03 Oct 01

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Brian's Take

This piece was written some time ago to the Daveworld mailing list. I asked Brian's permission before reprinting it. He was one of the first to succinctly say something rational and calming, and to say it pretty well.

...and now to add my take to the "much taken" terrorist attacks. the day they happened, i was definitely rattled. yet i returned to my normal routine within hours, i do not personally know anyone directly involved, i didn't watch a whole lot of news... i take it very seriously as an attack on our country, and sometimes the foolishness of people's reactions bothers me. i don't feel strongly about exactly what course of retribution we should take - i sigh deeply at the situation in Afghanistan and the unavoidable fact that we *must* secure ourselves. but how to do that....? one thing, i think we need to understand the terrorist's goals. simply calling them evil, and america good, and saying that evil attacked good - that really bothers me. this is not about good and evil - this is about desperation and the cycle of violence, and a twisted, warped individual who is intentionally using one to drive the other. i don't think that anyone who masterminded this terrorist attack believed it would permanently cripple the usa, but i think they wanted to send a message and disrupt our complacency/security. force us to identify with them in some degree. i think that taking bin laden prisoner would be an incredibly skillful move, probably impossible, but - he is an inspiring figurehead to them, and killing him would incite them to further violence. i think he is a root of violence and he instills violence in others - we definitely need to keep him from doing that anymore, and i think that seeing their figurehead helpless in the hands of the enemy would do more to take the wind out of their sails than cruise missiles. if we could take a year, carefully garner intelligence and resources, and end up capturing him alive - i think that would be such a coup.

i think that most people who are feeling insecure need community to regain security. unity and community are built around a leader, in my experience, and that must necessarily be the president, in my country. who else? i think the president realizes that, and is doing his best. i think the level of the president's approval ratings indicate how deep our instinctive need for unity and security is at this time. anyone who tries to meddle with that feeling of unity/security is... not going to be appreciated. no matter how valid their individual points might be. the more directly threatened someone felt by the attacks, the deeper they will resent someone questioning our show of unity, our leader, our government... such criticism is very much salt in our collective wounds. rub gently, my friends....

one of the best ways to build community is to reach out - to offer condolence and help. when i saw and heard large groups of people in other countries singing our national songs and mourning with us - a lump came to my throat, and i suddenly felt a lot better. don't feel like we want to "use" your countries as an arm of our war machine. we need help to do this difficult job right. please give it willingly.

the analogy in my mind is that Afghanistan is like a filthy, crippled, homeless person who has shot me in the arm with a gun. i must do whatever it takes to take the gun away before he shoots me again, even while i'm sorry to be hurting someone who has already been hurt so much. telling me its my fault he is homeless and i support an economy that helped create the gun is not helpful at all.

an analogy never proves anything - it only clarifies communication. so please don't argue with my analogy.

enough melodramatic rambling - i gotta get back to work.

peace lovies,

brian

 

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