From: (No Email available)

Date: 2001-09-12 09:56:25

Comment:

Let's first put all these "capitalism=bad" arguments to rest by remembering that whoever orchestrated this nightmare - especially if it was Bin Laden - is a globally-connected, well-financed benefactor of the capitalist system they've brainwashed their unwashed counterparts into hating. Bin Laden has made hundreds of millions of dollars selling oil through his Saudi interests... I guarantee not a penny of which has gone toward helping those he purports to defend. To applaud or justify these attacks as an attack against oppressive capitalism is sadly misguided given the fact that it is oppressive capitalism which is sponsoring these activities.

Secondly, it is terribly unfortunate that these actions have spawned heightened racial tension in our country, especially given the fact that it is exactly that kind of response these attacks had hoped to achieve. Those in our country who have targeted individuals of Arab or Middle-Eastern descent for harassment, physical or verbal attack, or even side-ways glances are as unjustified in their feelings as the wacko's who have targeted Americans. Everyone needs to chill out, keep Palestinian/Israel issues out of the equation until those involved have been discovered. It would be just as big a mistake for us to jump on the Israeli bandwagon of Palestinian oppression as it would for us to remain apathetic toward terrorist attacks of Plantains against Israel; however I seriously don't believe we are justified in expanding the circle of vengeance outside of those individuals involved directly with the attack and the governments that support them. 1,000 misguided and suffering fools dancing in the streets of their shanty towns should not pursued anyone into believing that abandoning the hope for peace is our logical next step.

Last of all, and I realize I'm treading on thin ice here if I haven't been already... Let's touch on the religion purportedly involved in all this. True, those who die for God (and I'm talking in every religion on the planet... Islam is not special in how it venerates martyrs who die in God's name) are considered martyrs and are venerated in the eyes of God and man. HOWEVER... Nowhere and in no religion is this kind of mass carnage justified... EVER! Sure, every religion has had its share of fanatic psychotics, but never has history or religious dogma ever smiled kindly upon these pathetic cretins for very long. The beliefs of Bin Laden and/or those involved in these attacks are based upon an evil and total corruption of some truly beautiful religious ideals. God's purpose for prayer and religious fervor isn't so that God can enact vengeance on others; it is a vehicle given to humanity for obtaining forgiveness of one's own sins from Him. Moslem, Islamic, Jewish, Eastern Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant, etc. religions share more in common than they differ, especially in terms of how they cherish human life and dignity above all else. To bastardize one's own religion, impress it upon others, and then use it as a justification for grotesque and horrific actions against their fellow man is the basest and most vulgar of sins. While it is a given that actions have been put into play this week that will pretty much result in these individuals being wiped off the face of the earth, it is equally certain that these people will find no solace in the gates of heaven, either.

Bottom line - There is no justification (political, social, or religious) to be found in these acts so stop looking. In addition, we (and I mean the US) had better be careful in how we proceed so as not to fall victim to the corruptible power of hatred so obviously at work already in this world.