This was written before our President Obama took office. Insert bin Laden's name in place of al-Zarqawi...it is amazing how history repeats itself and still we Americans do not learn.
"How could man rejoice in victory and delight in the slaughter of men?"
~Lao Tzu~
Two wrongs do not, in fact, make a right. Right? Attacking the Twin Towers on September 11, 2001 was an egregious wrong. The war on Iraq was also wrong and horrendously dishonest (in my humble opinion). So then, celebrating the death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi is, somehow, right? It is inhumane, disrespectful and deplorable behavior. I am utterly and completely embarrassed by the number of American people and their sheer enjoyment over the death of a human being. An unpardonable, sick and twisted human eradicated by Americans and as Americans we celebrate? I use the term we lightly, as lightly as humanely possible. Yes. Humanely. The deficiency of respect for any human life, whether it be one of “ours” or one of “theirs”, is just not right. I was horrified at the lack of respect for the lives of men, women and children during the 9/11 attacks, as were a number of vocally expressive Americans. A good number of those same folks (i.e. Jay Leno) made light of another violent death, joked to a laughing crowd of people about a dead man’s widow and celebrated the death of a man, an awful terrorist of a man, but a man nonetheless. It is inexcusable. The attack on the World Trade Center caused a soft spot in some and a sore spot in others. A soft spot aches from the attack but seeks to understand the crisis of terrorism; a sore spot burns rancid at the attack and takes pleasure in the revenge of such by displaying photos of a ravaged corpse and then detailing the specifics of its “timely” demise with delight and that is absolutely reprehensible.
But I have gotten ahead of myself. This essay, in my mind, began as an explanation of the invisible scarring that the September 11th attack left on my mind, my body and my spirit. Being reminded of Jeff Jacoby’s “The Images We See And Those We Don’t” his sentiments ring true with mine, “…I am sickened…” he expressed in the essay “…by those that think the defeat of the Bush administration is an end that justifies just about any means.” If other countries are in error of displaying such behavior, are we as Americans, the world’s so-called super power nation, not equally at fault? Who are the savages? Are we any better than the people that cheered at our twin towers being shattered? Were they not the savaged guerilla third world ignorant people? And that means that we are, collectively, for all intents and purposes…what exactly?
As an American I am angered at the frustrating extremist behavior of the terrorists. Disappointed at the reaction both political and general at the next steps taken without agreement and consensus of the people. Saddened by the thought that we will never forget the minute details of that day. Outraged at the government making self fulfilling prophetic decisions that affect the entire country and the deserved lack in confidence gained from the “people” in the aftermath of 9/11. Embarrassed, I am, by the pompous ignorance of our elected officials as well as the appointed leaders of this country. And lastly, but certainly not in the least, disgusted at the behavior of our military personnel.
Angered. Not unlike other very unpleasant thoughts, I cringe, still when able to muster enough strength to accept that there are people that claim a religious belief as the basis for bloodshed, any kind. I am not a religious person, however, I am a spiritual person. Believing in taking extreme measures as a means of expressing beliefs and in the fold of those beliefs a disregard for lives, actually lives, the math just does not add up. It is beneath my radar of understanding to disregard honor and respect for others for the sake of personal beliefs. I mean, isn’t that what religion encompasses? Honoring your God and others? I am hardened by the very notion that there are people in this world that take their very own personal issues and force feeds their belief, their wants, their needs onto others. These statements are true for the terrorists as well as the President of the United States. I will never forget his immature frat-boy temper tantrum when voicing his distaste for another awful individual. George W. Bush said in an infamous statement “This guy tried to kill my dad!” Clearly speaking on Saddam Hussein, even though this was at a high stakes time and Osama Bin Laden’s issues should have been on the table. Saddam and Osama seem to have been interchangeable at that time. That statement was made during the aftermath of 9/11 and as a building block to invading Iraq. The issues of 9/11 from my perspective, had less to do with Saddam and more to do with Osama and Al Queda, who in fact gets to be the decider on that?
Disappointed. Instead of gaining an understanding of the reasons behind terrorism, the American government does not take the opportunity to look at its faults. Arundhati Roy explains that, “Terrorism is the symptom, not the disease.” 911 showed us that we are not infallible. Even super powers can have their electricity turned off temporarily. The military went in search of the terrorists, at fault, instead of coming to any conclusions as to why we had been targeted in the first place. Go figure.
Saddened. Generation X (age range from approximately 30-41) has its “Where were you when…” like the generation before us, the Baby Boomers (approximate age range from 42-60). They, the Baby Boomers, have committed to memory the time, place, and actions leading up to the tragic assassination on John F. Kennedy. So to, the Generation X-ers, have burned to our collective hard drives, the massive destruction of lives, of security and of faith in the ability of the American government to protect it’s people on September 11, 2001. Nearly every American, black, white and each and every “other” in between, who can remember, will never forget.
Outraged. Still fuming at the photos of not only the prisoners held at the Abu Ghraib prison but also thoroughly ashamed at the behavior of the military men and women involved in the torturing of fellow homo sapiens; I am at a loss for coherent explanations. Beyond treating people with even the smallest amount of dignity, what could one person, not to mention an entire group of military personnel, possibly gain from the actions displayed in those photos? What was our reason for entering, bombing, blazing and destroying that country, again? Oh yes, 9/11. Retaliation. From the top down...way, way down. Globe journalist, Jeff Jacoby, whose views constantly keep me on edge whether in agreement or frustration, also sited in the above referenced essay that the interchangeable basis of rules and regulations yet again rears its ugly head. Speaking of the CBS News website’s photographic streaming of the naked prisoners in Iraq and the non-viewable beheading of Nicholas Berg and it’s being, “too gruesome to show.” invites us all to look further into what is right and what really, is considered wrong.
Confused. "Arguably over the last several years, no single person on this planet has had the blood of more innocent men, women and children on his hands than Zarqawi.” words spoken by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. In the eyes of the people both “here” and “there” what is the real difference between George Bush’s policy and Abu Musab al Zaqarwi’s policy? Both are leaders, both are extreme, both decided to wage war on the others country. Neither has the majority of support from the people for his actions, neither, in my humble opinion, cares about anything other than his very own warped opinions and views. Are we the birds of prey or are they?
Embarrassed. At what expense will we finally attain a victory? Reading an excerpt from Ms. Roy’s essay, “Americans must be allowed to continue with their way of life...” then and only then would Mr. Rumsfeld consider the American people victorious. Not when we have come to an agreement with other countries on the policies concerning the world, not when the bloodshed of society has ceased, but when we are allowed to run amuck about the world, without discretion. We should have complete autonomy as if we were the spoiled children of the rich and infamous? This is wrong and is a testament to the very quagmire into which we have placed ourselves.
Disgusted. We, the people - American and Iraqi -, are the flotsam and jetsam of our respective societies and the wars carried out for the sake of our rights. Most of us would rather not rape and pillage countries, most of them would rather not have us rape, pillage and then apologize for our behavior. Our rights are floating away, piece by piece, in the name of fighting for what again? Oh yes. Freedom. Because of our particular political flora and fauna we have rights and privileges that do not apply to any person un-American? Although this essay is less about the years to come and more about my present angst, it feels very relevant. Each of these topics would not have existed were it not for the September 11th attack on all things American. This essay started from the end, I suppose, or was it the middle?
Where, when and how in the name of God, or Allah in a manner of respectfully speaking, will it all ever end? My simplistic political views are mine to bird-dog and I accept that wholeheartedly. Right or Wrong. Then again what does it matter, I am not, in fact, the decider.
Which leads me to believe, more now than ever, that a bird in the hand, is certainly worth the two (wrongs) and a Bush.
"Our nation is somewhat sad, but we’re angry. There’s a certain level of blood lust, but we won’t let it drive our reaction. We’re steady, clear-eyed and patient, but pretty soon we’ll have to start displaying scalps."
~George W. Bush~
For all intents and purposes, fortunate or un-, this is my Life ;-)~
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