastation and the loss of life. I was stunned by vicious nature of the attack. But I was also saddened by the responses of many Americans to the tragedy. I saw online newspolls which indicated that huge numbers of people advocated swift and brutal retaliation, even if it could lead to war and foreign civilian casualties. Because suspicions are high that the attack was organized by a radical Muslim organization, I heard a number of disparaging comments, both on TV and from those I met, against Muslims in general. And I heard Senator Hatch and Representative Hansen, both of whom proudly and boldly proclaim their religion (which I share), make comments that if the organizers could be found, they should be “annihilated,” and that we should “injure the bastards.”
Are these the words of self-proclaimed Christians and Saints, followers of a deity who told us that “Vengeance is mine,” and “of you it is required to forgive all men,” ? Will anger and retribution solve the problem? Or police-levels of security and paranoia? Can we resolve the issue by targeting specific ethnic or cultural groups? Will stooping to brutality ourselves bring about peace? No. I hope that we can concentrate on healing and repairing what can still be saved rather than on perpetuating the violence in vindication. Understanding and empathy are the best tools in the fight against violence. Yes, We must try to find the culprits and prevent such tragedies from occurring again. But if we pursue action with the goal of settling scores, if we seek an eye for an eye, or if we live by suspicion and paranoia rather than trust and hope, we will only aggravate conflicts, and diminish our spirit in the process.
– Derek Staffanson528676657755-0476