Understanding Tragedy Through Introspection
by Anthony Blue
Nearly three months have passed since terrorism hit the United States. The events of September 11th stifled us and our nation, permanently connecting us to fear, uncertainty, and uneasiness. Lost amid the chaos and confusion is the innocence of our nation once thought to be immune from the horrors often seen on nightly news reports from abroad.
We are now, and will forever be, affected by the terror that has plagued many parts of the world for decades. At SLA, we grieve the loss of our members. Our hearts go out to their families who seek closure and a desire to move forward in a difficult time. We share their fears, concerns, and faith that there is hope for a better world. The images of September 11th, imbedded in our minds and hearts, remind us that tolerance, understanding, and respect for our fellow man must prevail.
On October 12th, during SLA's monthly staff meeting, Executive Director Roberta Shaffer opened the floor to discussion of these life altering events. For many SLA staffers, this was an opportunity to gain some perspective and share their views. While a variety of concerns were raised during the discussion, protection of civil liberties and understanding the differences in cultures and religions were the most talked about topics.
In her Information Outlook column this month, Roberta mentioned the staff's discussion and the contributions that SLA can provide, including the membership's responsibility to harness and disseminate accurate information.
Listening to President Bush's heartfelt address to the nation in the days after the attacks filled me with emotion. It also left me seeking answers. The president spoke of suspected terrorist, and mastermind behind the attacks, Osama Bin Laden and the Al Qaeda organization.
He framed the incident in simplistic terms and described the repercussions and consequences to those responsible. Bush said that terrorism attacks the heart of freedom, and vowed to bring the responsible parties to justice or bring justice to them. In an effort to build an international coalition of support for waging a global war on terrorism, the president is working too win over Muslim hearts and minds.
On the other front, Bin Laden and the Taliban have taken their cause public, painting a picture of the United States as an aggressor against Islam. Calling for a jihad (holy war) against those who support our cause. Night after night, television reports vividly show displays of anti-American sentiment from the middle east. But hatred toward America did not develop over night.
An article in an October issue of Newsweek magazine entitled "Why They Hate Us," answered many of my personal questions. The article examined the reasons behind the hateful views toward America and western culture in general. It delved into the obvious cultural and philosophical differences. It also explained how Bin Laden has cultivated hate that has become religious doctrine in certain areas of the Middle East and Asia. The piece provided insight and a clearer understanding of how someone such as Bin Laden can manipulate and control through fear, and justify numerous horrendous acts in the name of God. By the end of the article I understood why possibly millions of people hate what America stands for, why they fear our culture, and why they blame us for many of the problems in the Middle East and the world.
Six months ago no one would have fathomed that an act of this magnitude could happen in the United States. As an American, I plead ignorance to many of the issues the article raised. My thought process before reading the article would not have allowed me to even think that somewhere in the world people would justify murder and hatred. As Americans, we tend to dismiss problems in far off places of the world. As western culture transcends the globe, we must be cognizant of global problems because they affect us indirectly and directly.
The world's perception of us has merit. We must remember that our individual decisions reflect a larger movement. Believe it or not, we share a responsibility to look within ourselves and ask: What can I do to make this world a better place for everyone? The world as we envision it requires us to take time to learn about others and to put the proverbial shoe on the other foot. One man's paradise may be another man's hell. Because the world as we once knew it will never be the same.
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